Kurbaan: A taut thriller

Love blossoms between a Delhi college professor, Avantika (Kareena) and her newly joined colleague, Ehsaan Khan (Saif). But as she receives a call to join back her University in New York, Ehsaan proposes marriage. While her father initially disapproves of the match because of Ehsaan being a Muslim, he finally gives his nod impressed by Ehsaan’s approach.

The couple goes to New York and finds a house in an Indian neighbourhood. But soon Avantika realizes her own husband is a major part of the terrorist sleeper cell operating there and is the reason for aeroplane blast that kills 140 people. She also comes to know that the terror outfit’s next plane is something as big as 9/11. How she unearths the plot with a journalist Riyaaz ‘s (Vivek) aid and what it all leads forms the rest of the plot.

Writer Rensil D’Silva (Rang De Basanti) making his directorial debut with Kurbaan delivers a taut thriller that keeps you engrossed throughout. Despite its long running time of over 2 hours and 40 minutes his gripping narrative has enough twists n turns and chilling moments. Cutting away from commercial cinema traps and unwanted cinematic liberties, he has made Kurbaan one of the best thrillers to be experienced on the big screen in recent times. Without taking any sides, the film manages to strike an impact leaving you shaken with the full of bloodshed climax. Super aid comes in form of Niranjan Iyengar and Anurag Kashyap’s dialogues.

They are precise and to the point without sounding preachy. The classroom sequence when American students question discuss terrorism and Islam and Vivek Oberoi’s replies to them is one of the film’s most important and noteworthy sequence. Though the place drops a bit post interval, the 35 – 40 minute long climax keeps you on the edge of your seat. The much talked about love making sequence is very aesthetically shot. Salim Suleiman’s music is good and fits in the movie well with no lip sync songs.

Saif Ali Khan has always been very good whenever he has gone wicked and here as well he comes up triumphs in a grey role. The way he changes his body language and facial expressions from a charming romantic to a cold blooded terrorist is just superb. Kareena Kapoor proves yet again why she is considered a top rated actress today. However, in many emotional sequences she appears very similar in her act to her elder sister, Karisma. After a really very long time Vivek Oberoi leaves you extremely impressed. His mature act is bound to win him many accolades and awards for sure. Om Puri as the terrorist sleeper cell head is very good. Kirron Kher after a long time gets a non-Punjabi mom role and she is has delivered one of her career best performance in this one. Dia Mirza and Nauheed Cyrusi leave you impressed despite their short roles.

Hemant Chaturvedi’s camerawork matches international standards and so does Nakul Kamte’s Sound work.

Finally, a big applause for Karan Johar for making under his Dharma Productions, a film which is very unlike any previous film made under his prestigious banner and one which is not only extremely well made but also very topical.

Kurbaan: A taut thriller

Rating: 3.5 out of 5*

Starring: Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Vivek Oberoi and Om Puri

Director: Rensil D’Silva

Tags:  Kareena Kapoor, Kurbaan, Saif Ali Khan, Vivek Oberoi