After hitting a hat trick in 'Zeher', 'Kalyug' and 'Gangster', the Bhatt camp returns with a film that is a clever lift from Hollywood 'Collateral'. The originality that was seen in 'Kalyug' and 'Gangster' lacks in the plot this time. Moreover, the film also lacks hit music that has always been a high point for Bhatt camp movies. The Bhatt camp has roped in Sajid-Wajid for 'The Killer' but the music duo fails to live up to expectations.
What goes in favor of 'The Killer' is the fact that with this returns the trend of duos acting together or playing the cat and mouse game in Hindi cinema. The film also refreshes memories of many films of Amitabh Bachchan -Vinod Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan-Shashi Kapoor and later Jackie Shroff-Anil Kapoor. Two actors confronting and playing games with each other and doing everything possible for an upmanship have been a hit plot for many flicks. And if this works in favor of 'The Killer' too, the trend soon may see a revival in Bollywood.
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'The Killer' also succeeds in breaking a trend for smooching boy Emraan Hashmi who probably for the first time has got a well-authored role to play and in the company of a versatile actor like Irrfan, he does excel in this film. The surprising fact associated with 'The Killer' is the presence of Nisha Kothari in the film, She has been a protégé of Ram Gopal Varma from the day she entered the scene and her inclusion in the film looks like a new association between the banners that are left on the other side of line by grouping for banners like Yashraj Films and Dharma Production.
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'The Killer' revolves around a man who has come to Dubai for a particular task. The man in question is Vikram (Irrfan Khan) who is out to kill five witnesses of a crime. He bangs in a cabbie driver Nikhil (Emraan Hashmi) and hires him for a night. Nikhil is a happy man but has a big dream to make his life more luxurious. His appetite for more lands him in being hired by Vikram and he does not know what the life has for him in next few hours. He thinks of Vikram as just any other passenger but soon discovers the other side of this man.
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And once the secret is out, Nikhil tries his best to escape from the clutches of the killer but to his dismay Vikram is cleverer. Vikram won't let him go without fulfilling his task and this ignites a fresh row of clashes between the two. Vikram kills people and Nikhil is now a witness to all this. But all the paths to run away from the mayhem have been closed. And moving in between is a love story between Nikhil and Rhea (Nisha Kothari). Rhea is a bar dancer and in Nikhil she finds a perfect friend. But little did Nikhil know that even Rhea is in Vikram's hit list as she too has been a witness of the crime.
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To promote new talent in the industry, the Bhatt camp has introduced in 'The Killer' two newcomers -- Raksha, an erstwhile assistant to director Rakesh Roshan and Hasnain Hyderabadwala, a Bhatt camp protégé in 'The Killer'. The duo has formed a team like Abbas-Mastan to direct this film and their joint efforts do get above average marks in the debut film. To judge 'The Killer' is a tough task.
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While one has to give weightage to the new directors as thier debut film, one has to take into consideration the fact that this film comes after a series of hat trick from Bhatt brothers. In terms of content, 'The Killer' may not pass the litmus test. However, when it comes to making, it does get a positive nod from the audience. Apart from some very well executed scenes, especially the climax, 'The Killer' also scores in technical departments, especially in photography.
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Many scenes shot in Dubai must have required steady cam and in this respect the work is superb. Editing needed to be a bit crispier and the music part too does not support the film well because of its bad promotion. The song Abhi To Main Jawan Hoon could have been a major hit like Kajrare Kajrare if the people associated with the film could have come out with a novel idea to promote it.
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Among actors, Irrfan Khan scores ten out of ten in the title role. His encounter with Emraan in the beginning and later when everything is open makes the crust of the film. If Irrfan has excelled in the role of a maniac, Emraan too chases him neck and neck in this act. Emraan after 'Kalyug' gives a performance that could change his image at box office and people could start taking him seriously. Nisha Kothari does not get much to do in the film, but her navel exhibition in Abhi To Main Jawan Hoon song titillates the frontbenchers and succeeds in getting them value for their money. Zakir Hussain as Don leaves an impression in the short role given to him; the supporting cast fills the bill well too. On the whole, 'The Killer' may not be a huge hit like the Bhatt camp's last three films. But despite bad promotion, it will not let a viewer down who comes to watch it.
