Naqaab

'Naqaab' which comes from the stable of the director duo Abbas-Mustan is a watchable movie! One wouldn't come out of the theater cursing it or ruing the wasted money!!! The first half of the movie is below par but I have given it a rating of 6 because the last 30 minutes really takes the graph of the movie to a new level. The first half seems a half-baked plot where all the three leading protagonists (Akshaye Khanna, Bobby Deol and the new Urvashi Sharma) are trying to create a love-triangle/drama of sorts. The character sketch in the first half not up to the mark and I can see a lot of viewers losing patience at the intermission mark. But boy, the movies does take a good turn in the second half. Though the movie is a rip off from a Hollywood flick (I would not name it though), it would come as a good enough thriller for Bollywood fans. Acting is not the strong point of the movie, Akshaye is strictly O.K. and Bobby Deol needs to get back to form really quickly. For her first movie, Urvashi is fine (and she is a quite a treat on the eyes). Another good thing is that song interruption is minimum in the movie (just 3 songs and one is kind of introduction). So all in all an average movie! Watch it just for sizzling Urvashi and the last 30 minutes.

Another off beat movie for the Indian movie-goers, and it ain't that bad. Naqaab has a distinctly different style of story telling, and coupled with some exquisite shooting locations it is a visual treat to the eye. Urvashi Sharma is pretty good too. She's a delight to the eyes of every unmarried male. Although I must say the acting in this movie especially of Bobby Deol and Urvashi Sharma was pathetic. Akshaye Khanna is good, but this isn't his best of roles either.

The story is like any Abbas-Mustan thriller. Ripped/adapted from classic Holly flicks. This time around its loosely based on The Truman Show, and no, SLV isn't the derived movie theme. It has a lot of twists and turns towards the end, which makes up for the pathetic first hour of the movie. At one point of time it was hard to imagine if the movie is a thriller or a comedy. The songs aren't that good, the camera work which should have been exquisite,considering video camera plays a chief role in the movie, isn't up to the mark as well.

No point harping on the plot, it is basically a love triangle with a good twist in it. Its a fun watch at the end of the week, after facing the brunt of your boss' wrath.

So Naqaab includes three amazing actors Bobby Deol, Urvashi Sharma and Akshay Khanna. This movie consists of a roller coaster ride where we can see a poor girl and a millionaire with a fantasy love story with a twist of a third person entering into their lives. Sophie (Urvashi Sharma) who believes in living-in the moment with independent aspirations; who loves to earn money for herself despite of having a lavish live-in life with Karan (Bobby Deol); a multi-millionaire who fell in love with her despite of knowing that she was poor. Their lives were perfect until on the day of the engagement party Vicky Malhotra aka Akshay Khanna crashes the event and dances with the gorgeous bride in the absence of Karan... How the story takes turns with some spicy love scenes happening between Sophie and Vicky despite of her marriage and the main twist arrives when Karan gets to know about them and he did nothing... In order to see a gentleman Karan's story you need to dig into this movie to know a crazy twist...

Review of the Best Song(10/10): Ek Din Teri Rahoon For an amazing song coordination of the beats and KK's voice.

Right before watching Naqaab I understood that if I have ever to catch this Abbas-Mustan thriller that would be only for newly introduced Urvashi Sharma. Beside this I find no other reasons to watch. Every time I see Urvashi I remember of Diana Rigg, the Bond girl of 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service opposite George Lazenby. She is new but surprisingly she did help to flash the camera as a new battery. Although the movie was made colourfully it hardly puts any positive colour to our heart, due to such an over-twisting plot.

This is the third nonsense directorial presentation from director duo Abbas-Mustan after Daraar and Badshah. After watching a single time I got fed up with the movie and hope not to repeat it watching again. So far they have used Bobby Deol with better prospects in their previous thrillers - Soldier, Ajnabee and Humraaz, but here they all put him under the mud. Although his role has a bit tragedy here but it fails to load back in memory after the movie reaches its end. But the romantic humours between Akshaya and Urvashi are really hilarious and worth watching. Quiet something they can form a good pair if mechanized correctly.

I had to say once again if there is any reason to watch Naqaab, that is Urvashi Sharma. She performed her first role with full confident, and I noticed nothing weaknesses in her acting as well as screen-presence. I beg to Abbas-Mustan to cast her in future again in their next upcoming projects with good story, casting and production.

The film's tag-line said it all which is "The most shocking thriller of the year". It was really shocking with twists & turns that were impossible to predict. You just don't know who is bad, who is good? and what is their motive? Do not mistake this film as another love triangle about two guys fighting for one girl because it's completely different. Urvashi Sharma (Sophie) was OK for her first film but Bobby Deol (Karan) and Akshaye Khanna (Vicky) were terrific as usual, it is great to see them again after Humraaz. Music is excellent composed by one of my favourite composers Pritam. The best songs are Ek Din (which stands out with its memorable Spanish guitar intro) and Aye Dil sung by Sunidhi Chauhan. Abbas-Mustan are known for creating good music in all of their films. They are one of my favourite directors; I loved their films ever since I seen Baazigar. Although they are inspired from Hollywood movies but their films are better than the original which are:

Naqaab- Dot the I (2003)

36 China Town- Chinatown (1974)

Aitraaz- Disclosure (1994)

Humraaz- A Perfect Murder (1998)

Ajnabee- Consenting Adults (1992)

Daraar- Sleeping with the Enemy (1991)

Baazigar- A Kiss Before Dying (1991)