'Murder' - What Murder?

Article Updated 02 April, 2004 09:43:32 PM IST

'Murder' - What Murder?

The film starts with a chase scene. A decently dressed Simran (Mallika Sherawat) is being chased by the Bangkok police for a cold-blooded murder that she has committed (has she really?). A couple of hours later her husband, Sudhir (Ashmit Patel) is arrested in connection with the same murder. Doesn't this remind you of the recently released flop, 'Tum'. The victim is killed twice (at least that is the impression one gets). Before this leads to more confusion, let's get on with the story.

Simran is unhappily married to her dead sister's husband, Sudhir. Reason- she holds herself responsible for her sister's death so marries the husband to mother his little motherless son. Is marriage the only solution in cases like this, we wonder. Simran's major grouse is that Sudhir hasn't forgotten her dead sister. We don't blame him considering Simran behaves like a spoilt brat most of the times and even nags him. Not to mention her temper tantrums and penchant for flinging things around in anger. Feeling ignored and unloved by her husband, she bumps into her college sweetheart, Sunny (Emraan Hashmi). The chemistry is at work instantly and before you can blink your eyes they are at it. The audience is assured of his money's worth in the first half; good music, lavish skin and sex show. Indian cinema has really come of age! In one of those erotic scenes, Sunny even slides his hands down Simran's thighs while she is lying down and saying, 'this is not right'. Then why doesn't she stop him? And is she trembling with excitement or fear? Someone please tell us! Why is Simran, who is portrayed as a woman of today hiding her affair from her husband? If he still has memories of his dead wife then isn't she justified in falling in love with her old sweetheart? Double standards! Simran's sexual escapades arouse Sudhir's suspicions and a private detective is on the job, who even gives him counseling sessions. A mysterious girl suddenly pops out of nowhere as Sunny's girlfriend. Someone please explain again! Where was the mystery girl hiding all this time? Why would a man who is getting sexual gratification from his woman (Simran) everyday look around. To top it all he is even possessive about her. Which of the two women was he leading on? Why? All hell breaks loose soon after this. After a lot of mayhem and madness, Simran decides that Sunny is a creep while Sudhir is the man to lust for. The two fall in love and it is a case of 'All's well that ends well'. Phew! Did Sudhir and Simran have to go through all this to discover each other and fall in love?

Mallika is over made most of the times. She even wears makeup while sleeping. However, she is underdressed to compensate for this. She is good at her body display (her only asset) but fails in the acting department. She is screechy in some scenes and her face close-ups make her look anything but desirable. Ashmit has improved a great deal if one compares his performance in his flop debut. This could probably be because he had to underplay here but this gives his personality a one-dimensional feel. Emraan is a perfect natural. His slightly impish looks go very well with his character. You will be disappointed if you venture to see this film for just skin show. Be prepared for a breezy first half and a boring, illogical second that is supposed to be the thriller bit.

** (TWO STARS)

*poor; **average; ***good; ****very good; *****excellent

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