Kurbaan

Cast Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Vivek Oberoi, Om Puri
Director Rensil D'Silva
Rating G

Avantika (Kapoor), a Delhi-based teacher, returns from a teaching assignment in New York to nurse her ill father.

During her stay in Delhi, she falls in love with Professor Ehsaan Khan (Khan). After tying the knot, the couple moves to New York and lives in a conservative neighbourhood. One of the neighbours, Slama, seeks Avantika's help as she believes her life is in danger. Avantika suddenly realises that she is being used as a pawn in an act of terrorism, and her husband is nothing close to what he claims to be.

A remake?

The film's plot bears an uncanny resemblance to the Aamir Khan-Kajol starrer Fanaa and the recent hit New York. But Johar disagrees. "Kurbaan is nothing like Fanaa or New York. It's only common factor is the sub-plot of terrorism. I'm used to comparisons being drawn with earlier films. It happened with Kal Ho Na Ho (it was compared to Anand) and Wake Up Sid (compared to Lakshya)."

He adds that eventually audiences discovered that all his films were original. "I'm confident, once Kurbaan releases it will follow a similar route."

Kapoor adds, "Kurbaan is an entirely different subject and has nothing to do with Fanaa or New York.

Right from its screenplay to the way the film is shot and its treatment makes this film unique and refreshing."

Kurbaan's story was written by D'Silva who earlier scripted Rang De Basanti.

Strong supporting cast

Though Kurbaan focuses on the relationship between Khan and Kapoor's characters, the film has a strong supporting cast. Oberoi who was last seen in Mission Istanbul is hoping that his role will put him back in the limelight. Om Puri, who last played a terror mastermind in the British flick Shoot At Sight, plays a similar role in Kurbaan. Meanwhile, Kirron Kher sheds her Punjabi characters to play a woman with Afghan roots.

The music, composed by Salim-Sulaiman, has two winning tracks: Shukran Allah and Kurbaan Hua sung by Sonu Nigam and Vishal Dadlani, respectively.

Kurbaan seems to have everything going in its favour from a popular lead pair, strong supporting cast, interesting subject, good music, top production banner and strategic distribution by UTV Motion Pictures.

Film File

■ Khan and Kapoor were initially penciled to play a couple in Johar's Kal Ho Na Ho but Kapoor walked out due to money issues and was replaced by Preity Zinta.

■ The title of the movie was Jehaad but was changed to Kurbaan to avoid controversy.

■ Khan and Kapoor have appeared together on-screen in LOC - Kargil, Omkara and Tashaan.

■ Kurbaan is Oberoi's second film with Johar after Kaal. He also starred alongside Khan and Kapoor in Omkara.

■ Dia Mirza will be seen in a cameo.