Review of Refugee

Ajnabee (Thriller Movie ,2001)

Starring

Bobby Deol	.... Raj
Kareena Kapoor	.... Priya
Akshay Kumar	.... Vicky
Bipasha Basu	.... Sonia
Johnny Lever	....

Director : Abbas-Mastan
Producer : Vijay Galani

Review
Abbas-Mastaan, the director duo who once gave edge-of-the-seat thrillers like “Khiladi” and “Baazigar” come up with a rather brooding and tasteless thriller “Ajnabee” starring Akshay Kumar (an Abbas-Mustan camp regular), Kareena Kapoor and Bobby Deol in the lead roles.

The film (produced by Vijay Galani) does not adhere to the newly generating sensibilities of Indian cinema and has its basic premise on the stereotypes that have come to be identified with Bollywood kitsch.

At the facet “Ajnabee” seems as the blatant lift from the Hollywood potboiler “Consenting Adults” but the directors have taken care to bring about certain necessary changes to make its story palatable to the Indian sensibilities.

Raj (Bobby Deol) and Priya (Kareena) are inseparable lovers. Having decided to spend rest of their lives together they get married. Things are hunky dory between them until Raj – who is a Polo player – goes to Switzerland to participate in a Polo tournament and takes Priya along. It is in Switzerland a stranger enters in their calm life.

That stranger is Vicky (Akshay) who is at first Raj’s (and Sonia’s) neighbor but soon becomes their good pal. Together the foursome gambols around in the Alps.

Now Vicky is a bit of a shrewd character. Although he loves Sonia he is also infatuated by his friend Raj’s beautiful wife Priya. He makes a bold offer to Raj to swap wives for a night while the four of them are holidaying in Mauritius. But Raj refuses as he is not as liberal minded to swap his wife with another man. This brings a temporary cessation in their friendship and the couples fly back to Switzerland.

Realizing that he has offended Raj with his indecent proposal Vicky apologizes and peace is made between the feuding friends once again. But in the sly Vicky is waiting for the right moment to make his offer again and strike a deal with Raj.

The moment soon comes. It’s Vicky’s birthday – an emotional moment for both Raj and Vicky. After downing quite a few swigs of whisky Vicky gets maudlin and makes his proposal again. Then what! Vicky gets what he wants. Both of them are knocking on the other woman’s door. But amidst this convoluted situation a murder is committed. And the killer has done his/her work with finesse and left behind no evidence.

Thenceforth begins the race and chase that is typical of many Abbas-Mustan films like “Khiladi” and “Baazigar”. Akshay’s character in the film is imbued with some negative traits and strangely the director duo did not deem it important to give any justification for it. And Bobby’s character too is a rickety one and could have been more finely etched.

As for Kareena she looks gorgeous throughout the film and easily conveys the required expression. She has a natural talent for acting. But Bipasha needs to spruce up her histrionics despite the fact that she exudes oodles of oomph and glamour.

Anu Malik’s music in the film is simply corny and Sameer’s lyrics trite and void of much meaning. And the movie is just about an average crime thriller that doesn’t actually retain much element of suspense in the second half. Yet it takes the viewers on a globetrotting ride on a massive oceanliner to the idyllic locales in Alps, Mauritius and Singapore.

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