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[Sharmila-Sweet]

Kurbaan Film Review [SPOILERS]

First things first. Kudos to Karan Johar for shifting gears completely and entering into serious territory. Of course, we do love him for his K-class cinema: all his crunchy popcorn films beginning with K, ever since Kuch Kuch Hota Hai redefined mainstream romance. But Kurbaan doesn't need the popcorn at all. It keeps the screen on overboil for most of its screen time with its hard-hitting storyline that dares to venture into undefined territory.

Like Khuda Kay Liye, Kurbaan too looks at the other side of Islamic fundamentalism and puts the post 9/11 tumult in perspective. Who are these guys who carry anger in their hearts, revenge in their heads and bombs in their pockets? Why are they hell bent on blasting the world, irrespective of the anguish it spells to all and sundry? Can there be a purpose behind their madness? Is one man's terrorist actually another man's activist? Kurbaan, written by Karan Johar, raises these pertinent - and extremely topical - questions, without glossing over the one undeniable truth: a suicide bomber can never solve the inequities of the world, Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, notwithstanding.

So we have Ehsan Khan (Saif Ali Khan), the Pakistani who lost his wife and kid to American excesses, seething with a desire to avenge his loss. He isn't the archetypal, skull-capped, bearded fundoo, mouthing soliloquies on jihad and intifada (uprising). On the contrary, he's suave, sophisticated and a charmer, tutoring the world on the misconceptions of Islam in the modern world. Small wonder then he manages to win the heart of college professor Avantika (Kareena Kapoor) and follows her to New York on her stint with NYU. But the domestic idyll is short-lived as Avantika soon discovers it isn't her neighbours (the Afghani extended family, headed by Om Puri) alone who have suspicious antecedents. Husband Ehsan too is an integral part of the plot to bomb America for its excesses against Muslims, the world over.

In a classroom sequence, the film tries to put Islamic fundamentalism in perspective by linking the rise of the Muslim terrorist to America's oil-grabbing foreign policy and its questionable attempts at destabilising oil rich countries in order to remain a superpower. Almost every member of the sleeper cell that comprises the Afghan family has a sad story of loss and horror that drove them into becoming fidayeens (suicide bombers). And before you begin to question the filmmakers for going too lenient on terrorism, you find Avantika who remains a non-convert till the very end. Articulating the voice of reason - and non-violence - she questions her husband and oscillates between love and hate for the man who has fathered her child. A prisoner in her own house, her only hope is Riyaaz (Viveik Oberoi), the undercover journalist who has his story of personal loss that pitches him on the other side in this war. He is determined to fight the terrorists and derail their plot of bombing America.

Karan Johar's story has gravitas. Renzil D'Silva's narrative keeps you on the edge of the seat, for most of the time. Salim Suleiman's music score has a melodious feel. Hemant Chaturvedi's cinematography serenades both Delhi, where the Saif-Kareena romance blossoms and New York, where it cracks up. And the performances by almost all the lead characters are gritty. If Om Puri paints a chilling picture of the terrorist who masquerades in the garb of the commoner and Kiron Kher makes the myth of a suicide bomber plausible, then Viveik Oberoi lends credibility to the voice of the progressive Muslim. But it is the chemistry between Saif and Kareena that lights up the film as the duo bring to life a picture of passion and restraint as the doomed lovers. We do however wish their relationship had a stronger emotional graph, post the startling revelation. How did the duo contend with the fear, hate and disillusion that crept in after Saif revealed his true identity: a bit more on that? And a bit less in the length of the film which could do with some taut editing in the second half. Also, there are a few inconsistencies that mar the film's realism. Why does the FBI loom large like a know-it-all, do-it-all figure? Not only do the FBI sleuths always be a step ahead of the terrorists and arrest them without actually knowing who they exactly are, they also emerge unscathed in a suicide bombing attacking where almost everybody crumbles. Super Uncle Sam, did we say!
But Kurbaan sure does strike a chord and sets you thinking on stuff that needs to be sorted out before the new world order - a more humanitarian, less violent - sets in. Don't miss it.

A word about

Performances: Saif and Kareena transport their off screen tuning to the big screen. While their passionate encounters are a class in aesthete, their delineation of Ehsan and Avantika is mature, restrained and realistic. Om Puri, Kiron Kher and Viveik Oberoi are in sync too.
Music: While Salim-Suleiman have come up with an entire audio track which fits in with the ambience of the film, it is Shukran Allah and the title track, Kurbaan Hua which have lingering notes. More importantly, the songs blend in seamlessly with the story and have not been filmed as your run-of-the-mill song-dance numbers.

Dialogue: The conversation amidst the diverse protagonists has a realistic edge and seem straight out of life. It's only when he tries to explain the theoretical basis of Islamic fundamentalism that Anurag Kashyap, dialogue writer, seems to enter the realm of text-book knowledge. The exposition seems a rattling of newspapers headlines.

Story: Karan Johar explores new depths with his insightful story on the world's most pressing problem: terrorism.

Cinematography: Hemant Chaturvedi uses his camera deftly to create stunning vignettes of Delhi and New York, without losing out on the seriousness of the plot.

Styling: Kareena looks svelte in dresses and tights and brings to life a glamorous professor who dons the hijab with equal felicity. Saif is his usual dapper self, making casual seem haute.


TOI

[Sharmila-Sweet]

Anjaana Anjaani Review, Includes Spoilers!

Expectations:Yes, I certainly has some. After all, this is my favorite director's film! Priyanka falls into my favorite actresses category, and Ranbir, he is def my favorite these days out of the new lot. I was expecting fun yet seriousness. I have enjoyed all of Sid's previous directorials, all of Ranbir's films, (with the exception of Saawariya), and most of Priyanka's films have been enjoyable as well. So were Sid, Ranbir, and Priyanka able to meet my expectations? READ ON!

