“Kurbaan” Hue Mere Paise
Karan under utilizes the Saif-Kareena star cast in this undeveloped story line which portrays the already stereotyped Muslims involved in terrorism.
Sahil Khan
20.11.2009
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Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Vivek Oberoi, Om Puri, Kirron Kher, Dia Mirza (Special Appearance)
Director: Rensil D’Silva
Music: Salim-Sulaiman, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Bollywood doesn’t seem to get out of its “bad days” mode. After a poor reception of the high profile Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahani, Kurbaan also seems to go in the same direction. I wish I can catch hold of Karan Johar and get a refund. What a kurbaani I made!
Forgive me for breaking the story line to you, but I think the Indian audience is done with the regular fundamentalist view of “Moslems” and Islamic terrorism because an innocent Afghani/Pakistani/Iraqi was killed. There is nothing catching in the entire movie, and believe me, even the highly talked about Saif-Kareena love making scene is a turn off (yes, it was necessary for the flow). I’m really wondering what Karan wanted to show from this movie.
The couple does a decent job with their characters. Kareena is able to maintain the girl next door look throughout the film. Kirron Kher pulls off a good Kabul accent. But the typical get up of pathaani kurtas and pardah seemed too unprofessional for a terrorist group executing a follow up to 9/11. Isn’t that too obvious an identification and hence making them stand out in the crowd? Vivek Oberoi was a refreshing change in the lineup. Liked his work after his roles in Company and Saathiya.
Meeta Kabra of wogma.com, who has stayed in the States, was kind enough to point out that one of the target areas, Jackson Heights, has a high Desi residency. Karan, did you seriously do any research while writing the script? Or did you think we can be fooled this easily?
Many more glitches like these are doused throughout the 2.5 hours film, it got on the nerves. The only moment when I got excited was when I saw the initial closing sequence. Reminded me of well executed bombing attack movies. But later, it was sadness galore.
The involvement of just Muslims in the attack is adding fuel to the already done stereotyping by the non-Muslims, especially the West. And a star cast hired to film this? What a waste of talent. Real life incidents have shown that Americans have been very much involved in such activities, but Karan conveniently forgets that.
The soundtrack has had some good response and I personally like Kurbaan Hua and Shukran Allah. But once again, the tracks, like the actors, have not been utilized to the their full potential.
The only idea I can get at the end is that maybe Karan is trying to portray how a common man can get pulled into this unknowingly, but it’s still very vague.
TTS Verdict: DO NOT waste your money unnecessarily, unless you really don’t have anything to. Like someone on twitter said “You’d rather go pull that New York DVD out and watch it over again”.
Rating: 2/5
Sahil Khan
[ratings]
I don't quite agree with the rating. The movie had a storyline, fantastic acting by all the actors and amazing music. It didn't have an impact like 'A Wednesday', but the movie was plausible. I would give it 3.5 out 5.
well, maybe you've got a taste developed more like nikhat kazmi then. would you like to explain as to why are there ONLY muslims involved in the entire plot? did you know that americans were also caught as part of the planning, as it is obviously impossible that a group of non-american muslims pull off such a stunt.
also, when there are so many problems related to this kind of stereotyping, karan johar should try and help the audience understand the opposite, but no. he's rather go with what the masses believe.
and, i'm really surprised saif and kareena said yes to this story line.
The direction of the movie was better than most others. there was no background music playing or no back stage activity which distracts your attention from the screen play, like most of the bollywood movies. The serious scenes were portrayed very well and had the seriousness in them. Also the cinematography was good. The sound effects were good. Though I agree that the movie was another crap in the 9/11 row, but its worth a watch.
And I dont undestand why Kareena did not call 911 then and was tried thrice over a phone someone was not picking up
One more thing that they unnecessarily put in such movies is a love story. When would the bollywood directors understand?? If you are making a movie on a serious topic, make it like it should be, make it like an art film, like a documentary.
I dont agree with the rating either… The direction good, the performances by each actor was excellent… Special mention of Kirron Kher and her well picked accent….
Some of the scenes were intense and created the expected effect, dialogues were well researched and dilivered equally well….
The only point where the movie goes on a backfoot is the NYPD police movements and the general depection of NY, its highly funny at times and Indian-ish….
But overall, the movie could convey what it was trying to with decent success….
One thing I would like to mention here, while reviewing a movie, don't focus on the story only. Story is a very very small part of it. We generally expect story in everything. Direction, Screenplay, Cinematography etc can alone make a movie hit … a story alone cannot. Movies like Saving Private Ryan, The good, the bad and the Ugly, Platoon, Scent of a Woman, Children of Heaven, The taxi driver etc are a few to name .. where stuff other than the story (in some cases there was no story) like direction and screenplay have made them the best in this industry. You would watch a movie again and again for all these not for the story. Then the world should stop watching movies twice if it were just for the story. So please explore all other things in movie before reviewing it.
@all neither the dialogues are nor the story line is well researched. when karan johar has the power of reaching the common man with such fervour, why does he not portray a more well thought movie rather than revolving around the same cliched muslim-no-treated-well-turns-terrorist? and this is just part 2 of the stupid trilogy that everyone can see emerging.
no matter how good the technicalities be, at the end of the day, the story should make sense.
One thing I would like to mention here, while reviewing a movie, don't focus on the story only. Story is a very very small part of it. We generally expect story in everything. Direction, Screenplay, Cinematography etc can alone make a movie hit … a story alone cannot. Movies like Saving Private Ryan, The good, the bad and the Ugly, Platoon, Scent of a Woman, Children of Heaven, The taxi driver etc are a few to name .. where stuff other than the story (in some cases there was no story) like direction and screenplay have made them the best in this industry. You would watch a movie again and again for all these not for the story. Then the world should stop watching movies twice if it were just for the story. So please explore all other things in movie before reviewing it.
Also .. Snatch and Pulp-Fiction .. classic examples of No-story movies!