After Wake Up Sid, KJo is back again with different kind of Cinema. Real-life couple Saifeena(this sounds so stupid) is back after Tashan. Kurbaan looks very promising. Theme of Terrorism is always exciting. Will Kurbaan meet the expectations?
Btw Kareena has strange record, whenever she does movie with real-life partner, it bombs. With Shahid, she has done Fida, 36 chinatown, Chupke Chupke; all bombed. Jab We Met released after their break-up. With Saif, she already has one disaster, Tashan. Will Kurbaan be path-breaking movie at least for Bebo?
STORY
It’s pretty simple. Saif, a Muslim boy and Kareena, a Hindu girl fall in love, got married, migrated to New York. They shifted to Indian Neighborhood, Saif got a job as professor teaching "Islam and the Western world". They have a Muslim fundamentalist family as their neighbors. Nothing is alright with that family.
Kareena found out about death of one the women from that family. Meanwhile, a flight with UN delegations bombed. Vivek lost his girlfriend Dia(both working for a NEWS agency) in that terrorist attack.
Kareena find out the ugly truth about Saif, Vivek has to uncover people behind Dia’s death. Saif has his own mission. It’s a story of Good vs Evil.
PLUSSES:
Powerful performances from all the actors. Saif, Kareena act very natural. Kareena has become tolerable now and she emotes quite well. She looks hot when the scene demands, she looks girl-next-door when the scene demands. She deserves a nomination for sure.
Vivek acts her role convincingly. I feel if he doesn’t try too hard to impress, then he will be better actor.
Kirron Kher for a change enacts Afghan mother and she is good in whatever she does.
Nauheed and Dia both look beautiful. I want to see more of Dia, she leaves impact even in just two scenes.
Om Puri and other cast members did their part well.
Movie looks slick, thanks to nice work done by cinematographer. Background score matches the mood of the film, songs are easy to ears and pleasent to eyes. The movie has an international feel, thanks KJo.
Classroom scene and Climax sequence deserve special mention.
MINUSSES
The movie has two main tracks.
One about Saifeena and the other about Islamic Terrorism. Unfortunately, you don’t feel depth in either track. Islamic terrorism is such a sensitive issue. Writer has tried to justify those inhumane acts of the family, but you will not be convinced. You will not feel sympathetic for the family at all.
Similarly, Kareena-Saif story doesn’t have depth either. You can blame confusing characterization for it. Saif’s character is not well-written. In the climax, his change of heart is not justified(infact people were laughing).
Weak script is the MAIN culprit here, one more time. Direction is alright, Editing could have been better.
The movie has given A certificate, so that will also keep family audience away.
My View
This movie doesn’t fall under the category of Brainless entertainment like WANTED. Even WANTED was given A certificate but it was fun ride.
When you want to make meaningful movie for a thinking class, you need to pay extra attention to script, characterization of at least your central characters. Kurbaan disappoints because of weaker script and non-convincing central character.
However, movie will get a good opening because of excellent publicity. Looks like Saif has a good PR team to like Shahrukh, I feel his Love Aaj Kal was also bit overrated. Kurbaan is getting rave reviews but I don’t think it will meet expectations of even classes, forget about Masses.
I will not recommend this movie as it neither entertain nor enlighten. You can watch NEW YORK again on DVD.
Btw Kurbaan will not break the pattern set by Kareena.
GOD bless all,
nayan