KARAM is a neat story, written with panache and passion by the talented Suparn Varma who last week, succeeded in creating a freshness in the romantic comedy genre with ’’Socha Na Tha’’.
Here’s one actioner where the songs are not allowed to get in the way of the wallops. But then Karam isn’t really an action film. It’s a passion play staged in the blood-steeped world of crime.
John Abraham comes into mainstream of cinema as a solo hero for the first time this year with ’Karam’. John’s last hit ’Dhoom’, was an action-packed thriller that has him in gray shades. The year started disastrously for him with flop ’Elaan’. But he is banking on ’Karam’ now. Priyanka Chopra plays opposite him in her recently released ’Blackmail’ that has proved waterloo at the box-office. Priyanka has been one of the most successful stars of the year 2004 with her hits like ’Mujhse Shaadi Karoge’ and ’Aitbar’.
John Abraham makes a sincere effort to live his role and he succeeds largely. The extremely talented actor seems to be taking giant strides with every film. Priyanka Chopra is quite effective. Bharat Dabholkar seems more convincing than his earlier film outings [PAAGALPAN, GOD ONLY KNOWS]. Shiny Ahuja suffers due to a sketchy characterization. He is okay nonetheless. Vishwajeet Pradhan is passable. Murali Sharma is efficient. Rajesh Khera is adequate. Anjan Shrivastava is wasted.
Director Sanjay F. Gupta has mounted the film well, but the film will be remembered more as a stylish fare than a gripping fare. As a director, the emotional moments between John and Priyanka seem superficial. Music [Vishal-Shekhar] gets no scope in a film like this. Yet, ’Tinka Tinka’ is the only track that seems decent. The track in B & W, ’Tera Hi Karam’, should be deleted for it only acts as a speed breaker.
Cinematography is in keeping with the mood of the film. Action scenes seem repetitive, especially the ’Matrix’ kind of stunts. But the one in the bank seems innovative and is well implemented.
Karam is the story of one man’s retribution dealt to him by life, retribution borne out of his dark past.