For once, the title hardly gives away anything about the movie. In fact, it only makes you wonder about its relevance.
Trailers and promos can be misleading; this is proven yet again here after Jism. Though the movie has a big dose of sex, neither is it the sole focus and nor is it as funny as expected. The story traces the bizarre happenings in the life of a desperate virgin. Dialogues are mostly in English, with a little bit of Hindi adding spice.
Despite the setting, the movie stays clear from vulgarity thankfully. The movie speaks to its audience in multiple layers, some which seem more relevant when you consider who the director is. Coupled with dark and slow proceedings, it tests the patience of the viewers at times. The realistic yet romantic love scene stands out.
Bose excels yet again; his credible portrayal proves that he is not one to be caught in any kind of image. Zorabian looks comfortable in her surprisingly short role. Raaz evokes laughter and fond memories of Monsoon Wedding, while Shukla is pleasing. It’s good to see Asrani on screen again, but he’s quite wasted. Other actors fit in effortlessly.
The few songs that we get to hear seem interesting, but never last long enough to stay in your mind. The background score is a bit queer, alternating between various sounds in short intervals; experimentation is welcome, but the jerky transitions distract the audience. Cinematography and editing though are easy on the eye.
This is the second of Balani’s movies to release after his unfortunate death. He shows that he’s made up of something significant. But the movie gets dragged in a few directions, with some extra indulgence and fails to become a wholly enjoyable product.
Starring: Rahul Bose, Vijay Raaz, Saurabh Shukla, Perizaad Zorabian, Asrani
Music: Anand Raaj Anand / Farhad Wadia
Direction: Anant Balani