Kurbaan Movie Review: Go, Watch It
Posted by Starwin on 21st November, 2009
Kurbaan, a Karan Johar Movie(yes!) directed by Rensil D’Silva (story writer of the trend setting Rang De Basanti) is a hard hitting movie. Wonderfully evocative, thrilling and deftly executed, Kurbaan is one of the better movies in the recent three years, not just 2009. Though one can compare Kurbaan with New York and Fanaa, the two terror predecessors, Kurbaan holds strong and create its own unique identity in Bollywood. Of course, there are flaws in Kurbaan and the story line is predictable, but the execution and treatment is smooth.
Story of Kurbaan:
Kurbaan is a terror cake with the love story being the only ‘cherry’ on top. To elucidate, the story starts with Avantika(Kareena Kapoor) a professor, coming to Delhi from New York to see her ailing father. She joins the university and ends up meeting a new professor called Ehsaan Khan(Saif Ali Khan) who charms her and wins her heart. He even convinces her father (DDLJ in a rush!) who relents. Avantika gets a call to return to New York and Ehsaan agrees to join her. They get married and stay in a home with Muslim neighbors for company. One day, Avantika’s neighbor Salma(Nauheed Cyrusi) comes to her place saying that her life is in danger and that her husband would kill her anytime. When Avantika tells this to her husband, he does not pay much of an interest. The inquisitive girl tries to find out for herself what is cooking in the lives of her neighbors. She happens to espy a vicious plot of international terrorism being hatched right next to her house and her fear gets quadrupled when she sees Salma dead. Avantika soon realizes that she is a mere pawn in the nefarious plot of international terrorism
Technical details of Kurbaan:
It is not easy to make movies like Kurbaan and New York. If you take Kurbaan, it is a pretty complicated subject which has to touch base in all aspects: terrorism, Islam, investigative journalism, conspiracy etc. Kurbaan’s plus points is its quick pace. There are moments of thrills, high drama, gore, betrayal, lust, suspense-a thriller which befits a Sidney Sheldon novel or a classy Hollywood thriller. Kurbaan has been blessed with the best technical finesse that is unmatched by any movie this year. The editing is slick and the script is classy. I wouldn’t be surprised if either the script or the editing of Kurbaan is up for awards this year. Hemant Chaturvedi’s cinematography is outstanding, making the movie stand out in terms of appearance.Anurag Kashyap and Niranjan Iyengar are bang on with dialogues. The combination of superb lines with amazing screenplay, razor sharp editing and Salim Sulaiman’s noteworthy music elevate the film to admirable proportions. There are two tracks in the film ‘Shukar Allah’ and ‘Ali Maula’, both are gems.
Plus points of Kurbaan:
• The amazing chemistry between Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor. Though it is not really a traditional love story, the comfort level and chemistry between the pair is commendable, and possibly the best seen in years.
• The crisp editing and flow of the film. Both parts of the movie, before and after interval, are well balanced.
• Kurbaan scores on three levels: the terrorist’ s misplaced sense of beliefs, the helpless spectator who has to bear the brunt and the person who keeps a tab on the terror movement.
• The movie does not preach but is still capable of making people talk and indulge in a debate. Not surprisingly, people who came out of the cinema hall had ‘international terrorism’ as their favorite topic of discussion.
• Vivek Oberoi’s characterization is the most believable and Karan Johar was right when he said ‘watch out for him’
• The choice of locations, credibility in the form of events, people , props etc are noteworthy. Karan Johar has given reporters, cops and FBI agents their due space and importance in the story.
• For once the love-making, though over-rated, is justified in the film. Unlike other films which talk about skin show as a part of the script, when it is not relevant (remember Hello!), Kurbaan’s love making was needed. Also the build-up to the kiss scene (not the smooch, the build-up) in the first half is much hotter than the love making scene.
Best Scenes in Kurbaan
Kurbaan is loaded with memorable scenes, some of them which can leave permanent impact. There is an adrenalin rush every 30 minutes. Here are a few good scenes of Kurbaan:
1. Saif Ali Khan firing rounds at the US police just before the interval and destroying all evidence before scooting off.
2. Vivek Oberoi’s scene where he tells a US student “we will leave your country if you promise to leave ours”
3. The shopping scene where Vivek Oberoi confides in Kareena Kapoor
4. The gripping scene where Saif Ali Khan and Om Puri tells Vivek Oberoi to shoot a person in a fast food restaurant
5. The coffee to Vivek Oberoi scene(aint telling you more)
6. The spell-binding 35 minute climax which is a superb finale to the buildup of events. The bomb blasts and firing at the underground tube stations is by no means, the easiest thing in the world to shoot!
Minus points of Kurbaan
Silly mistakes in Kurbaan were not justified. If these errors were done away, this gripping movie could have been a critical masterpiece. Here are the flaws of Kurbaan:
1. How come the FBI officer who is so close to the suicide bomber does not die when he explodes right in front of him? He just emerges out of the ashen smoke like the erstwhile comic character of Hindi films whose face is colored with coal-like smoke and there is no other damage done.
2. Saif Ali Khan who has a one dimensional attitude towards jihad, suddenly become ‘all human’ at the end; the change of heart is not really convincing. But may be, the director wanted to take cinematic liberties with this one. Painting him a villain throughout may have made the audience ‘not relate’ to him This is one place where New York was strong, John Abraham’s character was determined to kill right till the end.
3. When the FBI knows of this man called Ehsaan, a professor who teaches Modern Islam in a US college, why dint they go, get him?
Performances in Kurbaan
Kurbaan is one film which has very good performances by every character in the film. Saif Ali Khan’s icy personality reminds us of his Ek Hasina Thi persona. He has puts in a layered performance. Kareena Kapoor is very good in emotional scenes. Watch her in the climax scene when she asks Ehsaan for his real name, simply fantastic. Vivek Oberoi can be up for an award nomination(with Neil Nitin Mukesh for New York as his competitor) for his superb portrayal of Riyaaz. He also excels in the climax scene and shows that he can deliver the goods anytime, everytime.
Kirron Kher puts in a superlative performance and Om Puri makes an impact through minimal expressions. Dia Mirza, Nauheed Cyrusi and Kulbhushan Kharbanda shine in their brief roles.
Final words:
Kurbaan is the most powerful and gripping movie of 2009. Watch it for its riveting narrative, thrills and a climax that can leave you tongue-tied. Karan Johar can finally say “Move Over Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Kurbaan is now the best movie of Dharma Productions”
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