Karzzzz   Producer: Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar Director: Satish Kaushik Starring: Urmila Matondkar, Himesh Reshammiya, Shweta Kumar, Gulshan Grover, Danny Denzongpa, Imran Hasnee, Rohini Hattangadi, Dino Morea, Raj Babbar, Asrani, Bakhtiyaar Irani Music: Himesh Reshammiya Lyrics: Sameer Genre: Thriller Recommended Audience: Parental Guidance Approximate Running Time: 2 hrs 20 mins Film Released on: 17 October 2008 Reviewed by: Aakash Gandhi  - Rating: 3.5 / 10   Let us know what you think about this review Music Review

I won't waste our time by delving into the highly predictable story, it is heavily based on Ghai's Karz with a few changes in the latter portions. It's suffice to know that the film deals with reincarnation and revenge in the most amateurish of ways.

If you told Subhash Ghai that three decades later his film would be remade, anyone would have believed that with three decades would come a new age of fresh creativity and brighter talent. Unfortunately, it looks as if Kaushik's Karzzzz was produced three decades before Ghai's film. The execution is stale, the dialogue is nonsensical, and the dramatics are non-engaging. A subject that deals with the supernatural beliefs of reincarnation is one that provides talented filmmakers with an unending potential to create some of the most enticing and unpredictable screenplays ever, especially since the subject is rarely touched upon. However, Karzzzz entails none of these elements.

Musically, the film is another disappointment. Songs have been intrusively dumped into the already stuttering screenplay enough to get you to walk right out on the film. Lut Jaoon is the only track that provides a level of enjoyment.

Many critics have pointed out Reshammiya's improved acting skills. It's not much of a compliment seeing as how there was nowhere for HR to go but up after his pathetic performance in AKS. In Karzzzz, he seriously lacks the sensitivity of an estranged son, the charisma of a superstar, the passion of a lover, and the enigma of a reincarnation.

Urmila Matondkar is a total misfit. Her inane cackles are as fake as the character she portrays. A major highlight of the original film was the chemistry shared between the two leads. The HR-Urmila combo is more spoilt than month-old milk. Not to mention she needs to lay off the chocolates a bit. It's a shame to see such a classy actress go down in flames with this train-wreck of a film.

It's beyond me how certain critics can give this film 4/5 stars. I implore HR to stick to his primary career of making music, as this setup is doing nobody any good. Everyone has gone backwards with this film. Satish Kaushik, an accomplished director who has made some enjoyable films in the past (Tere Naam, Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai, Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hai) strikes out big time with his attempt at “masala” films. Urmila Matondkar takes more than a few steps back from a career that has featured an array of versatile performances. Himesh Reshammiya, a man who won over more than his fair share of fans is bound to lose a good percentage of them after this pathetic excuse for an acting career.

If you really want to see a good film that deals with revenge and features the true talent of Urmila Matondkar, then go pick up a copy of Ek Haseena Thi. Otherwise, Karzzzz is just two and a half hours of Zzzz. A film expected to age like fine wine over three decades...ends up aging like milk. Ouch!

Aakash Gandhi is Managing Editor and Senior Writer for Planetbollywood.com. He also freelances for the Asian Variety Show at avstv.com.