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Bachchan towers above all in 'Ek Ajnabee'
By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Film; "Ek Ajnabee": Cast; Amitabh Bachchan, Arjun Rampal, Perizaad Zorabian, Vikram Chatwal and Baby Rucha: Director; Apoorva Lakhia: Rating **
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After watching this high-velocity action thriller, just one question came to my mind - about the scene where Bachchan rescues a little girl from kidnappers in Bangkok? Why is the screenplay credited to Manoj Tyagi and Apoorva Lakhia, when it is almost entirely lifted from Tony Scott's "Man On Fire"?

That apart, "Ek Ajnabee" is an above-average adaptation of a clever thriller with a central performance that tears through all cynical reading of celluloid apery.

The awesome Bachchan doesn't walk the talk. He strides through the lines as though to the baritone-born. He hardly speaks. But when he does - you cling to the words that slice the stillness.

This is certainly not Bachchan's first strong-and-silent loner's role. What makes this one special is the interweaving of emotion and action. The narrative packs in a punch both ways. 

Set in Bangkok, Gururaj R.J's camera rips across the rhythms of violence to form a beautiful bonding between the sullen bodyguard and his mature little custody. 

One can't say Baby Rucha plays against Bachchan as effectively as Ayesha Kapoor in the neo-classic "Black". But she gets her expressions and reaction dead on.

You wish there was more of the unlikely pair's interaction. But the scarcity of their emotional expression serves the narrative's purpose well. 

Here's a pair that needs more time together. And when the villains whisk the impish scene-stealer from the protagonist's range of vision, all hell breaks loose.

The director captures the heat, sweat and violence of a city without missing the link. Steven Bernard's editing is first rate though a little hard on the eye. No shot lasts longer than 10 seconds. This creates a perceptional problem. We don't get to recognise any of the characters from the inside.

As a surface look at lives soaked in vinegary danger and crime, "Ek Ajnabee" works fine. 

The film captures some tender moments between Bachchan and the little girl, but tends to saturate the soundtrack with too many sweaty sinister sounds. Music composer Amar Mohile could have gone for a less exacerbated background score.

Whatever the film's follies of friskiness, they're more than compensated by performances. The narrative has some nice supporting performances, particularly by Arjun Rampal who has gone both over and under the skin of his bar-owner, ex-army man's role. Not only Rampal look right, he feels right. Perizaad Zorabian as the kidnapped girl's sincere mother is sincere.

But as usual it's Bachchan who towers above all. His clenched jaws and sad eyes convey eons of bridled energy. 

Watch this film for the Bachchan's ceaseless celluloid strength. 
 

Ek Ajnabee box office result : 

'Ek Ajnabee' gets a dismal opening

By Manissha Despaande, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, Dec 12 (IANS) An overdose of sex and exposure in "Neal 'N' Nikki" and "Kalyug" has eclipsed the Amitabh Bachchan starrer "Ek Ajnabee" which opened to a poor response at the box office in comparison to the other two.

Concern for Bachchan's health among millions of his fans has not translated into a good opening for his film, reports Bollywood Trade.

Commenting on the film's poor performance, Sanjay Dalia, general manager, Cineline theatres, said: "The film got a very good response at the paid previews held a day before its release. But the film has got a surprisingly dismal opening at the entire chain of Cineline theatres all over."

Dalia, however, is not surprised like other exhibitors.

He said: "It is not necessary that the emotions we witnessed in the past few days for Amitji translate into box-office collections for his film. The public always thinks before it decides to endorse a film. In this case, both 'Neal 'N' Nikki' and 'Kalyug' catered to the youth."

"In the case of 'Neal 'N' Nikki', the name of the Yash Raj banner and the film's popular music worked in its favour but the biggest factor that made the difference was the sex appeal and the exposure which was seen in the promotional campaign of the film.

"Likewise, in the case of 'Kalyug', the Vishesh films banner has the reputation of making a certain genre of films."

But "Ek Ajnabee" may just pick up in the next few days, Dalia said. "It may just pick up the way Prakash Jha's 'Apaharan' did after a lukewarm response."

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Haroon Mirza to bow in Bollywood with Shah Rukh

Director Aziz Mirza's son Haroon Mirza's directorial debut with Shah Rukh Khan may happen early next year once the actor gives the go-ahead for the film. His father will produce the film.

Haroon said: "It will be a romantic film in the thriller genre. We have sounded off the script to Shah Rukh. Once he okays it we will go ahead with the film. Most probably it should happen in early 2006."

Direction is not an unfamiliar territory for Haroon. He assisted his father in "Yes Boss" and "Chalte Chalte".

He wrote a script with Shah Rukh in mind for a film with a very big canvas. However, the actor wanted him to start off on a modest budget and advised him to work on another script.

Haroon's new script is complete and he is waiting for a nod from the actor.

He said: "I have been waiting for him to come back from his New York schedule of Karan Johar's film. Now that he's back I am hoping to meet him soon."