VIKRAM BHATT REPEATS 'KASOOR' WITH A DIFFERENT PLOT
By Satyajit
Critic's I-view
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Creative bankruptcy seems to grip Bollywood, as its every second film looks inspired from foreign sources. 'Jurm' was supposed to be a breakthrough for the actors and the directors as the lead pair Bobby Deol and Lara Dutta is striving for success. This week two major releases are heavily fed on deceit, lust and extra-marital affairs. Bobby's last three releases 'Bardaasht', 'Kismat' and 'Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyon' have sunk without trace whereas Lara has two consecutive flops 'Insaan' and 'Elaan' this year.
Vikram Bhatt, the director of 'Jurm', has also been in doldrums as his last few releases have been complete washouts. 'Jurm' has Bobby as a protagonist fighting for his survival like his earlier performances in 'Ajnabee' and 'Gupt'. Bobby and Lara were earlier paired in crime thriller 'Bardasht' that was a miserable flop. 'Jurm' is made under the banner of K.P.S Films as K.P.Singh produces this film.
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If 'Elaan' was touted as "buffoonery act of chivalry" then 'Jurm' can be described as the director's obsession with his previous work ('Kasoor'). If 'Aitbar' has shades of 'Inteha' then 'Jurm' seems to be poor clone of 'Kasoor'. 'Inteha' and 'Aitbar' were copycats of Hollywood thriller 'Fear'. 'Kasoor' and 'Jurm' are inspirational lifts from 'Double Jeopardy', 'Primal Fear', 'Unfaithful' and 'The Perfect Murder'. 'Kasoor' was a crime thriller where a rich business tycoon is accused of murdering his wife, and 'Jurm' narrates the same with a different angle. 'Kasoor' has a deceitful husband murdering his wife whereas 'Jurm' has a treacherous wife jeopardizing her husband's life and business. Both films are fed on narrative courtroom scenes picturized on main characters.
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Bobby Deol looks stale and sullen in his repeated performance. He should try to rejuvenate his image with different type of roles. Lara Dutta has taken a good break of being just glam doll. She impresses with negative shades of a deceitful wife. The surprise package of the film seems to be performance from struggling actors Gul Panag and Milind Soman. Gul Panag, an ex- Miss India started her career with an offbeat film 'Dhoop' as her counterparts started as glam dolls. Gul did a splendid job in anchoring a TV game show 'Kisme Kitna Hai Dum'. She surprises with her performance in 'Jurm'. Milind Soman has shown a great promise in the character of a fighting lawyer of the accused and deceitful friend as his earlier performance in 'Rules - Pyar Ka Superhit Formula' and '16 December' have been appreciated. Milind has risen from the status of an average actor as he delivers a praiseworthy performance that has gray shades.
In a crime thriller like 'Jurm' there are two accomplished music directors-- Anand Raj Anand and Anu Malik. No soundtrack seems to cause any stir as two or three tracks gel with the film while the rest sound boring. "Meri Chahaton Ka Aasar" is shot on beautiful beach locations as the signature theme has its tune. Average music is one of the weakest links.
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Bobby's role in 'Jurm' has shades of character he played in his earlier hits 'Gupt' and 'Ajnabee'. Bobby plays the character of Avinash, a rich debonair living with all luxury and delicacies. It was love at first sight for Avinash when he meets Sanjana (Lara Dutta) in a New Year party. According to Avinash, Sanjana is the most beautiful girl in the universe. He expresses his love to her. Love blossoms as it culminates into marriage. Avinash's blind love for Sanjana turns into his obsession as he suspects her every time when she's not around him. One fateful day he heavily drinks and in a heated argument threatens to kill her.
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The next morning her dead body is lying in a pool of blood in his premises. The police arrests Avinash on suspicion. Sonia (Gul Panag), a silent admirer and a friend of Avinash befriends him in this crisis. Rohit (Milind Soman), an intelligent lawyer and friend of Avinash, tries to rescue him in the court. All attempts fail as all evidences go against Avinash. In a court judgment he is sentenced to life imprisonment. Avinash is emotionally shattered as he is innocent and seeks revenge for his wife. Rohit plans to free Avinash from the jail, as he is the Avinash most trusted friend.
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Avinash's blind faith in Rohit makes him transfer his power of attorney. Rohit deceives Avinash after successfully rescuing him from the police. He tries to kill Avinash and shifts his whereabouts to Malaysia. Sonia saves Avinash's life. They plan to settle score with Rohit. Avinash is shell-shocked to find Sanjana alive with his crook uncle (Shakti Kapoor) along with Rohit. Avinash finds out the Sanjana and Rohit plan of deceiving him. Avinash fights with Rohit and Sanjana till he succeeds in the end.
'Jurm' reminds of many films that have similar plots and stories. In recent years there were films like 'Humraaz' and 'Fida' that were similar to 'Jurm'. 'This movie has many cracks and dents in the story and screenplay as the film lacks the panache of being a blockbuster.
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The second half of the film is very predictable as the film loses grip in the climax. 'Jurm' is a better product than 'Elaan' but falls in the cadre of copycats. Cinematography by Praveen Bhatt is impressive in bits as some seaside views are well captured. Choreography by Raju Khan is ordinary and run- of- the- mill. Action by Abbbas Ali Moghul is well conceived at the climax. Screenplay by Girish Dhamija, Neeraj Pathak and Sanjay Bhatia is ordinary and predictable. Crime and suspense thrillers have been trademark of director Vikram Bhatt, but 'Jurm' fails to keep viewers' intact.
Bollywood is certainly going through a lean phase as one expects few takers of 'Jurm' in multiplexes. In small centers the film can expect better results. 'Jurm' will be an acid test for Bobby Deol, Lara Dutta and Vikram Bhatt as one expects better performances from them in future.
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