EBolly

Movie Review: Naqaab – The Most Shocking Thriller of the Year

Reviewer/Film Critic: Goher Iqbal Punn
(Bollywood & Indian TV Analyst)

Producer: Tips Industries (Kumar S Taurani and Ramesh S Taurani)
Director: Abbas-Mustan
Cast: Akshaye Khanna, Bobby Deol and Urvashi Sharma
Music: Pritam

Tips Industries’ mega project, ‘Naqaab’ is finally out in theaters. The tagline of the film ‘The Most Shocking Thriller of the Year’ is what has been attracting the viewers from the outset. With the impressive star cast, the classy directors’ duo and the suspense element involved in the script, it was also the tagline that helped the people drag to the cinema halls. The expectations were very high with Abbas-Mustan since they always appear with something very different and catchy. Let’s check it out if they have succeeded in their efforts.

The masters of making the thrillers, Abbas-Mustan has undoubtedly turned out well in this film. Why…? This is because the narrative registers impacts, characters sink the teeth into the characterizations pretty well and the directors sit on the chair with an adroit stick in hand. From the beginning reel till the climax, a suspense filled movie should have grip on the viewer’s mind. And yes, ‘Naqaab’ does it all. There are some flaws in every product, ‘Naqaab’ too have some but they can be ignored if the overall item is alluring. A cinegoer’s enthusiasm dwindles a bit in the post interval portion but once the final reels unfold, the film boosts to the heights again. The suspense element in this offering of Abbas-Mustan is what holds your interests’ values.

Sophie (Urvashi Sharma) is a young lass from a middle class family. Engaged to a millionaire Karan (Bobby Deol), she gets attracted to Vicky (Akshaye Khanna) once she meets him. Here the problems start oozing out. The film takes the viewers to the past of these three characters. A love triangle, the question now is who will Sophie choose – Karan or Vicky? Usually the thrillers in Hindi cinema bear resemblance or are copied from Hollywood flicks. But with ‘Naqaab’, it’s not the case since the idea Abbas-Mustan have taken looks fresh and innovative in Bollywood.

The first half is very enticing and catches you till the neck with the whopping dose of interesting stuff. The relations amongst the characters develop. The sequences between Sophie and Vicky attract towards them. Soon the second half begins, here a moviegoers disappoints a bit. It is because the motive of the leading protagonist does not look persuasive. He appears as if he has some hidden agenda but once his character unveils, doesn’t hit your heart. Otherwise the post interval is interesting too.

Except some flaws, the overall script is good. Abbas-Mustan have executed the direction stylishly as usual and with much aplomb. Screenplay by Shiraz Ahmed is wonderfully penned. Pritam dolls up the music with finesse. ‘Ek Din Teri’ is the pick of the lot and very mellifluous too. Hussain Burmawala edits the film and attracts with his job. The most admirable and appreciable thing in the film is that the filmmakers have not put any unwanted sequences or songs into the narrative.

Akshaye Khanna loots the show. He delivers the power packed performance. Bobby Deol too impresses. The gorgeous discovery of Tips Urvashi Sharma does not leave any stone unturned to allure the audience. She looks pretty confident and beautiful in the film. She has good acting skills and has a good future in Bollywood. Vikas Kalantri fills the bill as well. The rest of the cast is okay too.

On the whole, ‘Naqaab’ will hit the audiences’ hearts. The huge business at the box office can be seen from the opening day of the film. It will bring smiles on the face of Tips Industries, Abbas-Mustan and the people associated with it.
A successful fare in every sense of the word.

E-Bolly Rating: 8.5/10

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