AITRAAZ- No real objections here !!

Aitraaz (objection) stars Mr. Akshay Kumar, Ms. Kareena Kapoor, former Miss World 2000 Ms. Priyanka Chopra and Mr. Amrish Puri and Mr. Annu Kapoor, with Mr. Paresh Rawal making an impressionable special appearance.

The film parallels the years aback Hollywood release, Barry Levinson’s Disclosure, tackling the subject of a male being sexually harassed at work. The subject is bold and probably new to the Bollywood schemata, hence accounting for the film doing fairly well at the box-office.

I actually didn’t know anything about the movie, or the story, the cast, etc before I watched it and I must admit though I wasn’t swept off my feet, I was entertained and actually pleasantly surprised by the film.

Aitraaz was made by the director duo of Mr. Abbas Alibhai Burmawalla and Mr. Mustan Alibhai Burmawalla popularly known as Abbas-Mustan, who are famous for their suspense thrillers and have earned a name for themselves by making crisp, clear, intelligent and slick movies that will never have you yawning. Recall Khiladi, Baazigar, Daraar, Soldier, Ajnabee, and Humraaz to name a few. One thing common to the aforementioned movies and other Abbas-Mustan movies is their wonderful and very film-appropriate music; though this time I think they may have come up short as Mr. Himesh Reshammiya’s score leaves little to enchant and more to grope for the ffwd button on the remote. That being said the directors have once again succeeded in making a very entertaining and fast-paced movie.

The first half may have dragged on a tad bit as the initial scenes between Mr. Kumar and Ms. Kapoor are a bit drawn out and the first half of the movie also suffers from a common affliction of Hindi movies where there are too many songs crammed in between. All of that changes the minute Ms. Chopra’s character is introduced! Once that euphoria dies down the film threatens to re-enter the mire of mediocrity but then the climatic, albeit predictable, court-room scene saves the film again, this time Mr. Rawal coming to the rescue, as the attorney for the temptress that Ms. Chopra portrays. I have Abbas-Mustan do better, maybe Baazigar and Humraaz are their better works but Aitraaz was well handled. Many Indian directors copy successful Hollywood films and re-make them in a style only the “desi” can enjoy, but as is evidenced by some of the flicks, not all succeed at that understood piracy/ flattery. Abbas-Mustan are probably the best in the dubious category of ‘Indian-ising” an English movie. The editing is good and the flashbacks scenes are nicely done. The locales of South Africa are pictured beautifully. A few things in the technical department that can become a bother include the length of the film, at 150 minutes, and the ill-advised use of some of the songs.

Performance-wise this is totally Ms. Chopra’s show. Mr. Kumar and Ms. Kapoor and their interaction serve as the appetizer to the main dish that Ms. Chopra serves. She is evil, seductive, driven, and heartless. She gets what she wants and she sure knows how. Had Ms. Chopra been a better actress though, she could have made her character of Sonia Roy do so much more and that immaturity in the acting department will make this despite all that she does do, a forgettable performance. Mrs. Kajol Devgan, Ms. Urmila Matondkar, and Mrs. Shabana Azmi have set the bar for vamp performances in Gupt, Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya and Godmother respectively and unfortunately Ms. Chopra never reaches that height, but this is still a much better performance than her other movies like Andaaz, Asambhav and Plan.

Mr. Kumar, a favorite of Abbas-Mustan, gives a subtle and restrained performance and he was very believable as the “taken advantage of” man. Mr. Kumar’s acting has improved leaps and bounds over the past years, maybe there is a benefit in being Mr. Rajesh Khanna’s son-in-law after all? Once Mr. Kumar can improve his voice delivery a little more he will continue to get great roles and together with his height, personality and flare for comedy he should be a sure shot draw at the box-office. I am told his upcoming performance in Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo is one to look out for as well.

Ms. Kapoor also plays her part to perfection in a rather mature role for her standards. As the dutiful wife, and later lawyer for her maligned husband, Ms. Kapoor explodes on-screen at the end and the transformation will win her many a fan. It’s a very “hatke” role for Ms. Kapoor as for once she doesn’t rely on her curvaceous hips and rounded lips to carry her through the flick.

The supporting cast is almost perfect in their compact roles. Mr. Puri spoils the “bench” by his portrayal of Ranjit Roy, husband to Ms. Chopra’s character. Mr. Puri makes a few appearances and you better have your earplugs ready or be in position to lower the volume on the television. Mr. Puri, it has been a great run but I do think its time to call it a day. Mr. Rawal on the other hand will win the “sixth man” award with his powerful performance. He fits in well, and doesn’t try too hard to overshadow the rest of the cast with his “special appearance”, as they bill it in the cast and credits.

Overall I still have my reservations about Aitraaz but no objections! I think it’s a well-crafted and intelligently made film. If it wasn’t a tad bit too long and the songs weren’t yawn-worthy I may have insisted upon it, but as of now it’s really up to you, if you miss it you may not miss much, but if you watch it you will also have no Aitraaz!