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By Taran
Adarsh, December 14, 2007 - 14:00 IST
 Unconventional
stories are being told on the Indian screen, thus
breaking away from the monotony. STRANGERS, directed
by Aanand Rai, is one such film. It charters a
hitherto unchartered path altogether!
Substitute the Indian faces with non-Indian actors --
French/Italian/German -- and STRANGERS would easily
pass off as a foreign film since the concept is very
unlike what we’ve seen on the Hindi screen so far.
One may draw parallels with STRANGERS ON A TRAIN, but
as layer after layer is peeled off, you realize that
STRANGERS travels on a different track. But the
problem is, STRANGERS caters to a very, very tiny
section of moviegoers -- intelligentsia. And that’s
its biggest problem!
Two men, complete strangers to each other and
diagonally opposite personalities, are travelling in a
first class compartment in England. The claustrophobia
of a closed space and the coincidence that they are
both Indians, binds them to each other.
Mr. Rai [Kay Kay Menon], the management giant and
Rahul [Jimmy Sheirgill], a writer with a flop career,
in their efforts to entertain each other throughout
the journey, drop clues and fill in the missing pieces
into stories that are never told unless, between
complete strangers. Four lives are put at stake and
everything is about to change…
 Director
Aanand Rai narrates a fascinating story and although
the writing isn’t foolproof, the execution of the
material catches your eye instantly. The written
material has some gaping flaws, like why doesn’t
Nandana walk out of her marriage when her marriage to
Jimmy has already started rotting? The end too looks
abrupt, with Jimmy accomplishing the task so very
easily. Some situations are left unexplained!
The director gets major help from two major
departments -- cinematography [splendid] and
background score [electrifying].
Both Jimmy and Kay Kay are highly competent. STRANGERS
should occupy the top slot in Jimmy’s body of work.
Kay Kay delivers an accomplished performance yet
again. Nandana Sen handles a complex role with
panache. Sonali Kulkarni [sp. app.] is perfect.
On the whole, STRANGERS is a well-made, intelligent
thriller, but it caters to a miniscule audience only.
At the box-office, the non-awareness of the film as
also the non-happening promotion will hit the film
hard.
[critique] * *
Rating:- *
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