RACE is Abbas Mustan’s attempt to find the golden touch that
they had displayed with Baazigar, Khiladi and Ajnabee. ‘Naqab’ failed because
it was too complicated and this is the same with RACE too. In a bit to give a
super hit, AM duo put in too much- the result, a slick but complicated
thriller in which everyone double crosses the other.
A story of absolute mistrust between two loving brothers
Saif and Akshay Khanna, the thriller starts off with the usual élan of a Abbas
Mustan movie and keeps the pace going for the first half an hour. The story
builds up with Akshay falling in love with Saif’s girlfriend Bipasha. Saif
sacrifices his love thinking that his alcoholic brother would quit drinking.
Akshay and Bips marry each other as a scheme to usurp the 100 million insurance
that they would get if Saif is killed in an accident.
Everything goes as per plan but after Saif’s death, Katrina
playing Saif’s secretary, claims that Saif had married her before dying hence
the money is hers. What follows thereafter is too complicated with each one
backstabbing the other. We will leave the cinema hall absolutely not trusting
the director duo for the state of affairs after building up the tempo for a
fantastic thriller.
Nevertheless, the touch of the duo is evident in the twists
and turns, the business strategies and the backroom operations. Saif has come
of age and has started playing different shades and experimenting with films
like Omkara, Dil Chahta Hai and this. He adequately plays his role of the elder
brother who plays to win. Akshay as the younger brother who seeks revenge
against his brother is good at times . Bipasha as the sexy siren, fits the role
and has shades of grey. She is glamorous as the model, seductive as the lover
and plays her role to her limited best. Katrina looks beautiful and has not
much to do except looking good.
Anil Kapoor enters the fray as the fruit loving inspector
along with his stupid secretary Sameera Reddy a la Karamchand and kitty. He
lends comic credence to the second half with his double entendres and corrupt
methods. Anil Kapoor has these days made a mark for himself in these side but
important roles.
The locales and cinematography of South
Africa and Dubai
are breathtaking. The action scenes are also well picturised. Music by Pritam
is inspired and is one of the high points of the film. The background music by
Salim-Sulaiman is also thrilling and adds to the effect.
All in all, Race seems to be another misled but good
attempt by Abbas Mustan. They should concentrate more on simple thrillers like
Baazigar and Ajnabee instead of complicating things too much like Naqab and
Race. They are still the masters of the game and have the energy and verve to
direct thrilling moments like no one else in the industry.