Jun 30, 2009 09:58 AM
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Prelude:
"From October 2003 until May 2005, I was illegally detained by the U.S. government and held in CIA-run ''black sites'' with no contact with the outside world. On May 5, 2005, without explanation, my American captors removed me from my cell and cuffed, hooded, and bundled me onto a plane that delivered me to Sana'a, Yemen. I was transferred into the custody of my own government, which held me -- apparently at the behest of the United States -- until March 27, 2006, when I was finally released, never once having faced any terrorism-related charges. Since my release, the U.S. government has never explained why I was detained and has blocked all attempts to find out more about my detention. Mohamed Farag Bashmilah, Huffington Post. Posted February 20, 2009."
Kabir Khan has tried to capture the essence of this particular emotion of the people who were harassed unnecessarily for being a Muslim post the 9/11 tragedy in his latest movie New York. A very powerful plot indeed, but what lack of directorial qualities can do – New York is another prominent example of that.
The storyline:
The movie starts off with Omar Aijaz(Neil Nitin Mukesh) being taken into the custody of the FBI on the charge of carrying illegal arms like AK-47 and plastic explosives.
The story goes back seven years into flash back when Omar was being interrogated about his past. It shows how Omar lands up in a completely new environment of New York State University and meets Maya, his counsellor on the first day. He feels an instant attraction for the lovely lady but keeps his feelings to himself. Maya introduces him to the third musketeer – Samir Sheikh. Samir is the typical flamboyant and full of hot air guy. His don’t care attitude does not earn him any Indian friend. So when Omar walks into his life he welcomes him warmly. Gradually the friendship blossoms between the three of them. Omar had mistaken Maya’s care and affection for him as love. But one day when Samir gets hurt while trying to retrieve Maya’s purse from a thief, Maya confesses her love to Samir in front of Omar. Heart broken Omar gradually moves into away from Samir and Maya’s life. On the last day of the college the 9/11 incident happens and changes everyone’s life forever.
Back to the present. Omar initially tries to prove his innocence before Irfan Khan the FBI investigator but soon he realises this was a shrewd ploy of the FBI guys to reach Samir(John Abraham) who was suspected of running a sleeper cell. The only way FBI could peek into the life of Samir was through his old college friend Omar. As expected Omar denies to do the job of betraying his one time best buddy. But after much cajoling and emotional blackmailing Omar agrees to the plan saying that he is doing this not for helping the FBI but to prove that his friend is innocent.
The mission begins and after seven long years Omar comes back into Samir and Maya’s life. Samir and Maya are now happily married with a kid named Daniel. Everything looks normal in their picture perfect life. But Omar wants solid proofs that Samir is not running any terrorist outfit so he starts putting up the baits as told by Irfan, and wait for any positive signals from Samir. But in the process Omar comes to know of certain things that he had never imagined before. The grotesque side of the law itself. He learns how Samir had been forcefully taken into the custody by the FBI, brutally stripped out of the last bit of dignity, questioned and inflicted inhuman torture. For nine long months he had endured the barbaric treatment and then suddenly one day he was freed as no evidence could be gathered against him. The treatment that the FBI had handed to Samir might be their routine work but did they ever care for what happened to those innocent victims after they were freed? A terribly shattered and lost Samir tries to get back into normal life, with Maya supporting him like a pillar. But how does a person live normally after he has been through worst than death experiences?
*The cast and crew:
This movie entirely belongs to Neil Nitin Mukesh and he has done justice to the role by delivering a formidable performance – his best so far. This guy definitely has the spark in him and just requires some good roles to make it big. His expressions are really fantastic. Especially I liked the twitching of his eyes when he was in any uncomfortable situation. Or the way he portrayed his helplessness when he was sandwiched between the FBI orders and the agonies of his buddy. It’s just superb. He proved with this film that he can make his presence felt in serious roles as well.
I loved Katrina for her performance for the first time in this movie. Her transformation from a sweet, fun loving college girl inot a woman who is trying to save her husband’s life is definitely worth mentioning. John didn’t have much to do in the first half but he did his part well in the second half. Specially the scenes when he was detained in the FBI cell and having his food while tears ooze from his eyes is really good. The frustration, anger, pain, humiliation and helplessness of a captive is wonderfully portrayed by John.
Irfan khan was his usual self giving another fine performance. Also I would like to mention about the guy who committed suicide. Wonderful expressions from him, very real.
*Some of the best moments:
When Omar dances with Maya in the Rain
When Sam having food indetention
When Sam comes out of detention and Maya is waiting for him
The agony of the guy who witnesses Maya being harassed by the police due to his arrogance which leads him to take a extreme step.
The interrogation rounds of Omar with Irfan Khan
The time Maya sees Samir cleaning the windows of the FBI building
*What went wrong?
The Hai Junoon song created the perfect ambience for the storyline. The cinematography is awesome capturing nature at its best. With performances par excellence and such a solid storyline with an equally fabulous cinematography why does the film still fall flat on the face? The only answer is faulty direction. The story lacks pace and rhythm. The scenes in themselves are good but when we look at it in a totality it appears nothing but a collage of fine performances. The narration goes haywire when the director decided to add unnecessary masala to serious scenes. The best example is the climax scene. Had it been less melodramatic it would have left a long lasting effect. But when it goes the typical bollywood way, stretching like a rubber the audience begins to snort and whine.
On the whole I can say it’s a onetime watch. Once you leave the hall you will only remember the individual performances and not the film. But yes the gory experiences of the people who underwent detention inside those closed walls will definitely haunt you for a long time. So go and watch it to see some of the best performances in recent time, or to celebrate the return of the hindi movies in multiplexes or find a better reason after watching it!
