Now that's WEIRD. Urmila is as haseen as ever, Saif Ali Khan is beginning to look like the male word for haseen. Then why past tense- Ek Haseena Thi???
Forgot tenses, Ek Hasina Thi is an out and out tense ride! To describe it in a word, it's a fast-paced and stylishly- depicted tale about the darker side of love, with seduction, betrayal and a game of Tit for Tat.
Before I go into the details of the story, let me tell you in advance about the hatke-horizons of the film- which definitely set it apart from the pack!
A) Apart from the title track, there are no songs in the entire movie!
B) No candyfloss romances or running around Gulmohar trees
C) No truly Sab-Khush or Sab-Unhappy-at-the-end finale
D) Only two or three characters you could really count as part of the plot, despite another fifty or so chhota-mota fellows.
So here, have a look at the Kahaani- and the funny part is, the story per se is quite simple, untangled and without twists and turns, unlike Urmila's tousled hair!
Suave and handsome Karan Rathore (Saif) sweeps Sarika (Urmila)an innocent, dainty girl (who finds even rats to be quite a scare!) off her feet, only to deceive her, get her entangled in his underworld activities, landing her behind barsl for a crime she didn't commit. Although he keeps reassuring her that he'll do his best to get her free, Sarika soon gets convinced that Karan's the mastermind behind the entire plan. Hardened by the gruelling life in the clink, all the Delicate Darling flies out of the window (hence the title) and she flies the coop to finish off her betrayer.
The catch, in Sarika's words with a co-prisoner are:
'' Kyaa karegi, bhaagke isko udaa degi?''
'' Nahi- itne aasaani se nahi!''
Planning her moves with the dexterity of a chess grandmaster, Sarika lassoes Saif with his own underworld ropes, and after great tumult, Dhishoom and Dhishkaon, finally quenches her thirst for revenge with a hint of lime.
The real fun of Ek Hasina Thi is how Sarika gets her vengeance against Karan. And believe me it's much more than blowing a bullet throw his head! Subtlety's the word!
For such a simple story, Ek Hasina Thi garnishes a modest broth with a spicy mix of style, pace and sensitivity. I'll admit though, that the charming first half and racy second half seem to have been directed by two different people altogether! Hats off to Sriram Raghavan for that!The courtship scenes in the initial segments are slow and magical, but the pace soon builds. The second half, where bullets and blood fly about in unison, seemed a bit too gone-berserk, but it sure kept me on the edge of my seat! There's a lot more to watch out for in this amazing film, like:
1) Urmila's first action sequence- When she bashes up a lesbian bully in jail and almost kills her!
2) Saif and Urmila's Answer-It-With-A-Lie Game
3) How Urmila escapes from jail
4) Urmila's neighbour's antics
5) Urmila's 'Confessions' to a gangster
6) How Urmila finally pulls the plug on Saif!
Of course, another piece de resistance is the performances of those who count in the story!
Urmila is brilliant I think she did a better job than in her award-winning Bhoot performance! Her new look is stunning too. The metamorphosis from nailpoilish to blood on the fingertips is beautifully enacted! She even does her suriphobia (fear or rats) part quite well.
Saif is amazing too, also armed with a new look, plus a new shade. His colour transition to a villainous tinge would surely leave other actors green with envy. As far as censorship goes, I don't know if it's his first time, but he even does a sex scene, and openly calls Urmila a 'female dog', and at one point, stops himself at the first letter-'f''! Not to mention that the facts that he flaunts those nascent bulging biceps and preened pectorals with Salluesque shamelessness- at least 5 times in the entire movie! It's a complete makeover.
The major face in the other multitude of extras, is Seema Biswas, as the policewoman on Urmila's trail, who does justice to her role. Other small fries like Bilal and other gangsters, do fifty-fifty job till the point they're alive.
But here's a stern warning- if you're wondering if this movie is worth your time (it's less than a normal 3hr duration anyway!) Do not watch this film simply for seeing a Tra-la-la ending and mast gaanas- because you will find none of them or thereabouts in this film. This movie may be well crafted and brilliantly edited, but it may not gel with everyone's filmi affections.
This lacks gloss, has no mahaafamilies, no poojas, and not even bright colours. If you go to the cinema for a rich experience to the senses and mind, and something new, Ek Hasina Thi will be Haseen for you. If you love those big stars doing a Farah- Khan- choreographed step, or 'I love you', then please, don't bother to watch this movie. It ain't for ya.
Perhaps since most Barjatya-swallowing Indians belong to the latter group, this movie hadn't clicked at the box office.
But don't go by cinema collections- believe me, this movie is in the true sense a must-see and hatke, providing loads of jhatke, and no story atke! I recommend Ek Hasina Thi to the discerning viewer with all my heart
Finally, Ek Hasina Thi is Haseen with great editing, direction, story and performances, will never be Haseen till you're the guy watching, not me. So go grab a ticket right away- before it shifts to a screening elsewhere where wiser people will ahve the brains to watch!
After all, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder!
