Kurbaan

Medium : Hindi
Starring : Saif Ali Khan, Vivek Oberoi, Ompuri, Kareena Kapoor, Dia Mirza
Director : Rensil D'silva
Music : Salim Sulaiman


Karan Johar is a big name in the bollywood industry. He has directed films like 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai', 'Kabhi Khushu Kabhi Ghum' and 'Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna and he is also the producer of films like 'Kaal', 'Kal Ho Na Ho', 'Dostana', 'Wake Up Sid' and now 'Kurbaan'. The producer has written the story of the film also and the script writer - director is a new name in the field, Rensil D'silva (He has shared credits of screen play writing in films like 'Luck' and 'Rang De Basanthi').


The film deals with the issue of international terrorism and its influence on the society. Ehsan Khan (Saif ) is a professor in the Delhi University where Avanthika (Kareena) also does the same profession. They loved each other and married. Both of them reached US, when she gets a job in an University there. He also gets a part-time tutor's job. They stays in a locality where the majority are muslims.

Once, a girl from their neighborhood, came to Avanthika asking for help telling that her life is in danger. As per her request, she passes the message to a news reporter (Dia) and her colleague (Vivek). The unstable surroundings gave some fowl smell to Avantika and she accidentally came to know about the illegal activities going on there. How she manages to get out of the trap, what happens to her husband, how the journalist helps them are all shown in the later portions.


The film is presented well by the new director. The colorful visuals by the cinematographer Hemant Chathurvedi ('Company', 'Maqbool' and 'Dus Kahaniya' fame) helped to give a serious mood. Salim-Sulaiman had given an excellent background score, 'sukranallah...' song is also notable. All the artists have done their roles well. The scene at the lecture hall where Vivek Oberoi open up, is interesting.


The hero's character is a suspense, but the circumstances around him gives us a clue about it in the earlier portions itself. The scenes involving FBI officials should have been done more seriously. The anti climax portions including the train scenes are ok. As an extension to the climax, what will be happening to such a new born baby should have been mentioned. The resemblance of the tamil film 'Kuruthippunal' by Kamalhassan (adapted from 'Drohkaal' in hindi) is there in few scenes.


The theme of 'Kurbaan' is very relevant in the current era; you can watch it once.


Rating : 7.5 / 10

Love Aaj Kal

Medium : Hindi
Starring : Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, Rishi Kapoor
Director : Imtiaz Ali
Music : Pritam, Salim Sulaiman

We have already discussed about the different trends going on in the current bollywood film arena. The canvas is big, budget is high and the release is globally these days. There is also some experimentation happening in the theme side. Some of them are good, but some others are cliches only. They always give importance to romantic subjects (some exceptions like Ramgopal Varma, Madhur Bhandarkar etc are also there). Since they are targeting the global audience, the ingredients in the film has also been changed. This is the reason why Sylvester Stallone has been placed in a guest role in Akshay Kumar's recent film. The inclusion of more intimate romantic scenes as in english films is also evident in bollywood. Now they got the reason for the story of a film happening in US or UK.


May be for an average viewer, a film starring Deepika Padukone and Saif Ali Khan can be the main reason for watching 'Love Aaj Kal'. Any how I won't miss watching such a hindi film. But for me, the cause is different. The director of the film, Imtiaz Ali is the factor as far my interest is considered. Those who have seen 'Jab We Met'(starring Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor), which was director's previous film, will totally agree with me. The film which got released two years before was a romantic comedy that gave the real nostalgic feeling of the hindi films in the 70's and 80's. The new film is also produced by the same banner Shree Ashta Vinayak Cine Services Ltd.


In the opening scene, the development of the love affair between the hero (Saif) and the heroine (Deepika) who stays in Europe is shown. It is carried through different months and reached almost two years with in the first few minutes of the film itself. She wants to settle in India. On the other hand, he doesn't give real value for the love and he follows the western culture of romance. Then they decides to have a break down in their relationship. They have been watched by a sardarji (Rishi Kapoor), who is a restaurant owner also. He gives advice to the hero about the real value of love and the difficulties faced by him for loving a girl in his younger days. All such things are shown through a flashback. At the same time even after got splitted, the hero and the heroine can't lead a normal life. Both of them had found a new spouse of their own; whether they are satisfied in it is the area where ''Love Aaj Kal' discusses.



The main attraction lies in the treatment of the film. The flashback scenes of the film is the specialty. A new style has been developed by the director where the hero does the double role. He represents both the current and old generations. Such a contrasting characterization where the hero did the flashback character of another senior actor also felt different. But the director failed to show the deepness in the affection of the characters in the flashback and the theme is not unusual.



The film has got the flavour of films like 'Anbe Sivam' and 'Hum Dil de Chuke Sanam' in few areas. Saif, Deepika and Rishi Kapoor had done their roles well. Gisello Monteiro, who comes as the pair for Saif in flash back scenes is not a good choice. She is not flexible in the song scene also. Also Neetu Singh (Rishi's wife) who comes as her old age character in the climax shot doesn't have similarity in appearance with this young girl (it can be left un noticed saying cinematic!). Nataraj Subramanyam, the cameraman who worked for the director in his previous film, has given excellent visuals. As usual, Some peppy songs has been given by music director Pritam.


Those who are too interested in watching bollywood movies can watch 'Love Aaj Kal'. It is presented differently, but the message is same, "Love Never Fails..."


Rating : 6.5 / 10