People living in Vadodara would be aware that options for activities that can be undertaken on a holiday are limited here. The first

thing that I usually check in the Sunday newspaper is the Hollywood movies running at INOX. I found one “Hot Stepper” there this time. Since I had never heard about this one and therefore did not know what type it would be, I had a tough time convincing my wife to join me for it. But she hardly ever refuses, and I consider myself so fortunate for this, when I truly request her for anything! However the challenge of getting ready on a Sunday morning for a 10.00 AM show was writ large on our faces. We finally arrived at INOX about 20 minutes late, and there it was for the first time that we saw the poster of this movie. Alas, it was a dance based movie, and not an action one as I had thought earlier. I cursed myself for not having been able to guess this from the title itself, but then also took it as an opportunity to please my ever-obliging wife by watching a movie of HER choice instead. 

And so we finally bought the tickets for “Race” which we had heard was a fast paced, light movie and least likely to give me a headache. The movie is set in the beautiful locales of Durban, South Africa. The cast consists of Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Khanna as the leading men accompanied by Katrina Kaif and Bipasha Basu as the leading ladies. Now don’t ask me who is paired with whom, as I am still trying to figure that out. In fact at many times in the movie it appears that the actors themselves don’t know on whose side they are and what expressions they need to show when confronted with the other actor. But then all is fair in love and war, as they say, and it’s especially true when the money involved is 200 Million Rupees. Though how rupees work in South Africa is another thing that I am still trying to figure out. 

Anyway to start from the beginning, Saif is the elder brother and inheritor of a ranch and stud farm and other properties, which were left behind to him by his father. His stepbrother, Akshay was left high and dry due to his habit of drinking. Now the only person who has done anything resembling acting here is this younger brother, Akshay Khanna. Friends I am intentionally not using the screen names of the actors here lest you get more confused than is necessitated by the movie. He is the perennial drunk who is loved very much by his all providing elder brother, but in his heart of hearts he resents this benevolent attitude of his elder step brother. 

The elder brother Saif is managing the stud farm but his rivals and the loss in the races has left him with all the property mortgaged and the banks barking at his heels. The treachery of his loyal jockey has left him further vulnerable. He has only one person his loyal personal secretary, Katrina to count on. Meanwhile there is also this ravishing model, Bipasha who has befriended him and he is slowly falling in love with her. Now on Katrina’s part, Saif is more than a boss to her. Does it sound confusing, well hold on the movie has not even begun yet. This is just the background. The story actually begins when the younger brother declares to Saif that he is interested in Bips and that too to an extent that he would give up drinking if there was some way he could get her to be his wife. Lo and Behold, what’s a filmy elder stepbrother who can’t even manage a glamorous girl for his younger brother, albeit a drunkard. With that all done where does it leave the secretary, Katrina. Obviously with the elder brother, Saif. So that’s all settled then one would think, there are no other characters to be taken care of, are there.  No no, you are mistaken, the movie has only just begun, remember. Read on… 

So while the elder brother fixes up Bips with his younger brother, the two of them hatch a plan to get rid of him, ie Saif and get the insurance money and all the control for themselves. And in such circumstances the secretary Katrina would stand by her boss and save him, no? If that were the case then how would this movie be such a racy one. No such luck. She teams up with the younger brother! But the younger brothers partner and beau, now his wife actually starts sleeping with the elder one. So is she on his side, or is she trying to entrap him. 

Well to be very frank with you, I still haven’t fully understood who’s on who’s side and remained there for which part of the movie. I guess the one reason that you may watch this movie (at least twice, if you are of average intelligence) is to figure out the pairing, so that if someone asks you casually after the show, you may at least be able to answer him or her.

So now that ive told you the story, or whatever little of it that I understood, and ive told you about the performances (in case you didn’t read carefully, ill repeat, there aren’t any except for a little by Akshay) so what remains. Oh the music. Well if I had not stuffed my ears with bits of tissue paper, I would surely have said something about it. But now ill be diplomatic and say that you must watch the movie for getting a first hand experience and I won’t spoil it for you by telling all. 

So how was it overall for me, Fantastic. Why, because I got no headache, thanks not to the good movie but to the makeshift earplugs that I so effectively used!!   

Plot Revealed In The Review:	Somewhat revealed
Best to watch with:	Friends
Movie Genre:	Drama
Best part in the movie:	Music