I know that this forum is dedicated to reviews on new movies but couldn't keep myself from writing something about this movie.
I had read a lot about how Aashayein was going to be a path breaking movie for John since he is working with someone like Nagesh Kukunoor. Aashayein, if I am not mistaken, was ready before 2009. But due to no takers, it was in the cans for long and saw light of day just this August. The movie turned out to be a dud, eventually leading to Percept Pictures not recovering any money.
Anyway, that was the background of the movie.
Aashayein is about a compulsive gambler who has won a huge sum of money in cricket betting. John plays Rahul who has changed his name since he didn’t like the name given by his parents which was "Bhaskar". Guess this is John's way of showing respect to SRK :).
I had read a lot about how Aashayein was going to be a path breaking movie for John since he is working with someone like Nagesh Kukunoor. Aashayein, if I am not mistaken, was ready before 2009. But due to no takers, it was in the cans for long and saw light of day just this August. The movie turned out to be a dud, eventually leading to Percept Pictures not recovering any money.
Anyway, that was the background of the movie.
Aashayein is about a compulsive gambler who has won a huge sum of money in cricket betting. John plays Rahul who has changed his name since he didn’t like the name given by his parents which was "Bhaskar". Guess this is John's way of showing respect to SRK :).
One day, John's character realises that he suffering from Lung Cancer, thanks to years of chain smoking. John had just proposed to Nafeesa played by Sonam Sehgal (of Radio fame featuring Himesh Bhai). Rahul decides not to get married to Nafeesa and leaves without saying anything. He ends up in a hospice for people who are suffering from chronic diseases and are counting their last days. This place has a lot of characters; Farida Jalal, suffering from aids who was a prostitute by profession, Girish Karnad suffering from throat cancer, Anahita nair also suffers from cancer. Also, Ashwin Chitale, the chhotu from the marathi movie Shwaas.
Rahul comes to this hospice to spend his final days but ends up being a Good Samaritan to all the people at this shelter. The core of the movie is about all the events that take place at the hospice.
This movie could very well be compared to Anand, but I feel this is novel way of saying the story of Anand.
Highlights of the movie have to be chemistry between John and Anahita Nair. Anahita Nair (chak de girl) is superb, also has some cracking dialogues. Ashwin Chitale is a sweetheart kid to watch and a natural actor.
The track of Raiders of the lost Ark used by Nagesh Kukunoor is very imaginative and very relative, a kind of risk we hardly see in movies, probably only one seen was in No Smoking which also had John in the lead.
This movie reminded me a lot of John's performance in No Smoking; probably both the characters were depressed. John has underplayed and not over done any scene. Lot of speculation is there regarding his acting but I think, there is nothing one can complain of in this movie.
Nagesh Kukunoor has tried to tread on the path of realism and fiction very finely. Felt that it got kind of filmi at one point, similar to what happen to Tasveer, nonetheless it never reduced the entertainment factor of the movie. (After all, a movie is supposed to entertain). To some he must have treaded successfully and to a lot of them, unsuccessfully.
A slow movie but entertaining, it would be difficult for a masala movie lover to sit through it. Personally, I never got bored throughout, the actors and the screenplay held my attention for a good 2 hours.
To see what happens to John when he becomes Indiana Jones from Raiders of the Lost Ark and what happens at the hospice, please watch the movie. And yes, this movie too has Nagesh Kukunoor in a special appearance like all his previous movies. :)
Rahul comes to this hospice to spend his final days but ends up being a Good Samaritan to all the people at this shelter. The core of the movie is about all the events that take place at the hospice.
This movie could very well be compared to Anand, but I feel this is novel way of saying the story of Anand.
Highlights of the movie have to be chemistry between John and Anahita Nair. Anahita Nair (chak de girl) is superb, also has some cracking dialogues. Ashwin Chitale is a sweetheart kid to watch and a natural actor.
The track of Raiders of the lost Ark used by Nagesh Kukunoor is very imaginative and very relative, a kind of risk we hardly see in movies, probably only one seen was in No Smoking which also had John in the lead.
This movie reminded me a lot of John's performance in No Smoking; probably both the characters were depressed. John has underplayed and not over done any scene. Lot of speculation is there regarding his acting but I think, there is nothing one can complain of in this movie.
Nagesh Kukunoor has tried to tread on the path of realism and fiction very finely. Felt that it got kind of filmi at one point, similar to what happen to Tasveer, nonetheless it never reduced the entertainment factor of the movie. (After all, a movie is supposed to entertain). To some he must have treaded successfully and to a lot of them, unsuccessfully.
A slow movie but entertaining, it would be difficult for a masala movie lover to sit through it. Personally, I never got bored throughout, the actors and the screenplay held my attention for a good 2 hours.
To see what happens to John when he becomes Indiana Jones from Raiders of the Lost Ark and what happens at the hospice, please watch the movie. And yes, this movie too has Nagesh Kukunoor in a special appearance like all his previous movies. :)
