When
you
carry
the
baggage
of
super-successful
films
like
Dhoom
and
Dhoom
2,
the
expectations
from
your
subsequent
outing
is
bound
to
be
gargantuan.
Unfortunately,
Kidnap
falls
short
of
expectations.
You
expect
a
seven
course
meal,
but
you're
served
mere
crumbs.
Let's
introspect.
Where
does
it
falter?
The
boy
versus
man
concept
holds
tremendous
scope
and
writer
Shibani
Bathija
could've
come
up
with
an
enthralling
revenge
drama.
But
Kidnap
fumbles,
stumbles
and
falls
on
its
face.
The
cat-n-mouse
game
is
hardly
enticing
and
that
is
its
biggest
drawback.
Kidnap
comes
close
to
Zinda
in
terms
of
plotline.
There're
similarities
between
the
two
films.
But
Kidnap
isn't
as
dark
and
gruesome
as
Zinda.
Also,
Kidnap
loses
focus
after
a
promising
start.
The
hallmark
of
any
revenge
fare
is
the
suspense
quotient.
In
this
case,
there's
a
motive
behind
what
Imran
does.
And
money
is
definitely
not
the
motive
here.
So
far,
so
good.
But
the
purpose
of
kidnapping
the
billionaire's
only
daughter
as
also
the
chain
of
events
that
lead
to
the
culmination
is
such
a
put-off.
Things
keep
deteriorating
as
they
reach
the
finale.
The
culprit?
Obviously,
the
writer
of
this
lifeless,
unexciting
and
tedious
drama.
Shibani
seems
to
think
that
the
audience
is
pea-brained.
Silver
lining
or
just
dark
clouds?
Imran
Khan's
splendid
act
acts
as
a
soothing
balm,
but
if
the
pudding
is
tasteless,
no
amount
of
dressing
can
salvage
the
situation,
right?
When
Dr.
Mallika
[Vidya
Malvade]
asks
her
daughter
Sonia
[Minissha
Lamba]
what
she
wants
for
her
18th
birthday,
Sonia
tells
her
she
wants
to
meet
her
dad,
Vikrant
Raina
[Sanjay
Dutt].
The
mother
and
father
of
this
kid
have
separated,
we're
explained
at
the
very
outset.
After
a
spat
between
the
mother
and
daughter,
Sonia
walks
off
in
a
huff
and
doesn't
return.
Mallika
panics
when
she
gets
a
call
from
a
stranger
that
he
has
kidnapped
Sonia.
The
kidnapper,
Kabir
[Imran
Khan],
has
only
one
demand
--
he
will
negotiate
with
nobody
but
Sonia's
father,
Vikrant.
Reluctantly
Mallika
brings
Vikrant
back
into
their
lives
to
save
Sonia.
But
Vikrant
chokes
at
the
thought
of
taking
orders
from
a
criminal.
But
Kabir
holds
the
trump
card
--
he
holds
Sonia
--
and
Vikrant
knows
he
has
no
option
but
to
toe
the
line.
Kabir
tells
him
they
are
going
to
play
a
game
--
just
the
two
of
them.
Vikrant
has
to
play
by
the
rules
set
by
Kabir
and
he
has
to
play
alone.
He
has
to
play
to
save
his
daughter.
If
he
even
utters
the
words
'Hello
Police',
it
will
be
Bye
Bye
for
Sonia!
Because
his
daughter's
life
is
at
stake,
a
reluctant
Vikrant
agrees
to
obey
Kabir's
orders...
Never
judge
a
book
by
its
cover.
This
adage
suits
Kidnap
to
the
T.
One
look
at
its
promos
and
you
know
what
the
story
is,
but
the
screenplay
is
so
amateurish,
even
lifeless
at
times,
that
you
scream,
no,
no,
no,
no,
no!
Gadhvi
and
Shibani
open
the
cards
at
the
very
outset.
The
sketches
at
the
very
beginning
as
also
Minissha's
kidnap
within
10
minutes
of
the
start
compels
you
to
think
that
the
follow
up
should
be
equally
exhilarating.
But
things
start
going
wrong
from
this
part
onwards.
Imran's
clues
for
Sanju,
the
first
in
a
train
and
later
at
an
engagement
ceremony,
make
no
sense.
Later,
Sanju
and
Vidya
Malvade's
entry
in
the
jail
is
bizarre.
This
part
takes
you
back
to
the
cinema
of
1970s
and
1980s,
when
nonsense
dominated.
Later,
when
Sanju
refuses
to
take
Imran's
call,
Imran
lands
up
at
his
house.
Which
kidnapper,
in
his
right
senses,
would
ever
do
that?
Even
the
flashback
--
Imran's
childhood
portions
--
are
just
not
impactful.
Ditto
for
the
climax.
The
shootout
at
the
New
Year
party
is
ridiculous.
Seriously,
the
writing
is
pathetic!
Sanjay
Gadhvi
is
letdown
by
a
script
that
easily
ranks
amongst
the
worst
of
2008.
Pritam's
music
is
another
sore
point.
Barring
the
'Mit
Jaaye'
track,
the
remaining
songs
are
lacklustre.
Bobby
Singh's
camerawork
is
first-rate.
Kidnap
belongs
to
Imran
Khan.
Watch
this
youngster
take
giant
strides
and
you
know
that
he
has
arrived.
He
carries
the
cold
look
effortlessly.
Sanjay
Dutt
looks
disinterested,
as
if
he
is
about
to
break
into
a
yawn.
Minissha
Lamba
is
miscast.
She
doesn't
look
like
a
17-year-old
in
the
first
place.
Also,
the
generous
dose
of
skin
show
doesn't
gel
with
someone
who's
held
captive.
Vidya
Malvade
is
efficient.
Reema
Lagoo
is
a
mere
prop.
Rahul
Dev's
character
looks
forced.
On
the
whole,
Kidnap
fails
to
grip
you
and
that
is
its
biggest
flaw.
At
the
box-office,
Kidnap
being
teen
sensation
Imran
Khan's
immediate
release
after
the
blockbuster
hit
Jaane
Tu...
Ya
Jaane
Na
would
ensure
a
strong
opening
weekend,
but
the
poor
merits
are
sure
to
take
a
toll
once
the
initial
euphoria
subsides.
Disappointing!