Murder

Another Mahesh Bhatt movie trying to look Hollywood. Anurag Bose is the new whizkid from the Bhatt team and rightly so. The direction stands out in the general look as well as the going ons. But alas, as the golden bollywood dictum or in general any successful movie dictum no script no no no...nothing. Although the titles say the story is also by Anurag Bose you’d wish. Excerpts from the hollywood blockbuster ’’Unfaithful’’ and direct lift offs from the same screenplay abound in Murder. Right from the starting scene where the wife meets the other man (in rain as compared to the storm in the english version) to the seduction scenes with focus on the wife’s tummy the screenplay relies too much on the already made version.

Cast wise Mallika Sherawat gets ample scope to bolster her self declared status of the latest bollywood sex symbol (CNN rated her as India’s Youth icon.. oh. commmoonn....) but she needs more on acting and makeup front. Ashmit Patel shows some stature in his serious character. Mahesh Bhatt nephew Hashmi looks like the Bollywood version of Colin Farell though not remotely close on the performance. With a few movies and some grooming this one has potential nonetheless.. Patel shows a better body cut than Hashmi and both flaunt their skin with able competition from Sherawat! Raj Zutshi is passable but his comic attire as a sardarji (?) police is appalling.

The story looks gripping at parts especially the end scenes where the twist in the tale is revealed but overall is a forgetful affair. Unexplainable situations abound e.g. Ashmit Patel dragging something (I won’t reveal what) on a busy road and nobody even staring at him or informing the police etc.

The songs are good and Anu Malik looks in form. Some songs are like the screenplay - ’’inspired’’ but melodious to the ear nonetheless. The music is well blended with the story but it would had been justice to the film if the music was restricted to the music album itself. Overall, the movie has its moments, but you would do yourself no harm by not seeing this one!