Cinema is such a medium that attracts most of the people living in a society. It attracts them more who have been associated with the entertainment industry some way or the other. We have editors turning directors, producers calling shots behind the screen and when all these happen, people who have been working on tally tubes cannot leave their aspirations behind. And there it comes on every Friday when new faces try their luck on a big screen. This time it is director Ajai Sinha who wants to ride the success horse of destiny.
Ajai Sinha directed Stop is actually a focus on the way society is moving these days and a new life style of people who want to live in their own style. Ajai has chosen a subject, which does look fresh in conceptualization, though same, cannot be said for its execution on screen. The film actually is knitted with intrigues of emotions of its female lead performers and here lies the cache. When directors like Raj Kumar Santoshi can fail in 'Lajja' despite having most of the leading actresses of the time, then how can a new comer like Ajai Sinha make a dent on the minds of those living in a male chauvinistic society.
In fact, to be very frank there have been rare occasions in Bollywood when a film trailing on the path of woman oriented subject could have clicked with the audience.
click for larger view
As far as Stop is concerned, Ajai Sinha has based his story on four main pillars that are friends in their life Pooja (Gauri Karnik), Tina (Tejaswani), Sonia (Ishita Arun) and Om (Rocky Bhatia). They live together in the same house in Dubai. Life for these young adults moves along just fine. But, one-day things change at once and that is when Om's ex girlfriend, Shama (Diya Mirza) reaches Dubai. Shama is married to someone else, but her life has been in doldrums for some time now and she wants to start life afresh and on her own. She being his old flame, Om wants to help her and he does so with all his efforts.
The rekindling of love factor also comes in and before Om could know anything, there comes situation when he sees himself under her wings. At this point another track of the story appears when Tina's father, Anand Mehra (Om Puri), want to take control of the situation. But instead of getting it all tied neatly, the whole set of happenings starts taking an ugly turn. Rohit (Kiran Jhanjhani) works in the same office of Om and is introduced to Sonia. Rohit is a good-looking Casanova. He knows how to win hearts of beautiful women. Sonia is his new prey and despite the fact that Om had informed Sonia about all this she falls in the net that was cleverly laid for her by Rohit. Four friends start take different paths and their problems too become too complicated to be shared among themselves. The question is -- Can they be together again?
click for larger view
Going by the face value, Stop looks a very interesting film. The topic that Ajai has chosen for his film is very contemporary. Though it is set in Dubai, it can be a story of any circle of friends living in Delhi, Mumbai or Kolkata. The subject narration is also equally good. The problem the film faces is that it does not have any saleable face at the box office. And, that is not a small problem, considering the recent trends.
click for larger view
People in Bollywood are going after Magnum Opus and things are going to be dearer for small time filmmakers. The glitz and glamour has taken the center place and there is least possibility for a film to do magic just on the basis of its theme or narration. Moreover, the casting in the film is not perfect. Biggest drawback being Diya Mirza. She does not suit the other characters chosen for the film. Even Ricky Bhatia is not a face that viewers can co-relate with. Rocky is a fresher and he with Diya needs a crash course before handling these kinds of roles in future.
click for larger view
Producer Laxman Bhatia may have invested a lot in making the film to make it appealing and colorful by shooting it abroad; but he could have easily done away with it. Instead there was a need for an actor who could have anchored the film well. The characterization of the film is very poor. Gauri Karnik in one scene was shown as a peppy girl and after some time she is struggling with the fate, but on both the occasions her impressions were the same.
click for larger view
And as that was not enough, director Ajai Sinha brings back Kiran Jhanjhani in a role that has been shown almost a dozen times on silver screen in recent times. Tejaswani Kolhapure looks charming but still does not look comfortable on screen playing her roles. She could have been more suited in family drama if producers from down south were still active in Bollywood.
Stop appears very poor in technical departments. Camera work in most of the scenes was poor, as it remains focused in mid and long shots. May be the director avoided close shots to give relief to their cast, but what about the editor. It seems the editor slept many times in between while using his scissors. At least 20 to 25 shots could have been avoided and these shots marred the impact of the film.
click for larger view
Music of the film is above average but has not been promoted well. Vishal Shekhar has been good in coming up with fresh and brilliant tunes but the project that they worked in have not been substantial. The target audience of the film is in multiplexes but seeing the nature and mood of the film; it would be difficult to sustain them.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
