Creative quotient:
Creative producer-cum-story writer Vishesh Bhatt picks up a contemporary issue and spins an interesting yarn around it. The young scion of the Bhatt clan certainly does his lineage proud. This is the story of chawl-dwellers - Arjun (Emraan) and his pal Vishal - who make a quick buck at the poker table. Greed and opportunity draws them to the racket of cricket betting. Arjun meets Zoya (Sonal) and it’s love at first sight, he catches her looking at a diamond ring longingly. Instantly he smashes open the showcase and picks out the ring for her. Zoya promises to accept the ring when she’s ready for it, until then it remains in his safe custody.
Love blossoms and so do Arjun’s nefarious betting activities. He’s hand-picked by South-Africa based don Abu bhai (Jawed Shaikh) to be his main match fixer. Sad story of corruption in cricket unfolds as Arjun bribes various team captains to serve his purpose. Hot-on-his- heels is CBI officer ACP Malhotra (Sameer Kochhar). What happens to the compulsive gambler, will his lady love be able to reform is what the film is about. Refreshingly original script with many-layered romance of a match fixer makes for a good premise.
Technical Expertise:
Well written with witty lines, barring the crude one that compares cricketers to prostitutes with their careers lasting only as long as their “jawani”. Debut director-writer Kunal Deshmukh’s screenplay is well-woven but since it’s essentially a love story it doesn’t work too well because the leading lady doesn’t at all merit all trouble that the hero is ready to take for her. Emraan Hashmi is predictable with the same stubbled, jeans-jacket look and a few dispirited lip-locks. Of the performers, Jawed Shaikh slips into his role of a suave don with ease and so does Sameer Kochhar as the dashing cop. However, newbie Sonal makes a disastrous debut. She’s a plane Jane with wooden expressions, zero oomph factor and no on-screen charisma. It’s a love story sans chemistry. Really producer Mukesh Bhatt could have hired a better endowed heroine.
Of the technical team, cinematographer Manoj Soni delivers slick visuals and the edit is crisp too. But Pritam’s tracks are not sensational this time, they have a deja vu sound .
Verdict
One star for snazzy production values, another for the topical issue-based script and the third for Jawed Shaikh and Sameer Kochhar’s impressive acts.