Tashan

Director: Vijay Krishna Acharya
Producer: Aditya Chopra
Starring: Anil Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor, Sanjay Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Yashpal Sharma
Lyrics: Piyush Mishra, Vishal Dadlani, Anvita Dutt Guptan

Writers often think that whatever they have written on paper would go well on the celluloid. Many of them in the past have tried their luck as director and while few of them like Anees Bazmee and Vinay Shukla have not only succeeded in matching their fame as a writer to that of a director, but have shot to more fame.

But writing and direction are altogether different as cheese and chalk. However, the writer of 'Dhoom' and 'Guru', Vijay Krishna Acharya alias Victor is just new to this. When Yash Raj Films couldn't succeed in their bid to release the film in multiplexes, many eyebrows were raised. Every one booked the ticket in single screen theatres, which they had forgotten because of better seats and ambience of multiplexes.

Yash Raj Films have been a torchbearer in Bollywood in terms of content, charisma and its czars, but it looks like the shine of the banner is fast fading away. The downfall of Yash Raj banner started with 'Jhoom Barabar Jhoom' followed by 'Laaga Chunari Mein Daag' and with 'Aaja Nach Le'.

'Tashan' looks like following the same fate at the box office. Like 'Jhoom Barabar Jhoom' it is all big gloss, like 'Laaga Chunari Mein Daag' its all-big talks and like 'Aaja Nach Le' its all-big stars. But, the story ends there because writer-director Vijay Krishna Acharya has nothing to say in his debut film as director of 'Tashan'.

'Tashan' has been promoted for last one month as THE ISHTYLE, THE GOODLUCK and THE PHARMOOLA, but sadly nothing works if you don't have a story to tell. 'Tashan' starts with a call centre executive Jimmy (Saif Ali Khan) being hired to teach some foreign style to a desi don Bhaiyya Ji (Anil Kapoor). Bhaiyya Ji like all other dons has one sexy Monica, called Pooja (Kareena Kapoor) in this case. Pooja is not as pious as her name is and it is quite visible in her toned and chisel shaped body. She has her eyes set on the treasure of his boss and seeks the help of Jimmy to rob her boss.

When beauty calls: Jimmy Jimmy Aa Ja, Jimmy falls prey to the sensuous beauty! The lad and the lasso elope with the don's money and like all other dons, Bhaiyya Ji too looks out for a goon who can bring the money back and kill the duo. As expected the search ends at Bachchan Pande (Akshay Kumar) and he is hired to kill the lover birds.

If you think that you have seen THE PHARMOOLA umpteen times already on the screen, then fix your eyes on THE ISHTYLE . This is like watching costumes of Jhoom Barabar Jhoom once again then please wish THE GOODLUCK to Yash Raj Films. THE DESI MASALA …IN THE INGLISH ISHTYLE fails to hold attention of its viewers.

Don't know who approved the idea of this film ; Aditya Chopra or Jaideep Sahni, but whoever is running the Yash Raj show seriously needs a break or some new head to do the job.

'Tashan' takes on the screen with a lot of marketing and like before it helps the film again to bring the huge footfall on the first day. But, all the style, all the gloss and all the stars fail to help the film to reach an entertaining end. The film starts very well. The viewer is glued to the screen.

The events change at a lightning speed and then enters Akshay Kumar on the screen. Crowd in the front bench is cheering and whistling and suddenly the fizz settles down. The pace is killed by the badly picturised songs. There is no logic in song sequences and tunes of songs are like Vishal Shekhar just emptying their old stock in the Yash Raj yard.

Except 'Jhoom Barabar Jhoom', even 'Aaja Nach Le' and 'Laaga Chunari Mein Daag' were better films than this. 'Tashan' makes you feel cheated. The makers rob your pockets literally! Except for some action sequences, thanks to Peter Hein, nothing remains with you after leaving the hall.

No Yashraj film has had such a dull music in its history. And, think of choreography of Vaibhavi Merchant, one can say for sure that her heart was somewhere else (Is Sanjay Leela Bhansali listening?), than concentrating on the songs of 'Tashan'. Not even one movement to copy for youngsters!

If Akshay Kumar has rejected an offer from Yash Raj to do one more film for them after 'Tashan', he is right. Probably he knew the fate of 'Tashan' in advance. He does give a solid performance in 'Tashan', but his persona could have been used for more on screen. He has done what he was told to do and he comes out with flying colors. But, his co- stars are no match to him. Saif Ali Khan is like seen here, and gone there kind of gestures.

This seems that he has done this role just because of Bebo. And, Kareena, Ah she is the new sex diva of Bollywood for sure. She looks hot, man. And in that two-piece sequence, she beats even Aishwarya in 'Dhoom 2'. If 'Tashan' fails it's because of its makers.

Had they given a thought to content as well, the result would have been altogether different. Aditya, please pull your socks fast lest it is too late. We respect Yash Raj banner a lot, but the time has come when the banner respects expectations of its fans , too.