Review: John Abraham starrer Aashayein

Aashayein

Cast John Abraham, Anaitha Nair, Girish Karnad, Ashwin Chitale, Sonal Sehgal, Farida Jalal

Director Nagesh Kukunoor

Rating G

Who isn't guilty of taking life for granted? Or hitting the sack every night, hoping to wake up to a more promising tomorrow? But what if you never wake up? What if there's no second chance? This is the harsh truth that Nagesh Kukunoor tackles effectively in Aashayein.

His protagonist Rahul Sharma lives life on the edge, blowing out nicotine clouds every waking hour and unashamedly giving into his greed for money. But when his body refuses to back his wild ways, tearing apart his dreams in one shot, Rahul walks away from his sheltered life into an anonymous world, with only a bag full of cash and his Indiana Jones poster for company.

After 3 Deewarein and Iqbal, Kukunoor succeeds in staying true to the tale without compromising on its commercial quotient. Though he overindulges in fantasy, it isn't as unforgiving and exhausting as his last venture, 8x10 Tasveer. While some concepts like the Indiana Jones fantasy and the desires of a 17-year-old might sound ridiculously far-fetched, I felt they were completely probable, even realistic. But it's definitely not going to be appreciated by the typical Bollywood crowd.

Abraham excels in his role, slipping out of character in onlya few scenes. His raw, broken and completely believable portrayal of a man wishing for a miracle is immensely striking. Nair matches up with her fiery performance as his new friend. She brilliantly depicts the complexities of a rebelling teenager (Padma), who holds her parents responsible for her ill fate. Aashayein rides on this unusual friendship, a 35-year-old and his wild teenage companion, and for the most part they hold it together. There are also veterans like Karnad and Jalal who play other impressionable inmates of the hospice, each carrying their own sorrows. And the young, mango-loving Chitale wins a special place in our hearts with his buck-toothed smile.

It's an interesting tale that would've done far better witha tighter edit. That said, it's still afine watch.