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If you thought sleaze festival is over then you are mistaken as two major releases 'Kasak' and 'Sauda' hit box office this week. It may sound ridiculous that the director has imported the rejected concept of brokering spouse for material gains in metamorphosing his new venture. Hollywood's successful film 'Indecent Proposal' is now the centre of attraction of being an inspirational lift of 'Sauda - The Deal'. Ironically, one film with similar title 'Sauda' (Neelam, Vikas Bhalla, Sumeet Saigal) was released quite some time ago with a similar storyline. The concept got repeated in 'Karobaar' (Anil Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor and Juhi Chawla) but failed miserably.

In our orthodox society the concept of misusing conjugal rights or brokering wife for selfish means seems to be unacceptable. It seems the fascination and euphoria of Hollywood's 'Indecent Proposal' still tantalizes our directors. Director Jai Prakash has been venturing into bold concept from the days of 'Saajan Ki Bahaon Mein' to 'Chahat- Ek Nasha'. In hot pursuit of attempting different he has refrained to the concepts that foray into the dark side of human mind. His films like 'Market' and 'Chahat' have been bold and unconventional but unfortunately they were not well received by the audiences. Films like 'Page 3' and 'Black' have been path-breaking but some experimental concepts like these have no big takers. Infidelity may strike chord with western countries but still looks demeaning for the Indian audiences.

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'Sauda' comes out as third joint venture of actor Aryan Vaid and director Jai Prakash. The association has not garnered anything promising either for the actor or for the director. Preeti Jhangiani shed her inhibitions for 'Chahat' but the concept failed to materialize. This film makes her second appearance for this actor --director combination. 'Sauda' strikes chord with Jai Prakash' first venture 'Sajan Ki Bahaon Mein' for being quadrangular love story. Earlier films with similar themes like 'Karobaar' and 'Sauda' (1995) have been conceived as conventional love triangles. This flick comes out as director's second quadrangular love story after almost a decade.

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This clone of 'Indecent Proposal' comes out with an additional angle of sexy and voluptuous Suman Rangnathan. It won't be justified to compare the charm of Robert Redford with that of Sanjay Kapoor. The actor has started off his second inning in negative shades with film like 'Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche'. Neha Dhupia's 'Julie' made him popular in gray shades thereafter as he can be seen in forthcoming films like 'Beach'.

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The film works on the theology that to materialize your dream deals, proposals are made every day. The insatiable desires of man have reached to the pinnacle that he is ready to trade his conscious, love and faith for wealth. The subject gets conceptualized through the characterizations of four lead characters - Sameer (Aryan Vaid), Devika (Preeti Jhangiani), Vijay Oberoi (Sanjay Kapoor) and Monica (Suman Rangnathan).

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Sameer is an aspiring business tycoon married happily to Devika. Being brought up in a middle class family he finds that he does not have monetary strength to fulfill his dreams. Devika is a small time painter and manages to showcase her work through exhibitions. During one exhibition rich business tycoon Vijay Oberoi gets besotted by Devika's alluring charm and vulnerability. He fails to resist but desires to have Devika in his life, knowing that she is married. Sameer has big plans of venturing into car showrooms but falls short of finances. He decides to get financial assistance from gangster Dayabhai (Markand Deshpande). Sameer mortgages his bungalow to avail the loan despite his father's disapproval. Monica is a rich and influential model who harbors friendship with business tycoons. In college days, she has had huge crush on Sameer but he chose Devika as his life partner. Monica feels that Devika has betrayed her and craves to avenge her defeat. Life changes and Sameer seeks financial help from his friend Monica. Monica decides to get monetary help from Vijay. The hidden aspirations of Vijay get enlightened and he proposes to support Sameer if he lets his wife sleep with him. Devika gets the shock of her life as she realizes that his beloved husband is brokering her for wealth. The film reaches its climax in the courtroom and ends as routine fare in the end.

The film loses its grip in the first half as things become predictable. The second half is overstretched, highlighting the cumbersome relationships between Sameer and Devika. The conflict of Devika and Monica over Sameer in the end looks contemporary.

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The character of Monica (Suman Rangnathan) has been an added attraction but is mainly in voluptuous acts. Preeti Jhangiani has been average throughout the film. Cute damsel in distress Preeti landed convincingly as Yash Chopra's discovery but thereafter it has been a sorry affair. Preeti's last releases this year like 'Chahat - Ek Nasha' and 'Ssukh' have been complete washouts. Unfortunately, 'Sauda' won't turn tables for her and she has to rely on her future releases. Aryan Vaid has been contemporary in his deadpan expression looks. This wooden face actor needs tailor-made characters to resurrect his sagging career. Sanjay Kapoor has been the most promising in the lot. The actor has managed to impress with chopper flying tycoon looks. The courtroom drama has given him more space to flourish as an actor. The character of Vijay Oberoi strikes similarity with the character he played in 'Julie'.

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Writer Meeraq Mirza has tried out a different story with repeated theme that sounds too westernized. It may impress a section of the crowd but will fail to impress masses. Music director Anand Milind hasn't been impressive at all. The music is a big let down with just one audible track "Yeh Kaun Aaya". Rekha Chinni Prakash' choreography shows some promise in seductive number "Dhuan Dhuan". Yogesh Jaani's choreography has been impressive in capturing foreign locations. After 'Barsaat', Shakti Kapoor has managed to share limelight in contemporary cinema as a lawyer. Makrand Deshpande has been impressive as gangster. Sayaji Shinde and Ravi Kissen have justified their characters.

The sorry state of skin flick continues with 'Sauda -The Deal'. Multiplexes flooded with three to five films every week make it difficult for mediocre entertainer like 'Sauda' to have decent opening. Overall, this new "desi" version of 'Indecent Proposal' won't be a promising deal at the box office.