Jul 11, 2009 09:38 AM
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‘New York’, directed by Kabir Khan, produced by Aditya Chopra, released by Yash Raj Films, stars John Abraham, Katrina Kaif, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Irrffan Khan.
“New York” looks at America after 9/11 through a Bollywood lens – and it is less distorting than you might think. The story, which engages issues of ethnic profiling and terrorism, hinges on loyalty, love and friendship, a holy trinity of Hindi cinema.
Part of the film is like a typical Bollywood romance. Before 9/11 a triangle forms at the New York State University. Sam(John Abraham), who has been in the United States since childhood, and Maya(Katrina Kaif), an American-born Indian, befriend Omar(Neil Nitin Mukesh), a new arrival from Delhi. The athletic, all-American Sam wins Maya’s love. And then history intrudes.
After the terrorist attacks the innocent Sam gets in trouble with the FBI, which tosses him in a detention center, refuses his request for a lawyer and tortures him. There is a brief depiction of torture what we have read in the newspapers and it has been picturised very well. In a particularly powerful shot, a naked, shackled Sam is curled into a tiny boxlike cell that fills the movie frame.
While depictions of American life sometimes seem different from what we had thought, “New York” is continually fascinating. It benefits from the performance of Irrfan Khan(Roshan), who adds layers of complexity to his character, a Muslim FBI agent who recruits Omar to spy on Sam.
Indian films hav often dealt with the problems faced by a Muslim minority. The first half of the movie is simply amazing and keeps you on the edge, constantly guessing what is going to happen in the very next scene. By the time interval comes, you are looking at a big shocker and eagerly wait for the few minutes of break to be over soon.
The second half of the movie has been a bit disappointing, especially after the big revelation. The pace is quite slow, as compared to the first half, and even some predictability creeps in. Still, it is not without its fair share of engrossing scenes. Especially the torture scenes seem to send a shiver down your spine. The climax was not what I had predicted, but a little melodramatic(after all, it is a Bollywood film!). However, it has been executed with perfection.
Talking about performances, there is not even a single actor in the film who disappoints you. Right from the beautiful Katrina to the intense Irrfan, nobody gives a reason to complain. John Abraham, often taunted for his expressionless face, has delivered one of his best performances till date. On the other hand, Neil proved his mettle and Irrfan, once again, impressed us with his powerful acting, complete with dry humor.
Being the first big release after a damaging boycott of multiplex cinemas by producers, the movie is worth watching. So, plan today and go to the nearest theatre. You will enjoy it.
