02 January,2010 08:44 AM IST | | Sarita Tanwar
Accident
a; thriller
Dir: Mahesh Nair
Cast: Celina Jaitly, Abhimanyu Singh and Farooque Shaikhu00a0
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What it's about: Attempting a remake makes a director's job much easier. You know you have a tried and tested script to follow; you know the patterns of the screenplay so it's basically all about your treatment.
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The problem happens when you try to 'enhance' it with your own inputs. First-time director makes the same mistake with Accident On Hill Road and what could've otherwise been a one-of-a-kind thriller loses momentum minutes after the show begins.
AOHR takes its inspiration from the English film Stuck (2008) starring Mena Suvari and Stephen Rea, which is a rage on the DVD circuit.
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It was inspired by a true story that happened in 2003 in the US. In AOHR, Prakash Srivastava (Farooque) is having the worst day of his life when Sonam Chopra (Celina) smashes her car into him and then drives back home with him stuck on her windscreen.
Her drug-peddler boyfriend (Abhimanyu Singh) helps heru00a0 'fix' the problem. The second half keeps you on the edge of the seat trying to guess what will follow next with things finally falling in place in the unexpected climax.
What's Hot: The best thing about the film is its length (90 minutes), which is perfect for this genre. The director gets the cringe moments right. The film has a lot of blood and gore. If you are a dark thriller junkie, this one's for you.
Farooque Shaikh spends a good deal of his time writhing in pain, stuck on the windshield and he does it with conviction. Celina attempts a different role and stays in character for most of the part (save the exaggerated shaking of hands).
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She is convincing as the cold-blooded monster. Not many actresses would've dared to take up the character of a messed-up, mean and empty nurse whose survival instinct is stronger than anything else.
What's Not: When you're making an official remake, why mess with the script? The original was totally dark in nature; it had moments that made you cringe. Mahesh Nair decides to do away with all of them. Then why choose this film in the first place?
He ruins the film more with the extra additions in the script. The track between Prakash and his daughter and the dead wife is boring and doesn't add anything. The whole visa angle (justifying Sonam's behaviour) is unconvincing.
In Stuck, Suvari's character works because there are no explanations she's reacting to situations for her own selfish motives. The original is set in a small town so it seems believable when no one sees the girl driving around with a man stuck in her car.
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But when Nair changes the setting to a big city, it seems absurd and unreal. At least that part should've been left untouched.
It's basically a three-character film so a lot depended on the camaraderie between the characters. Thatu00a0 is missing in this desi version and the attempts at dark humour end up being unintentionally funny. Celina's character is dressed badly and wears too much make-up.
Even Abhimanyu Singh who wowed with his performance in Gulaal is awkward and seems to be going through the emotions with disinterest. Nair had the opportunity to do something novel with such a dynamic and unique premise. He just doesn't get it right.u00a0
What to do: Don't go with a weak stomach or with any expectations. It's nothing like you have seen before.
