Parveen Babi's rise to fame, her involvement with Mahesh Bhatt, her downward spiral into mental disease this is a story that has been told very well before in Mahesh Bhatt's film Arth. So why another rehash of the same story? Is it possible to better a film with Shabana Azmi, Kulbhushan Kharbanda et al.? Mahesh Bhatt retools the now familiar tale and Mohit Suri directs an amazing cast of newcomers and near newcomers in this tale of one woman's struggle to come to terms with her success, her madness and her vulnerability.
Shiny Ahuja shines as the brash movie director Aditya Grewal who courts the lovely, talented and victimized Sana Azim. Sana is played by the luminous Kangana Ranaut. She is stunning as the woman who owes her success to the men, notably fellow actor Nikhil (Shaad Randhawa) around her, and an enabler who allows them to keep exploiting her looks and her fame. Even her mother is shown as an exploiter, who cares more about the man who made Sana and about the money she can get from Sana. Sana is stalked by a mysterious and dangerous woman Rani who turns out to be a figment of her paranoid schizophrenic imagination. Rani is always driving Sana to the brink of insanity and is frequently shown with bandaged wrists. Sana has a break down and is institutionalized but Aditya has horrific memories of his father who was a mental patient and abducts Sana. The outcome of this is well known. You might wonder if this story was worth remaking at all But I believe it was, just to showcase the immense talent of Shiny Ahuja and Kangana Ranaut. How quickly the 2+ hours sped by watching a familiar tale is only because the entire cast was excellent and the story was told in a very sensitive and touching manner. One thing bothers me a bit, is this Mr. Mahesh Bhatt's attempt to whitewash his own involvement in the Parveen Babi affair? The details of that remain shrouded in mystery but this particular tale is well written and beautifully essayed by the lead pair. I will be watching out for more from Miss Ranaut. Shiny had previously blown me away with his performance in Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi so now his status as a serious actor of note is cemented.
Pritam has provided beautiful music in the film and my favorites are Chal Chalein Apne Ghar Humsafar and the poignant Too Jo Nahin Hai to Kuch Bhi Nahin Hai. The cinematography is brilliant and this is a beautiful film.
Shiny Ahuja shines as the brash movie director Aditya Grewal who courts the lovely, talented and victimized Sana Azim. Sana is played by the luminous Kangana Ranaut. She is stunning as the woman who owes her success to the men, notably fellow actor Nikhil (Shaad Randhawa) around her, and an enabler who allows them to keep exploiting her looks and her fame. Even her mother is shown as an exploiter, who cares more about the man who made Sana and about the money she can get from Sana. Sana is stalked by a mysterious and dangerous woman Rani who turns out to be a figment of her paranoid schizophrenic imagination. Rani is always driving Sana to the brink of insanity and is frequently shown with bandaged wrists. Sana has a break down and is institutionalized but Aditya has horrific memories of his father who was a mental patient and abducts Sana. The outcome of this is well known. You might wonder if this story was worth remaking at all But I believe it was, just to showcase the immense talent of Shiny Ahuja and Kangana Ranaut. How quickly the 2+ hours sped by watching a familiar tale is only because the entire cast was excellent and the story was told in a very sensitive and touching manner. One thing bothers me a bit, is this Mr. Mahesh Bhatt's attempt to whitewash his own involvement in the Parveen Babi affair? The details of that remain shrouded in mystery but this particular tale is well written and beautifully essayed by the lead pair. I will be watching out for more from Miss Ranaut. Shiny had previously blown me away with his performance in Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi so now his status as a serious actor of note is cemented.
Pritam has provided beautiful music in the film and my favorites are Chal Chalein Apne Ghar Humsafar and the poignant Too Jo Nahin Hai to Kuch Bhi Nahin Hai. The cinematography is brilliant and this is a beautiful film.
