Saturday, November 04, 2017
Ittefaq
M For Murder
The new version of Ittefaq can been enjoyed better without seeing the old Yash Chopra film. Abhay Chopra has updated and glamorized the story that was taken from the 1965 Hollywood movie Signpost To Murder. The old film, based on a stage play was set mostly on one location and the feel of claustrophobia and intrigue came across, mainly because the lead character was an escapee from a mental asylum. The new Ittefaq is a slickly shot suspense thriller, but also too plodding; also it would unravel if a how or why were to be asked.
Best-selling writer, Vikram Sethi (Siddharth Malhotra), is on the run from the cops, who suspect him of killing his wife. In wounded condition he takes shelter in the apartment of Maya (Sonakshi Sinha), whose husband is later found dead, and Vikram accused of that killing too. He, of course, protests that he is innocent; strange that he is not allowed a lawyer to get him out on bail. And, considering he is a celebrity, even constables treat him like a common pickpocket and nobody comes to see him!
Inspector Dev (Akshaye Khanna), interrogates Vikram and Maya, both of whom tell a different version of what happened in her apartment on a stormy night. The truth, as always lies somewhere in between.
Both Malhotra and Sinha fall way short in the acting department, and it’s left to Akshaye Kumar to save the day with his scowls and sneers. The supporting cast is made up of unknowns, though a couple of the actors playing Dev’s deputies suit their parts.
This one has many loose ends and not much of an ‘ittefaq’ (co-incidence); if it is possible to ‘unsee’ the old film, then, perhaps this one can be enjoyed to some extent. At least Abhay Chopra knows that a suspense thriller should have a relatively brief running time.
Labels: Cinemaah
