7 Khoon Maaf, the much awaited movie by Vishal Bhardwaj, has some good moments. It is a photogenic movie, shot beautifully. The first two husbands are dealt with in detail and show so much promise that it hurts when the movie just falters later, despite the good direction, and fails to seize your attention.
The fault lies, it tears me apart to say so, with the story. The story is by Ruskin Bond, you see, who is my favorite. Priyanka does the femme fatale bits so well, but does not measure up when the story gets darker and she gets older. Vishal tries to introduce a 'psychological thriller' touch to it in later parts, while Ruskin Bond had kept the story light in the novella, and added a supernatural touch in the original story. Vishal also introduced a spiritual touch to the movie with Priyanka getting ordained in the end and confessing to her sins. I wish the culmination of each story had a sort of a crescendo.
I loved the early Priyanka, the young girl who is able to charm men into her net. I loved Usha Uthup, what a debut. Was that Nitin Ganatra as her butler? He was great, I loved him in Bride and Prejudice as the dorky suitor of Lalita Bakshi. Neil Nitin Mukesh was fabulous as Maj Rodrigues, Susannah's first. As actors, the husbands were good. I loved John's get up as the Rockstar, with his punky wig and KILT. Haha.
The movie stopped short of brilliance, which I expected out of the Bond-Bhardwaj combo.
A lot is expected from Vishal & that's the very reason that ppl were disappointed when he went off the mark.
ReplyDeletePsst I had read Ruskin Bond did a cameo! What part did he play?
Wohi to!
ReplyDeleteRuskin Bond plays the part of a priest who ordains Priyanka at the very end.
Ruskin Bond is one of my favourites too. I so wanted to see this film, simply because I'd thought a film based on one of his stories HAD to be good. But all the reviews have been negative, more or less. :-(
ReplyDeleteDustedoff - I wouldnt throw the movie into a kudedan, it is not a total loss, it is just not brilliant.
ReplyDeleteNot too sure about Nitin Ganatra... ? EK baar fir dekhani padegi...
ReplyDeleteshort of brilliance... yes but not just short... gap is huge. He lost it midway , in hurry to showcase all of them... Whats wrong in making long movies if you have so much to say? Kappor did it with MNJ..
Recently Ashutosh did same with Jodha Akbar (running 4 hours) ...
Only if he had delved into all characters like the first 2.. .
yes.. he just lost steam and ... lost it
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