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It was years back when technician B Gupta who was associated with films like 'Jaani Dushman' and others tried to bring desi superhero on screen and produced 'Superman'. Little did he realize that he would not find any takers for a film that doesn't co-relate with the world where there are 330 million Gods and each has some or the other miraculous power? Even Raj Kumar Kohli had brought in a supernatural film like 'Jaani Dushman' first with Sanjeev Kumar as the evil power, and later with his son Armaan who wore the tag of evil power. In spite of all these there has never been a serious attempt from the mainstream filmmakers to carve out their own desi Superman.

Circa 2006, and Bollywood is all set to witness its first Superman 'Krrish' on June 23rd. But before that, supernatural powers strike Box Office this Friday in 'Alag', a film made by famous publicity stills photographer Subi Samuel. Subi is entering filmmaking with an underdog kind of story and keeping a very low profile before the release of the film. Though some 50 minutes of the film have been devoted fully to special effects, 'Alag' will be remembered for Ashu Trikha's apt handling of some very emotional scenes. The film is very crucial for both of its lead stars -- Akshay Kapoor who was last seen in his debut 'Popkorn Khao Mast Ho Jao' and Dia Mirza who finds it very hard to keep afloat in the cutthroat competition of dashing damsels of Bollywood.

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'Alag' means different and it is the hero of the film who is different. Akshay Kapoor plays Tejas Rastogi. He stays in a house where every one is not allowed to enter and he too has been out of contact with the outer world for years. He is his father's child. And, it is only after his father's death that the world comes to know about him. No body in the neighborhood has knowledge of Tejas living in the same house of Rastogis where the tragedy strikes first. Police has an encounter with him and finds him in a vegetable state.

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The question arises how to deal with the boy who has not seen the world before. Enter Purva Rana (Dia Mirza), daughter of a philanthropist who runs an institution for orphans and for youngsters who have committed petty crimes. She and her institution seem to be the only way out for Tejas to survive in this world, which is alien to him. Purva too, willingly comes forth to help Tejas, but one looks at him and she knows that she has not seen anyone like him before. He looks different, acts different, and is different! Purva and Tejas start understanding each other and their chemistry grows.

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However, one day she finds that there is something more to Tejas than what Purva knows. Tejas is enjoying the beauty of nature; he is feeling it like anything and he wants now to fulfill all his desires that he couldn't while being kept locked in his home. And now Purva realizes that all is not well around her. Tejas has got something that can shatter things all around him. She tries to find out the reason for Tejas's strange behavior and comes to know that he has some strange powers and is very different from the people of his age. He is Alag.

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After making films like 'Deewanapan' and 'Sheesha', director Ashu Trikha learns one thing and that is how to take a story on a linear track and still succeed in bringing in all the ingredients of an entertainer in one film. Though both of his last films did not succeed at box office, this young and dynamic director has never felt himself on the sidelines of the mainstream cinema. He directs Vinod Khanna and Dia Mirza in his debut film and now these two actors come out in his support again in 'Alag'.

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Working on a very thin story like by Tagore Almeda, Ashu had to rely on strong sequences and he does it from the very start of the film. When neighbors talk about Tejas as something suspicious in Rastogi's house, Trikha shows his apt handling. Again, when Akshay encounters with Mukesh Tiwari, the sequence is nothing but a superb example of Ashu Trikha's handling of sequences. Fuwad Khan comes as a good help for Ashu as film's cinematographer and with Abbas Ali Moghul, he teams up to create some interesting scenes. Aadesh Shrivastav's music is melodious and has done justice to Nusrat Badr's poetry. Choreography by Remo is impressive.

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As far as the acting is concerned, the film belongs to Akshay Kapoor. After doing a good for nothing kind of role in 'Popkorn Khao Mast Ho Jao', he has proven his mettle in his very second film. And it requires lots of guts to go bald and even remove one's eyebrows for a role. Akshay fits in the role of Tejas like T and it will certainly earn him a name in film industry. Akshay's efforts will pay him in the coming days, as other producers will certainly offer him some good roles. Dia Mirza looks cool in the dance sequence; she is ready to go quite far from where she left in her last film with Emraan Hashmi. Mukesh Tiwari, Jayant Kriplani, Sharat Saxena and Beena lend good support and it was good to see Tom Alter on screen after a long gap. On the whole, 'Alag' has good substance for an entertainer but will have to suffer for its loss of face value.