Story:From the previews I saw on TV, I was imagining something else, I hate reading stuff online, since usually when you read something, some part of the plot gets given away, so I had no idea what this movie was about. I liked the concept, it was a new twist on how "strangers" meet and fall in love, Most of the movies we watch have the same plot, two people who don't know each other, cross paths, hate each other, then like each other, blah blah. This was novel in making that same old story look new and different. I won't say much more as i'm afraid I will give something away. I was predicting certain things to happen, and, I was SO WRONG! So to me, when things aren't so predictable in a movie. I enjoy it

Direction: Siddarth Anand's 4th film. I have enjoyed all of his previous films. Salaam Namaste being my favorite. I can safely say that with Anjaana Anjaani, Sid has matured as director. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say this is Sid's FINEST work yet. My mouth was open with so much shock and just excitement throughout the whole film. The last time this happened to me at a movie was MNIK! I was smiling the whole time, and just could not stop! Sid, you did AN AMAZING JOB with this film, seriously. He brought out some very different performances from the lead pair, and it just really worked for him! I will stop here, as I can go on and on complimenting Mr. Anand, but haha, I will never stop

Songs:Loved them before seeing the film! Were the picturizations good enough??? "Anjaana Anjaani" was very fun, and haha, all though the dance was cheesy as heck, it was really catchy. Gosh, Ranbir is just a great dancer. I loved the way he danced in this song! " Tumse Hi Tumse" wasn't too fond of it before, but I actually really like it now! The video was soooo cute. I liked how Ranbir was imagining himself, kinda cute! Also, the whole sequence with the costumes, hahaah, GREAT! The audience cheered for Batman and Superman here, no joke "Hairat", fun song! Loved the picturization! Kinda wish there was more in it though "Aas Paas Khuda" lovely picturization once again! "I feel Good" I kinda thought this one wasn't needed, but it was again, very cute "Tujhe Bhula Diya" I thought of something else when I imagined this song, but, the picturization was decent!

Performances:

There weren't too many characters besides Akash's(Ranbir) friends, and haha, Priyanka's friend, but they were all decent, and I'm glad there wasn't much of them in the film!

I'm not sure if people know this person is in the film, so I won't give it away, you can highlight if you want to know
Zayed Khan: I actually totally forgot he was in the movie So when he came on screen, haha, we got excited( Yes, we are fans!) and squealed I miss him so much!!!!!! He was decent as Kunal. Even though you aren't supposed to feel bad for him, I kind of did, only because I was imagining something else from his character:P It was great to see him!

Priyanka Chopra: I'll be honest, there were a couple times when she laughed and I got a little annoyed. However, that was it. I LOVED HER! She was a very fun and vibrant character, well, not when she was trying to, you know I'm not really sure she has played a character like this, but she fit the role of Kiara perfectly! Also. I LOVED HER HAIR! I actually want to cut my hair now, but i'll have to wait till after my wedding

Ranbir Kapoor: Freakin Adorable I tell you! I felt like hugging him, he just looked like a teddy bear! haha. Anywho. Loved him in this movie, he was a mature, yet very fun character. He balanced both VERY well. He has so many emotions sprouting from him, and seriously, You felt for him! Well Done Ranbir!!!!!



Favorite Scenes: This part def includes spoilers, so don't read this if you plan to be surprised when watching the movie.

* Kiara and Akash meet on the Bridge. And Kiara won't shut up!

* Kiara and Akash escape the hospital, or whatever that place was.

* Kiara and Akash try to kill themselves with the Saranwrap and Gas.

* Swimming in the Atlantic Ocean, and well, the whole "Peeing in the Ocean" sequence.

* "What is this, Pee Revenge" :rofl:

*Kunal and Kiara's love story, until, the "incident"

* I AM A DISCO DANCER :dance: Oh man, and the scene that comes after, when they trick John , and the car breaks down, and the whole "AAL IZ WELL" thing


* Ranbir was hilarious when they bumped into "Peshto" in Vegas, the way he said her name cracked me up!

* "Say bye to the house" :rofl:


*The ending scene with the proposal in the water!

btw. the Crossguard, from the beginning and in the end, that was "Gupta" from The Terminal If anyone remembers.

* Also, Sid Anand's son makes an appearance in the film, he's Deven's son haha, cuteness that Ranveer is!

* Special Note: I LOVE THE WAY THIS FILM WAS SHOT!!!! We've seen NYC countless times in several Indian movies, but this was totally different way of shooting it, I felt like I was right in the heart of NYC. And just recently, we saw SF in MNIK, but, I didn't see anything too similar except the whole city shot. I seriously loved the way it was shot!

If any more scenes come into my head, I'll add them on later


The Negatives

* How did they get out of the hospital so quickly in the beginning? And I felt like when they came out of it, they landed on the set of Tara Rum Pum

* If Kiara lived in SF, why was she in NYC? Visiting? That was a bit confusing?

* Rachel, why was she so ugly :rotfl: Like, they could have gotten someone a little decent looking


OVERALL: I'd say, if you are in the mood for something fun and lighthearted...WATCH IT! It's not as crazy as Dabangg or anything. It has the right pinch of everything in it. Ranbir fans...YOU SHOULD WATCH IT! This is one of my favorite performances of his. Priyanka fans will enjoy it, she just will do that to you! So, def if you are a fan of Ranbir or Priyanka, watch it! And of course if you are a Sid fan like me :dance: Totally worth my money :dance: Yay! And yes, def falls into one of my favorite films of 2010! There aren't that many mind you, I've only really loved My Name is Khan and Dabangg this much this year!