Are you familiar with the name Ram Gopal Varma?The same person who gave Bollywood,some different and experimental films such as Rangeela,Kaun,Company,Bhoot,Darna Mana Hai,etc.This time he is back with his production banner Varma Corp.,through the film Ek Hasina Thi.The words ‘Ek Haseena’,means a beauty,but what comes after it,is ‘Thi’,which means,’was’(or this word can also be used when telling about someone in the past!).To translate this phrase,it means,”there was a beauty”.This title,itself is so interesting that one might get curious to know about the beauty who WAS!With a different storyline and theme,and of course title,does Ramu succeed this time?
THE FILM:
Varma Corp./K.Sera Sera`s. ”Ek Hasina Thi”,directed by Sriram Raghavan,stars Urmila Matondkar,Saif Ali Khan,Seema Biswas and Pratima Kazmi.Urmila Matondkar has always been successful,with Ram Gopal Varma.When Urmila failed,then Ramu made ”Rangeela”,for Urmila,through which she became the talk of the town.After giving so many hard-hitting performances in the previous year,in ”Bhoot”,”Pinjar” and ”Tehzeeb”,there are lots of expectation from Urmila,in this film.Does she impress,once again???
THE CHARACTERS AND PERFORMANCES:
1.Sarika(Urmila Matondkar):Sarika,is a normal girl,who works in a travel agency,but her life takes a turn when she is jailed.Urmila Matondkar,does her work,brilliantly.If you have lots of expectations from this actress,then she does succeed to living upto your expectations.Her face expressions,in various scenes,like the ones in jail,or the ones where she has to take revenge,are wonderful.She is definitely one of the best actress Bollywood film industry has.Check out her performance!
2.Karan(Saif Ali Khan):Karan,is a mysterious character with negative shades.He betrays the girl,who loved him.Saif Ali Khan,makes an attempt on playing a negative character for the first time.Though it is said,that he played a negative character in ”Kya Kehna”,but this statement is not that true,in my opinion,because it was a character who did not want to marry,the girl whom he got pregnant.This character of his,in Ek Hasina Thi,is negative,in which he shines.This is one of his finest performance,after ”Dil Chahta Hai” and ”Kal Ho Naa Ho”.Though a difficult role,the actor carries it with lots of ease.
The rest of the cast,in their bits do well.Seema Biswas,creates an impact,playing the role of a serious lady inspector.I loved her dialogue,which goes like ”Sirf soyi thi uske saath,ya uska kaam bhi kiya tha!”.Pratima Kazmi,is also impressive.Her hard looking face and her strange personality,makes her an interesting character,as well.
THE STORY:
The story is about a girl Sarika,a travel agent who falls in love with Karan.First she meets him at the office,in which she works,and slowly and gradually,she starts being attracted to him.Karan,has to leave the city for sometime,and tells Sarika,that one of his friend will come,to the Mumbai city.He wants Sarika,to take care of him.After sometime,when Karan`s friend leaves Sarika`s house,he is murdered,and Sarika is jailed,because every proof goes against her.First of all,according to every proof,Karan`s friend was with Sarika,before getting killed and secondly,his suitcase,is found at Sarika`s residence.So the innocent Sarika,gets jailed.Soon,we find out that Karan,is actually,a fraud.
THE WORK OF THE CREW:
As every Varma Corp. film,”Ek Haseena Thi”,also impresses.Sarika and Karan`s characters are very well sketched.Sriram Raghavan`s,direction is wonderful!Sarika`s scenes in jail,will not allow the viewers to blink even once,as those scenes are so interesting.Also,the scene,where Sarika decides to take revenge from Karan,will grip the viewers` attention,right till the end.Other than that,he succeeds in giving the film a haunting look,i.e. rats roaming around in the jail.A job done very well!Screenplay,is gripping right from the word ‘go’.The film starts on an excellent note,and there are no stupid comedy scenes,like there were in the film ”Anjaam”,which had the same storyline,where an innocent lady (Madhuri Dixit),was jailed.Other than that,this is not a film,which only some viewers with ‘brains’,can understand.Any average viewer,can relate to this film.Editing,is also crisp.There are no songs,as such which interfere in the going-ons,nor are there any irrelevant scenes,but things will get a bit repetitive,still never mind.Script,is well-written.Although,some might not like the storyline,or some might say that it is a rip-off of some English films,still this film has the ’thing’,in it,which will make everyone see this movie.Background score,is haunting,exciting and more than that,it gels very well,with the movie.Cinematography,is also brilliantly done.Amar Mohile`s,music,will be avoided by people,as this is not a musical film.
ON THE WHOLE:
”Ek Hasina Thi”,is a well-made film,in every true sense.It is different,it is stylish and it is interesting.Excellent performances,background music,cinematography and direction,makes it for an interesting viewing.If you like typical Bollywood romantic flicks,then avoid this film,otherwise else,this film will be liked by everyone.
