Title: Kidnap

Director: Sanjay Gadhvi

Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Minissha Lamba, Imran Khan, Vidya Malvade

Synopsis: On her 18^th Birthday, Sonia Raina (Minissha Lamba), daughter of a New York based business tycoon, Vikrant Raina (Sanjay Dutt), has been kidnapped. The kidnapper, a boy named Kabir (Imran Khan), will not talk to anyone except Vikrant. To save his daughter, Vikrant comes to India and performs tasks given by Kabir. The kidnapper is not after money. So what is it that he wants? Obviously, revenge. Kabir is an orphan boy. When he was eight years old, he sneaked into Vikrant’s bungalow to steal his car to drive his injured friend to the hospital. Vikrant’s daughter, Sonia, saw Kabir and jumped into the car and told him to leave the car but he did not listen and drove the car and had an accident which almost killed Sonia. Vikrant then went to the police and told them that Kabir should be branded as a criminal, a kidnapper. Kabir was shocked. The police officer tried to reason with Vikrant but in his situation any father would have lost his sense. Now, Kabir is grown up and he will seek justice in his way.

Let’s start with the biggest disappointment; Kidnap Hindi movie has a regurgitated story. A fourteen year old boy ended up in jail because of an arrogant rich businessman. Now, the boy has grown young and he is going to make the man suffer the same way he did. Already, the Hindi movie going audience seen such story in Sanjay Dutt and John Abraham starrer Zinda(2006). So, there is nothing new.

The movie created lots of hype with its trailers and promotional songs. Imran Khan’s new haircut and his mean kidnapper role, Sanjay Dutt’s return on the big screen after a long time, last but not least, Minissha Lamba donning bikini and ultra modern clothes. All the elements were used well and a lot of hype and enthusiasm was created. Plus, you have a director like Sanjay Gadhvi who directed hit movies like Dhoom and Dhoom 2. From the very beginning, every one was expecting something serious and entertaining. Alas, Kidnap Hindi movie failed live upto the expectation.

The story opens up with Minissha Lamba’s item number. After ten minutes, she is kidnapped by Kabir. From the onset, it appeared like Kidnap Hindi movie was going to be a no nonsense movie with some unexpected climax just like we saw in A Wednesday. Gadhvi unfolds the story in an attention grabbing manner but till the end of the movie, that attention fades away. Taran Adarsh says:

The hallmark of any revenge fare is the suspense quotient. In this case, there’s a motive behind what Imran does. And money is definitely not the motive here. So far, so good. But the purpose of kidnapping the billionaire’s only daughter as also the chain of events that lead to the culmination is such a put-off. Things keep deteriorating as they reach the finale.

The culprit? Obviously, the writer of this lifeless, unexciting and tedious drama. Shibani seems to think that the audience is pea-brained.

Kidnap Hindi movie is one of the earliest scripts of script-writer Shibani Bathija. She started making it into a movie last year. Shibani Bathija who wrote scripts for movies like Fanaa, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, could not live up to her reputation.

Another major weak point of the movie is that some events do not make any sense:

• Upon Kabir’s instruction, Sanjay Dutt frees a young boy from the prison. How is it possible for a respected businessman to elude hundreds of guards and escape a high security prison? Gadhvi made Sanjay do lots of things just to meet his daughter who is not even properly dressed.

• Kabir tells Vikrant Raina (Sanjay Dutt) to kill a man in a crowded pub. He will find the gun in the ice box. How long it is kept there no body knows.

• The chase sequence between Vikrant and Kabir over high rise buildings. glamsham says:

There’s also one sequence, a chase, where Vikrant is in pursuit of Kabir up and down an under construction tower. While the sequence is well shot, how can one believe that Kabir can fly like spider man? Enough with the weak points, so what are the strong points of the movie?

• Sanjay Dutt is at his wits’ end playing meaningless games and stops taking calls from the kidnapper. Later, the kidnapper comes to his house? Does that happen in real life? Granted, it is Hindi movie and showing reality is not their job but these kinds of things were shown in Bollywood movies back in the 70’s and 80’s. Will the present day audience swallow such nonsense?

• In her captive, Minissha Lamba is seen in new outfits every time the camera comes on her. Does the kidnapper have a rich collection of wardrobes? Kabir even let Sonia roam around and take a bath in the beach.

• In the end, Kabir meets Minissha and tells her that he was sorry for everything. Is it really possible?

Enough with weak points, let’s us look at the strong points of Kidnap Hindi movie.

• First and foremost, Sanjay Gadhvi had a great casting. Imran Khan, Sanjay Dutt, and Vidya Malvade did full justice to their roles. Though Minissha Lamba did not look like a seventeen year old girl, she showed that she can throw curves and set the screen on fire.

• Secondly, the movie was well shot. Buzz18.com says:

What works in this film are the locations. With breathtaking shots of some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Kidnap, it must be said, has been quite well shot. Also executed interestingly are some of the action sequences. Of course, they are far fetched at certain points but then again what the hell, many of us watch Bollywood films not so much to embrace reality as much as to escape from it.

• The chase sequence between Imran Khan and Sanjay Dutt may look like a spider-man attempt. Imran Khan did it all by himself. He received Parkour training for three weeks. So, he deserves some credit.

Now, let us shade some light on the acting department. Acting wise, Imran Khan played his part convincingly. He is a cold blooded kidnapper and viewers like him in his new avatar. Taran Adarsh says:

KIDNAP belongs to Imran Khan. Watch this youngster take giant strides and you know that he has arrived. He carries the cold look effortlessly.

Vidya Malvade is a divorcee wife and mother of one daughter but she sports modern out fit. Buzz18.com says:

By making Vidya Malavade play Minissha Lamba’s mother, Gadhvi (inadvertently perhaps) manages to appease the small but growing tribe of men who drool over older women. Being part of this clan, I had to try real hard not to hoot each time the always-in-control (oh don’t we like ‘em that way!) Vidya came on the screen. Dressed in stylish figure-hugging formals, Vidya was the one we were cheering for in Kidnap.

You can include me in this clan. I liked Vidya Malvade, she was efficient in her role. The Economic Times says:

Sanjay Dutt is cool, composed and compelling. Imran Khan is effective as the intelligent abductor who’s always two steps ahead of his opponent. However, the natural actor could go easy on his lip movements that appear synthetic at times. Minissha could go equally easy on biting words in her dialogue delivery. Nevertheless the actress looks ravishing and makes abundant use of her curvaceous anatomy. Rahul Dev is restrained in his resourceful act but his role is cut-short by weak characterization.

The music is good but not great. ‘Mit Jaaye’ and ‘Hey Ya’ were enjoyable. The rest of the songs were unbearable; honestly, unnecessary in a movie like Kidnap Hindi movie.

Overall, if you are a die hard Imran Khan fan, then Kidnap Hindi movie is all worthed. Despite, poor screen play, nonsense scenes, Imran Khan’s performance saved the movie.

Useful links:

http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/review/13544/index.html

http://www.buzz18.com/reviews/movies/review-kidnap-is-seriously-funny/86181/0

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Media__Entertainment_/Kidnap_Movie_Review/articleshow/3552810.cms

http://www.glamsham.com/movies/reviews/02-kidnap-movie-review-100802.asp

Related posts

• Bipasha Basu is not happy (0)
• Deepika Padukone wish Bachna Ae Haseeno become Ranbir Kapoor’s big ticket movie (4)
• Kidnap Hindi movie will be released on October 1, 2008 in the U.K. and the Middle East (0)
• Minissha Lamba almost drowned while shooting Kidnap Hindi movie (2)
• Kidnap Bollywood movie music review (1)