Post
9/11,
there's
anger,
distrust,
suspicion,
uneasiness
all
around.
Not
a
day
passes
when
you
don't
hear
of
terrorists
killing
civilians
in
the
name
of
religion.
Many
storytellers
have,
in
the
past,
narrated
stories
about
terrorists
and
their
nefarious
and
despicable
plans.
But
let
me
state
one
thing
categorically.
You
haven't
watched
a
more
profound,
a
more
thought-provoking,
a
more
dramatic
story
on
this
subject
before
Kurbaan.
It's
not
just
the
most
powerful
film
to
come
out
of
Dharma
Productions,
it's
the
most
powerful
film
to
come
out
of
the
Hindi
film
industry
this
year,
thus
far.
Kurbaan
tries
to
penetrate
into
the
psyche
of
not
just
the
terrorist,
but
also
someone
who
has
been
a
helpless
spectator
all
this
while.
This
film
is
sure
to
spark
off
discussions
and
debates,
although
it
must
also
be
noted
that
it
doesn't
take
sides
or
gets
preachy.
Rensil
D'Silva
has
chosen
a
burning
issue
for
his
directorial
debut,
which
is
a
complete
departure
from
Karan
Johar's
earlier
films.
For
some
inexplicable
reasons,
parallels
are
being
drawn
with
Fanaa
[Aamir
Khan,
Kajol]
and
New
York
[John
Abraham,
Neil
Nitin
Mukesh,
Katrina
Kaif],
but
the
fact
remains
that
barring
the
backdrop
of
terrorism,
there's
no
similarity
with
those
films.
I've
often
felt
that
certain
films
are
beyond
box-office.
Movies
are
not
meant
to
merely
entertain,
but
enlighten
and
educate
as
well.
They
need
to
prick
your
conscience
and
in
the
process,
make
an
attempt
to
make
this
world
a
better
place.
Kurbaan
does
just
that
and
for
this
very
reason,
it
deserves
a
double
thumbs
up.
Final
word?
Drop
everything
else
you're
doing
to
watch
Kurbaan.
Movies
like
these
need
to
be
made,
encouraged
and
lauded.
Avantika
[Kareena
Kapoor]
is
a
teacher
at
a
university
in
Delhi.
She
has
come
back
from
New
York
where
she
teaches,
because
her
father
[Aakash
Khurana]
has
suffered
a
heart
attack.
During
this
period,
she
meets
a
Professor
called
Ehsaan
Khan
[Saif
Ali
Khan].
Soon,
they
begin
seeing
each
other
and
love
blossoms.
A
few
months
later,
Avantika
receives
a
call
from
her
university
in
New
York,
asking
her
to
come
back.
Avantika
breaks
the
news
to
Ehsaan.
He,
in
turn,
tells
her
he
doesn't
mind
coming
to
the
States
with
her.
But
first
they
need
to
get
married.
Soon
after
the
marriage,
they
leave
to
start
a
new
life
in
New
York.
They
buy
a
house
in
an
Indian
neighbourhood
and
move
in.
Just
as
they
are
setting
up
home,
their
conservative
Muslim
neighbours
invite
them
over
for
dinner.
The
next
morning,
Salma
[Nauheed
Cyrusi],
one
of
the
women
Avantika
met
the
night
before
at
the
dinner,
visits
her
under
the
pretext
of
gifting
her
sweets.
When
Avantika
invites
her
in,
Salma
tells
her
that
she
is
in
grave
danger.
Nothing
is
what
it
seems.
Salma
pleads
with
Avantika
to
help
her.
What
follows
next
is
a
series
of
incidents
that
sucks
Avantika
into
a
vortex
of
danger
and
intrigue.
As
her
life
spirals
out
of
control,
Avantika
realizes
that
she
is
a
pawn
in
a
huge
game.
Kurbaan
has
two
stories
running
concurrently
-
the
love
story
between
Saif
and
Kareena
and
the
story
of
Islamic
terrorists.
Rensil
sets
the
stage
in
the
initial
15
minutes
itself,
after
which
there's
a
twist
in
the
tale
every
15-20
minutes,
which
catches
you
completely
unaware.
Rensil
doesn't
borrow
from
the
past,
which
makes
the
proceedings
thoroughly
captivating.
The
highpoint
is
the
35-minute
climax,
which
leaves
you
spellbound.
The
culmination
to
the
story
shakes
you
completely,
largely
because
it's
pragmatic
and
has
been
executed
most
logically
as
well.
In
fact,
filming
the
climax
at
the
various
underground
tube
stations
must've
been
the
toughest
challenge
for
the
director.
On
the
flip
side,
Kurbaan
caters
more
to
the
intelligentsia
or
the
thinking
viewer
and
might
not
be
lapped
up
whole-heartedly
by
those
who
survive
on
the
staple
diet
of
hardcore
masala
fares.
Some
of
the
finest
technicians
in
the
business
are
associated
with
Kurbaan.
Hemant
Chaturvedi's
cinematography
is
super.
The
film
bears
an
international
look
all
through.
Salim-Sulaiman's
music
is
well
integrated
in
the
narrative.
At
least
two
tracks
merit
a
mention
-
'Shukran
Allah'
and
'Ali
Maula'.
Anurag
Kashyap
and
Niranjan
Iyengar's
dialogue
are
superb.
The
lines
enhance
the
impact
of
several
sequences.
Thrills
are,
again,
in
sync
with
the
mood
of
the
film.
Kurbaan
is
embellished
with
superlative
performances.
Saif
is
extra-ordinary
in
a
role
that
only
proves
his
versatility
once
again.
If
he
won
your
heart
with
a
winning
performance
in
Love
Aaj
Kal
a
few
months
ago,
you
need
to
watch
this
supremely
talented
actor
underplay
his
part
so
beautifully
in
Kurbaan.
As
for
Kareena,
Kurbaan
reiterates
one
fact
yet
again:
She's
the
best
in
the
business.
No
two
opinions
on
that!
Watch
her
get
those
emotional
sequences
right,
it's
incredible.
Here's
a
performance
that
truly
merits
the
highest
praise
and
admiration,
besides
fetching
her
awards
and
accolades.
Vivek
Oberoi
is
fantastic.
Matching
Saif
and
Kareena
at
every
step,
Kurbaan
should
be
the
turning
point
in
Vivek's
career.
It's
a
difficult
role
to
portray
and
only
an
actor
with
a
wide
range
could've
portrayed
this
part
so
effectively.
Om
Puri
is
top
notch
and
so
is
Kirron
Kher.
Kirron
is
marvellous,
especially
in
the
penultimate
scene.
Dia
Mirza,
Nauheed
Cyrusi
and
Kulbhushan
Kharbanda
lend
credibility
to
their
brief
roles.
On
the
whole,
Kurbaan
is
the
most
powerful
film
to
come
out
of
the
Hindi
film
industry
in
2009,
so
far.
The
film
has
a
captivating
plot,
gripping
screenplay,
super
performances
and
a
climax
that
shakes
you
up
completely.
Watching
this
movie
should
be
on
top
of
your
agenda
this
week.