Superb! Kaante may be considered a classic. Review on Kaante

A movie like KAANTE has never before been attempted by the Indian film industry. Shot entirely in the U.S. with an American tech crew, the result is an irresistibly fun experience. It successfully applies India?s all-inclusive masala formula to the sensibilities of a modern audience.

However, did Kaante lived up to its hype? The answr is a resounding YES. People may find Kaante hard to digest, however, you got to admit one thing, atleast we are not watching the same old thing over and over again. Kaante is a very different, yet stylish film that should create a path towards future Bollywood film of how a stylish film should be made. Yes there's thorns in its film (speak about it later), however, realize one thing, every movie has a thorn in its back (even Sholay did), but after watching Kaante, you'll definitely get your mooney worth!

Six Indians living in Los Angeles meet up in a jail cell. Police investigators are convinced that one of them has stolen a truck full of laptop computers. The six decide they will strike back at the cops by robbing the bank where the cops' pay comes from. Each character has desperate circumstances that require him to rob the bank.

Major (Amitabh Bachchan) needs to get some money to fly his sick wife (Rati Agnihotri) back to India. Andy (Kumar Gaurav) needs money to fight a court case to get full custody of his son from his wife, who won?t let him see their child. Marc (Sunil Shetty) needs money so his girlfriend (Malaika Arora) will no longer need to work as a stripper. Bali (Mahesh Manjrekar) and Mak (Lucky Ali) want to pay off the thugs and strippers to whom they owe money. And Ajju (Sanjay Dutt) is just looking for a thrill.

The six men pull off the robbery after minute planning, but when they prepare to make their escape they are ambushed by the police. The six make their escapes in separate ways and meet back at an abandoned warehouse. There, they tried to figure out which out of the six members tipped off the police.

KAANTE has its share of thorns, and the largest is the first half of the screenplay. Why do the cops instantly zero in on some of these characters? Why do the men use their guns for target practice in an open area, firing off of a rooftop in Los Angeles? The ease with which the men plan the bank robbery strains credibility. Too, some scenes and even pieces of dialogue are lifted from other films (namely Quentin Tarantino´s Reservoir Dogs) ? a common practice for Bollywood, but distasteful nonetheless.

Thankfully, the film's strengths more than camouflage its weaknesses. Soon after the job is carried out and the six start trickling into their hideout, the sequences assume a razorlike sharpness that keeps you on the edge of your seat. In terms of technical wizardry, this is undoubtedly the best film ever made in Bollywood. The editing is extremely flashy, the action scenes are very well coordinated, and the camera work is innovative and consistent throughout. Milap Zaveri?s dialogue is also superb; at times shocking, it also effortlessly channels the comic chemistry between Manjrekar and Dutt.

Anand Raaj Anand?s music is yet another asset; all the songs are musical gems. In fact, ?Mahi Ve? will sure be a major attraction, ?Ishq Samundar? has a nomination for best song of the year and ?Socha Nahin Tha? is bound to be a classic. The song and dance numbers have been edited to create unique sequences with little in common with other Hindi films. The background music sounds like the score of a Hollywood blockbuster.

But KAANTE's major asset is the performances. In particular, Sanjay Dutt shines as Ajju. He plays his role stylishly, with a disturbing undercurrent of insanity, and is undoubtedly remarkable in all of his scenes. Mahesh Manjrekar is also excellent, bound to be the favorite of the masses. As a drug-addict, he?s very funny and very emotional; he steals the audience's sympathy. Amitabh Bachchan is superb in his role, adding a brilliant touch of vulnerability to his character. Sunil Shetty is back in his element once again ? not much dialogue, but he conveys his expressions through his fists. Lucky Ali makes his presence felt through his body language and his mysterious eyes. In the supporting cast, Malaika Arora is gorgeous in her dance numbers and scenes, and touches hearts in the few scenes she shares with Sunil.

Overall, KAANTE is well worth the wait and my pick as the best film of 2002. This is a stylish, furious picture that meets its goal: to thrill audiences and keep them glued till the last frame. But that's not all. In terms of content and technique, KAANTE is an apt example of progressive cinema that breaks the shackles of stereotype. The film has everything ? an impressive cast, grandiose look, an excellent second half, well executed stunts, popular music and eroticism in excess ? to quench the thirst of an Indian cinegoer desperate for quality entertainment. It will be remembered for its classic performances, excellent music, great direction, best climax of the year, and groundbreaking action sequences.

KAANTE was selected to be shown at our school for the international movie of the year. It received a standing ovation. People from different backgrounds left humming ?Ishq Samundar? and saying that Bollywood can really make a movie. Like Sanjay Dutt says, it will be remembered till the industry dies. Thank you, Sanjay Gupta, for giving us a true classic of Hindi cinema ? a must see film for people who wants to see something new and different!