MALLIKA'S SKIN SHOW & ANURAG'S BRILLIANT DIRECTION
By Pankaj Shukla
Critic's I-view
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Women in Bollywood don' t run around bushes any more; they want their share of flesh too. And, this change in the psyche of leading actresses of Hindi films has not taken the viewers with surprise. First it was 'Tum'.Then 'Hawas' and now 'Murder'. Infidelity has always been men's foray in Hindi films. Men will do every thing under the sky and get away with it; the woman will confine themselves within the four walls of the home and blame their destiny. But, they are emotional too and can be infidel too. Manisha Koirala did it in 'Tum' with a boy of half of her age.
Meghna Naidu did it last week in 'Hawas' and now Mallika Sherawat alias Rima Lamba does it in 'Murder'. She is all set to redefine face of a heroine in Bollywood after her much talked about 23 kisses' performance in 'Khwahish'. 'Tum' failed miserably because of infidelity. 'Hawas' too could not make news but going by the statistics it was the highest grosser of all the last week' releases. And, now 'Murder' has taken a flying start everywhere thanks to sexy promos on the TV channels. Moreover, it is not only the skin show in the film that leaves an impression. After a dull phase due to Indo-Pak One day series, bright days for Bollywood back, and 'Murder' has set the bells ringing at the box office.
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Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt is lucky for last week's film 'Hawas' not drawing a huge crowd at the box office. Bhatt has made more than a dozen films that are copies of Hollywood flicks. He wasted a little time in searching new stories though. He takes the basic idea of a film from abroad and adjusts it to Indian sensibilities. Bhatts have been trying this idea for ages and last time it worked in 'Raaz', starring Bipasha. Now, Bipasha may make way for next sex bomb Mallika. She plays Simran in 'Murder'. She is happily married to Sudhir (Ashmit Patel), a leading businessman of Hong Kong and they have a son too.
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Their sweet and small family has everything that they may think of. Sudhir thinks that he has given everything to his wife and son. But, Simran thinks otherwise. She wants all the attention that Sudhir could give to her. She wants to be adored, to be taken care of and to be loved like a diva on the earth. Sudhir has no time for all that. Days pass and one day Simran bumps in with his old pal Sunny (Emraan Hashmi). They were in love before Simran's marriage. This sudden meeting and loneliness of Simran work in favor of an emotion too hard to resist for Simran. Her fantasies come flying in front of her and despite all the guilt that oozes from her heart; she wants to live the life her heart presses her.
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Sunny and Simran fall for each other once again. However, this time the society will not permit this. Sudhir comes to know about this and even hires a detective to find out what's cooking between the two. The findings are devastating for Sudhir and the implications are more dangerous. 'Murder' is not as simple and repetitive as the story looks like. Bhatts have taken utmost care in handling the subject in a modern setting. This fine balance has worked magically in favor of this film. The Bhatt camp has been devoid of a hit after 'Raaz' and in 'Murder', Mallika does what Bipasha did in 'Raaz'. Director Anurag Basu had delivered a dud in 'Saaya' but this time has taken care in being honest to the story. Basu has ability to create uneasiness in surroundings, lace it with suspense and garnish it with beautiful locales.
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It is like watching a big bitch in a dashing and fascinating atmosphere. Ashmit Patel looks more convincing this time than that in 'Inteha'. Emraan Hashmi proves that he is not a dud as many assumed him in his debut in 'Footpath'. Camera work is fantastic, and never before Bangkok was presented as beautifully. The film is a visual treat in that context. On the whole, 'Murder' will bring the smiles back on Bhatts and its distributors. It has all the ingredients to make it click in metros and even in interiors Mallika's sex show is an advantage for the film . The music is good too.
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