Kurbaan’s director Renil D’Silva has proved it by presenting a burning issue, which has already been served to the audience, in a different style.
Avantika (Kareena Kapoor) teaches at the university and falls in love with colleague Ehsaan Khan (Saif Ali Khan). The duo marries and shifts to New York City. There Avantika becomes witness to some terrorist operations in her neighbourhood headed by a Muslim fundamentalist (Om Puri). Soon she realizes that she is a pawn to a huge conspiracy. She secretly seeks help from a television reporter Riyaaz (Vivek Oberoi) who attempts to infiltrate the terrorist outfit to foil their big plan.
Kurbaan starts as a love story, swiftly changes identity to a social film and keeps the viewer engaged throughout with its thriller treatment. Sensibly the romance is kept short and succinct without losing out on the chemistry of the characters. Once the terrorist activity comes to forefront, the love story is fittingly given a backseat as the story intends to highlight and discuss serious issues related to global terrorism. And while dealing with dignified social concerns, the film doesn’t compromise on entertainment by adapting a thrilling story-telling technique.
Kurbaan doesn’t have anything new to say. In fact, it’s similar to New York in the sense of a well-heeled, educated, seemingly genteel sort of person turning out to be a terrorist. The usual debates about jihad being Allah’s will-versus- Islam being a peace-propagating religion take place throughout the film.
Kurbaan could have been a tighter and perhaps slightly more engrossing film. But considering it is the director’s maiden effort – full marks to Rensil D’Silva. He does well to stay away from any frothy elements at the cost of sacrificing the mass entertainment value. It’s mostly a gripping thriller with several shock moments.
