Where do I get started? The PROS or the CONS? Let’s say the first is always the better. And Silsilay, atleast in my view, gets the better side of content more than often than the poor one. I mean let’s consider this---A fresh starcast comprising of some extremely hot looking chicks (yum yum), a brigade of talented male stars, a promising director, an ordered screenplay, dozes of sex, and a role reversal for an actress who the movie belongs to---Bhoomika Chawla.
Well to elaborate---Silsilay is a movie based on relationships. I watched it two times and read all the six reviews on the message board before coming up with a fair review. The people have thought of it with a typical traditional mind set that expects and accepts either a stereotypic Swades/Lagaan/Veer Zaara type movie or either a commercial potboiler like Main Hoon Na/Soldier/Qayamat. The reviewers, at least 4 of them simply didn’t identify with the balance between the stereotypic and commercial cinema that Khalid struck with Silsilay. I have to disagree with the other 2 of the six reviewers who consider Silsilay like a refreshing block buster, but I have to hammer the other 4 for writing it of with ample trashing.
To me the combo used by Khalid didn’t deliver completely. Yet it did give something to a hungry viewer’s appetite. A guy who works hard day and night in the overseas can only expect a movie that entertains. And Silsilay just does that, at least partly. Now for the review. Khalid does have a message---unlike the 4 criticizers believed. The message is the independence of women in 21st century. Khalid shows that the women can do everything on her own, but he does make an effort to mix it with some commercialism and to show some steamy scenes that ofcourse women can’t do on their own and obviously need men to be there (UNLESS they’re G**). Hence the men have to have a part to play to make the movie look more commercial. And that’s where, as I said before, Silsilay entertains. It becomes conventional everytime a guy-girl affair begins but as soon as it confines to the noncommercial, novel breakups, the viewer eventually gets tired of them and feels that the director is confused---he starts the affairs himself and ends them as per his will just when he feels that the guy-girl combo had delivered enough. I know I am being complicated in my review---but to break it down&make it simple---Khalid’s culmination overall does seem awkward and out of place, but still the movie sustains and via it’s PROS it delivers enough to be an OK timepass entertainer.
The camerawork is superb--especially on catching the Girls beautifully (Celina, Riya, Natasha). The music is earpleasing with Ban Jaayie and Aahista Aahista and it gets foot tapping with Meri Chandi Tu and Chahat ki. Good job H RESHAMMIYA! The direction is a plus at someplaces---like some unique scenes between Bhoomika-Rahul---but is a letdowner in places like the climax where the girls do get on their own---but the viewer fails to identify with this as Khalid completely rules the guys out of the picture just for the sake of getting a sudden novelty element.
Now for the performances----Tabu does deliver a decent performance and comes out successful in a complex role. But again its not hard for TABU. Kay Kay Menon is really pleasing in his role since he carries the experience and personality that the character requires. He doesn’t go over the top in even one scene. Rahul Bose looks cool and chilled out as usual---ENTERTAINING dude! Riya Sen is a must watch for all her die hard male fans like me---she looks gorgeous and like an eye-candy. Even at 5’1 she mesmerizes like a doll with her innocence---and yes---this time she does use this innocence via her eyes to emote much better than her previous movies. A little more work on her dialogue delivery and she should be all set to make a mind blowing career at least as a bombshell. Jimmy Shergill is true to his chocolaty boy character though he is becoming typecast---I know many people find him cute and innocent but it’s about time he switches sides with the likes of Ashmit Patel who are continuously unsuccessful in negative roles and refuse to try Jimmy-like roles. Celina Jaitley does another dare-bare act but very asthetically. Her voice toning has improved a great deal and needless to say, ever since her MISS India days, she has been HOT enough to persuade any guy to watch her on the 70 mm idiot box ALL DAY LONG. Good job CELINA!
Now coming to another serious topic. He used to be one of my favorites within no time after his release INTEHA. Yes ladies and gentleman, I am talking about Ashmit Patel. Even then the guy suffered with minimum fans, especially males, but still I would say Ashmit had a special charm in him. He was refused in Inteha by the paying public as a villain but I connected with him instantly. I knew he had the goods---the macho man looks, a fab physique, the right expressions, and a good voice---he only needed better movies and a break from the Bhatt Camp. Okay, given, Murder proved to be a hit but Mallika and Emraan were sketched for glory while Ashmit was rumoredly just taken by Vikram coz he was her girlfriend Amisha’s brother---such a cheap reason to cast a talented guy like Ashmit. I felt that this hit should at least get him out of the camp into a more reasonable one. But he stuck with them till Nazar to see himself portrayed as a long haired cop who just walks around under the shadow of a protagonist and an antagonist---both of them who are girls Meera and Koel. So sad! The guy finally left the camp still retaining me as his fan. But just when I hoped he would enter a better place, he joined Khalid’s Silsilay team---no harm in that---but in the role of Nikhil Ashmit is a complete miscast. His media image of a gangster was utilized here by the director but that limits his talents from reaching the public. The guy is much more that ur controversy victim, he has that hidden talent quite clearly which is never utilised by the directors. What more, to agitate the viewer he doesn’t cut his hair from NAZAR and enlengthens them further for this movie to look horrible. Why did you agree to the role Ashmit? Quite clearly after seeing u play Nikhil, you have lost a fan and believer in me, at least temporarily. So my advice is to quickly cut your hair and bring back Inteha’s Ashmit at least looks wise....and then go out looking for better offers for a comeback---trust me---many people like me will be waiting for u to do that and appreciate you for it, especially from the opposite sex.
To conclude, this goes to two ladies who underwent major changes in their characterizations. Two simpleton actresses, well appreciated for their acting by the critics, have ventured into the glamorous side of a role this time around...one successfully and one horribly. Lets save the better for the end. Natassha looks horrible in her new role. She has lost some weight and looks glamorous but what a role this lady picked---an irritating side kick who loves to have sex...such an immoral role so suddenly for an innocent looking girl...and to further make things worse she overacts way too much. Kudos to Bhumika to completely deliver a knockout, show-stealing performance. She is the complete opposite of Natassha. She delievers immensely in every frame of the movie despite having some bold, nontrad scenes, but she doesnt seem one bit awkward and carries the role with aplomb---thus walking one step further with the movie as a milestone to portray her versatility and silence the critics of her natural looks.
Overall, Silsilay gets a 3 out of 5 from me, clearly an average movie with nothing much except a novel combo of commercial and offbeat cinema---though I would say the combo isn’t worthy for the majority---it might partly entertain you but don’t expect an all-out hit movie!