Nov 30, 2009 02:54 PM
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(Updated Nov 30, 2009 02:58 PM)
Hmm… so they say Bollywood has come of age. Has it.? Well it’s maturing for sure. For starters, the 40 something actors are not awkward looking and hopelessly unconvincingly over-aged college students, rather very convincing young college professors. The romance is still the cliché “boy meets girl and love strikes” but the more “filmy” love has given way to logic… “Why waste time in coffee/dating, when both know what they want”. So you get the anticipation of an intelligent cinema from the outset.
Kurbaan touches on larger issues like terrorism and Islam in post 9/11 world, but is essentially a love story in the undercurrent. As the promos of the film reveal, some love stories have blood in them. No one preaches you about the evil of terror, no one cries out loud on how they’ve been tormented and revenge is only justified. The thing that works for Kurbaan is the subtlety. You know what they are doing, why they are doing, if it’s right or wrong… without anyone being loud or over the top ever.
Though the climax is sequences are a bit let down, going by the standards the film sets in the run-up, the overall experience remains good. The final sequences do defy some of the logics… like why can’t they evacuate the train and halt it, why do have to keep running it despite knowing it carries explosives. Also why Vivek Oberoi decides to take on the whole community of terrorists alone and doesn’t trust what is considered as world’s leading(if not best) intelligence and security force, the CIA, is inexplicable. And the dialogs could have been a lot better. You expect far better stuff from Anurag Kashyap now.
There are striking similarities with John/Katrina starrer New York, but this one is little better executed. Biggest difference being in the performances. Though John Abraham is still graduating as an actor, Saif Ali Khan, any day is far more seasoned and dependable. While Neil Nitin Mukesh still has boyish charm and novice touch in acting, Vivek Oberoi, it seems is back. And you really don’t need a any argument to know who can act better between Katrina and Kareena.
Saif Ali Khan shows his versatility once again. Vivek Oberoi looks to be serious about his carrier again and Kareena shows that Jab We Met was not a fluke. Kiron Kher has an interesting character to portray and she does it with élan. It’s a welcome change from those countless “Punjabi mummy” acts. Om Puri is painstakingly monotonous. He virtually does nothing.
Background score and music by Salim-Suleman is touching. This, by far, is their best effort till date. Rensil De’silva makes a promising and hard hitting debut. Though the inexperience in direction shows at places but he makes an impressive debut overall. Karan Johar shows a lot of courage to make a film that is diametrically opposite to the genre of films he’s know to make. He make a point that Dharma Productions is not only about mushy romance. He deserves accolades more than anyone, for having faith in the film and actually making it.
Amongst increasing number of films being churned out on similar lines and issues, this certainly is amongst the better ones. Go for it.
