|
By Taran
Adarsh, July 13, 2007 - 14:04 IST
 The most shocking thriller of the year. With a tagline
like that, the expectation from Abbas-Mustan's new
thriller rises ten-fold. Fortunately, NAQAAB lives up
to the hype and hoopla, to an extent.
For any thriller to strike a chord, it ought to follow
three simple rules: [a] It should boast of actors who
can carry off their parts with dexterity, [b] The
twists-n-turns should catch you by complete surprise
and [c] The climax, when the veil of secrecy is
unveiled, should come as a jolt from the blue.
NAQAAB gets it right on two of the three vital fronts.
The only time the film begins to stagnate is in its
second hour, when the knots begin to disentangle. The
film dips in the second hour, but the climax does a
volte face again. The suspense catches you by
surprise!
Write your own movie review of Naqaab
Abbas-Mustan have mastered the art of making thrillers
and although NAQAAB isn't as compelling as their
earlier products, there's no denying that the highs
outnumber the lows in this case. One thing is for
sure, the screenplay could've been tighter in the
second hour.
To sum up, NAQAAB is a watchable fare with the
twists-n-turns being its highpoint. Of course, with an
end like the one presented in this film, it's sure to
meet with varied opinions, having its share of
advocates and adversaries. But what goes in its favor
is the fact that it's at least different. Terms like
'predictable' and 'monotonous' are non-applicable in
this case!
 NAQAAB tells the story of Sophie [Urvashi Sharma], a
young girl from a middle-class family. She is engaged
to millionaire Karan [Bobby Deol]. When she meets
Vicky [Akshaye Khanna], she's attracted to him and
problems begin to surface.
The focus of the film also shifts to the past of the
three characters, with some unexpected elements thrown
in. Who does Urvashi choose?
The general perception is, the story bears a striking
similarity to the recently released RAQEEB [which, in
turn, was inspired by MURDER BY NATURAL CAUSES [1979]
-- a lesser known English film]. Not true! In fact,
NAQAAB is inspired by the English film DOT THE I.
NAQAAB begins with gusto! The relationships are
established at the very outset. The moments between
Akshaye and Urvashi are superb, beginning with the
song, 'Ek Din Teri Raahon Mein'. The chemistry is
sizzling, so vital for sequences that are to follow.
NAQAAB holds your interest in the first hour. You are
hooked. But the second half has its share of loose
ends. The motive of one of the protagonists isn't too
convincing and when the story moves further on this
track, it, somehow, doesn't look too convincing.
All this while you're under the impression that this
protagonist has a hidden agenda. Or, perhaps, he wants
to settle a score. You're led to believe that there's
a strong motive behind his actions. And when this
character reveals it all, it doesn't hit you like a
ton of bricks. In fact, the finale, when the story
again takes a U-turn, takes you by surprise.
 This may not be Abbas-Mustan's best script, but every
sequence bears the stamp of the master storytellers.
Stylishly shot with some great moments, the
storytellers at least have the courage to walk a
seldom-used path. Shiraz Ahmed's screenplay is
interesting. He builds up the suspense beautifully,
but the post-interval portions could've been tighter.
Pritam's music gels well with the mood of the film. In
terms of melody, 'Ek Din Teri Raahon Mein' stands tall
on the list. Its picturization is also topnotch.
Editing [Hussain Burmawala] is perfect. The film has
the right length [16 reels; 2 hours], with no
unnecessary moments.
NAQAAB belongs to Akshaye, who delivers yet another
powerful performance. He's splendid, the real scene
stealer, the soul of the enterprise. Bobby is
relegated to the backseat in the first hour, but
manages to make his presence felt in the second half.
Urvashi Sharma gets a dream launch and she utilizes
the golden opportunity completely. A confident
debutante, she enacts her part like a seasoned
professional. Also, she looks bewitching all through.
Vikas Kalantri and Vishal Malhotra are adequate. Raj
Zutshi is hardly there.
On the whole, NAQAAB is engrossing in parts, with the
suspense really catching you by surprise. At the
box-office, the film should find acceptance in big
cities mainly. It may've started slow, but it should
pick up over the weekend. Overall, a decent fare!
Rating:- * * *
|
