A hasty killing-spree!!

Review of 7 Khoon Maaf:

Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Neil Nitin Mukesh, John Abraham, Irfaan Khan, Anu Kapoor,
Naseeruddin Shah, Vivan Shah and Usha Utthup

Director: Vishal Bhardwaj

Vishal Bhardwaj makes movies of his own liking and that’s what one likes about him- the
originality, even though his movies are adapted from some or the other epic novel. But it’s the
treatment that he does to that epic story and the way he converts it into an Indian texture is
something which is plausible. So even if it requires three hours to metamorphose an Othelo
into Omkara or Macbeth into Maqbool; we really don’t mind. But for the first time I was
disappointed by the length of VB’s movie. To find substantial reasons to kill 7 husbands and to
top it all after all this slaughter still showing the protagonist to be the good hearted, battered in
loved woman to me required extra little time and therefore I found the editing to be rather
quite stringent which tried to fit an ensemble cast to create a cult thriller which falls haplessly
as just a nice attempt, which is a pity considering a talented man VB is.

The movie yet again is an adaption of Ruskin Bond’s novel- 7 Husbands of Sussanna. Yet again
the adaption of it in the Indian texture i.e. the screenplay is brilliant. It seems as if you’re
reading a beautiful novel. Yet again VB brings out the actor in Priyanka Chopra as he did with
Shahid Kapoor in Kaminey. Yet again the movie boasts of chartbusters like Darling, Bekaraaran
and O’mama and yet again there’s this twisted (was there a hidden layer somewhere?) climax
shot brilliantly.

All said and done movie also has its minuses. The transition from one husband to another is just
so little that I could literally hear people sitting beside me at the Multiplex gasping in pain of
their inability to understand what’s happening. Somebody in the crowd also squawked, “How
the hell did she end up in Moscow?”

The second fault was the absolutely negligible developing of the characters (read the
husbands). Barring the character of Sussanna and his adopted boy/friend/lover Vivan Shah and
Major Rodriguez of Neil Nitin to some extent, there was no character which gets enough time
on screen. It seems as if the protagonist is in absolute hurry to kill. While watching, I felt that all
those little episodes required more time and the biggest victim in this aspect is Naseeruddin
Shah who really gets nothing to do. For the first time ever VB failed in proving the protagonist’s
point.
Performance wise this movie is a landmark. You have a mean, ruthless, angry husband in Neil
Nitin who’s absolutely top class. John Abraham plays a junkie-rock vocalist with aplomb. Anu
Kapoor is a treat to watch as a calculative nymphomaniac police officer. Naseeruddin Shah as a
Mushroom-addict is subdued but speaks Bengali with utmost grace. Irfaan in his restrained
poet with a venomous side is outstanding. Usha Utthup and the other kill-happy servants are
wonderful. Special mention of one of the servants who sums up the movie in one dialogue
describing Sussanna just before the Interval is an absolutely gifted artist. And for me it was one
of the best scenes of all VB movies.

For me the best performance comes from a rare and fresh talent- Vivan Shah. In his debut
movie, Vivan gets an absolutely difficult character of a small boy who understands the apathy of
Sussanna and finds conviction in her killings of her several husbands. He’s a talented guy and
would love to see more of him.

Movie belongs to Priyanka Chopra. People are going gaga over her performance. Even I agree
with the fact that she’s been stretched to brink to give her career-best but she remains a loyal
director’s actor and for me there was nothing trademarkish like Shahid in Kaminey or Saif in
Omkara.

7 khoon maaf strictly remains for VB loyalists and people who like to see different movies.
Although that segment of audience may also remain a little dissatisfied with it; it has no appeal
to normal Indian viewer. All said and done, it’s a onetime watch. But watch it to see an
altogether unknown territory where no Indian movie has yet stepped. Watch for the serene
adaption of a Ruskin Bond Classic!