Of
late,
debut-making
directors
are
coming
up
with
stories
that
defy
the
stereotype.
Kunal
Shivdasani
is
one
of
those.
In
his
very
first
outing,
he
chooses
a
story
not
many
debutantes
--
even
established
names,
for
that
matter
--
would
dare
to
tell:
Hijack.
Sure,
Yeh
Dil
Aashiqana
[Kuku
Kohli]
and
Zameen
[Rohit
Shetty]
have
traversed
the
path
before,
but
Hijack
is
more
realistic,
more
believable.
Hijack
talks
of
terrorists
and
terrorism,
but
there's
an
undercurrent
of
emotions
running
all
through.
What
limits
can
a
father
cross
to
save
his
child,
is
one
question
that
Kunal
Shivdasani
raises
in
Hijack.
The
terrorism
aspect
isn't
new,
what
with
every
third
Hindi
film
having
its
take
on
terrorism.
But
Kunal's
execution
of
the
material
places
Hijack
in
the
watchable
category.
The
high-octane
drama
inside
the
aircraft
as
also
outside
the
aircraft
[in
the
climax]
makes
a
difference.
Hijack
is
very
Hollywoodish
in
terms
of
execution,
but
Hindustani
at
heart.
However,
Kunal
could've
done
with
a
tighter
script.
The
intro
of
sundry
characters/passengers
as
also
the
rapid
songs
could've
been
avoided.
Also,
Shiney's
character
could've
been
less
heroic,
especially
when
he
fights
the
gun-holding
terrorists
single-handedly.
Besides,
the
passengers
in
the
aircraft
fail
to
create
the
panic
atmosphere
convincingly.
Had
Kunal
cast
better/stronger
actors
instead
of
amateurs,
the
impact
would've
been
stronger.
All
said
and
done,
Hijack
is
an
engrossing
experience.
A
riveting
thriller!
Vikram
[Shiney
Ahuja]
is
a
ground
maintenance
officer
at
Chandigarh
Airport.
His
social
life
is
limited
to
one
friend,
Rajeev,
who
is
the
Security
Chief
of
the
same
airport.
As
luck
would
have
it,
the
flight
in
which
Vikram's
daughter
is
travelling,
from
Delhi
to
Amritsar,
is
Hijacked.
A
group
of
five
terrorists
take
control
of
the
airplane
to
secure
the
release
of
Maqsood
[K.K.
Raina],
who
had
been
captured
by
the
Indian
police.
The
flight
is
forced
to
land
at
Chandigarh
Airport
for
refuelling.
The
terrorists
demand
the
release
of
Maqsood,
else
threaten
to
kill
the
hostages.
Vikram
sneaks
into
the
aircraft
and
with
the
help
of
the
airhostess,
Saira
[Esha
Deol],
he
starts
plotting
and
killing
the
terrorists
one
by
one.
Some
innocent
passengers
too
become
victims
of
the
gunshots
by
ruthless
terrorists
in
the
process.
Somehow,
Vikram
and
Saira
manage
to
save
the
day.
Hijack
is
partly
fact,
partly
fiction.
The
hijack
of
an
Indian
aircraft
is
still
fresh
in
our
memory
and
at
the
same
time,
the
film
picks
up
bits
and
pieces
from
Hollywood
films
as
well.
Nothing
wrong
with
borrowing
from
real
or
reel,
since
Kunal
merges
fact
and
fiction
well
and
narrates
his
story
capably.
While
the
first
hour
is
passable,
the
wheels
catch
speed
only
towards
the
second
hour.
The
highpoint
of
the
enterprise
is
the
penultimate
20/25
minutes
and
it's
in
these
portions
that
you
realize
how
fine
a
storyteller
Kunal
is.
Since
Kunal
is
also
credited
with
the
editing,
although
the
pace
doesn't
slacken,
Kunal
could've
trimmed
the
non-actors'
roles
[playing
friends]
as
also
shortened
the
romantic
song
['Yaad
Mein'].
Justin-Uday's
music
is
mediocre,
barring
one
song,
but
the
background
score
heightens
the
impact.
Jehangir
Chowdhary's
cinematography
is
top
notch.
The
sequences
at
the
runway
are
expertly
canned.
Allan
Amin's
stunts
are
first-rate.
Even
though
there's
bloodshed,
it's
not
gory.
The
interiors
of
the
aircraft
are
authentic
[Bijon
Dasgupta's
expertise
shows
yet
again].
Also,
in
view
of
the
fact
that
it's
a
moderate
budget
film,
Kunal
has
spared
no
efforts
to
give
the
film
the
desired
look.
Shiney
Ahuja
fits
the
role
well.
He
is
efficient,
but
why
is
he
looking
untidy/shabby
at
places?
He
ought
to
take
care
of
his
looks
and
styling.
Esha
Deol
has
little
to
do.
She's
okay.
K.K.
Raina
enacts
his
part
convincingly.
The
main
terrorist,
Mushtaq
Kak,
leaves
a
mark.
Kaveri
Jha
gets
no
scope,
though
she
looks
photogenic.
The
actor
playing
Kumar,
Satyajeet,
is
efficient.
Mona
Ambegaonkar
is
competent.
Ditto
for
the
actor
enacting
the
role
of
the
Minister.
On
the
whole,
Hijack
is
an
engrossing
fare,
more
so
towards
its
second
hour.
Also,
the
emotional
undercurrent
comes
out
well
too.
However,
from
the
business
point
of
view,
the
Ramzan
period
might
make
a
dent
in
its
business,
despite
strong
merits.