Just Say Yes to "No Smoking"!

People often complain that Bollywood is not original. And this is a valid statement since many movies are Indian versions of Hollywood hits. But, once in a while, comes an avant-garde picture with an original story, a revolutionary execution and terrific performances. No Smoking is one such picture. Directed by Anurag Kashyap, No Smoking stars John Abraham, Ayesha Takia, Paresh Rawal and Ranvir Shorey. The jazzy soundtrack is by Vishal Bhardwaj who I already praised in my U Me aur Hum review.

K (Abraham) is a chain smoker. His fiancee Anjali (Takia) realizes that he probably loves the cigarette more than he loves her, so she leaves him. Feeling lost without her, he decides to win her back and the only way he can is to quit smoking. Easier said than done! His friend Abhas Tyrewala (Shorey), who is sadly not called Cheenu by the characters, tells him about a camp of sorts that helps smokers quit smoking. What he thinks is a rehabilitation center is actually something quite different. He meets the eccentric Shri Shri - no kidding! - Baba Bengali (Rawal) who swears to K that his soul will be cleared of the dirty vice. K is a little spooked because a) to get to Baba Bengali is a quite a process; b) he hears screaming and sees many disturbing images; and c) one of Baba Bengali's heroes is the one and only Hitler. But, he signed the contract and cannot get out of it in this tale of addiction, the souls of humans, love and the power of the cigarette.

Everything in this film is novel. Cartoon bubbles present the thoughts of characters. A flashback scene is shown like a Charlie Chaplan flick. The background score is zingy and also uses old Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra hits. Anurag Kashyap succeeds in making Bollywood's first abstract - not unrealistic - film. The film switches from dream to reality and back again without apology. By the time the film reaches its shattering conclusion, you just don't know what to do with yourself. The film is scary, hilarious and thought-provoking all at once (but not in an "all-in-one" masala film way). Yes, there were times where I wanted to do anything else but look at the screen but in a good way. I feel that cinema's first goal is to entertain, yes, but its second goal is to challenge the viewer and make the viewer uncomfortable. For it is only when we are uncomfortable do we question ourselves. In what way am I like K? What are my addictions and what are they doing to my soul?

It doesn't hurt that John Abraham gives the second best performance of his career (his first will always be Jism). He is just perfect as the arrogant K. John Abraham, in my honest opinion, is just suited better for artsy independent films. He then doesn't get caught up playing the "hot villain" or whatever. Sure, this film does make use of his sex appeal but it totally makes sense for K to praise himself in the mirror after stepping out of the bathtub. John Abraham can be totally Western but also very Indian. He is just very good!

Ayesha Takia, though she doesn't have much to do, is brilliant. She actually gets a double role of sorts. She plays Anjali the concerned fiancee and also Annie the sexy secretary. Annie is really inconsequential except for some clever risque lines that I have heard elsewhere but not in Bollywood. Ayesha Takia plays both very differently. Not only that but she can do so much with so little and that goes to show that she is not a flash in the pan girl.

Ranvir Shorey is okay as Abhas. He is funny at times but he is the kind of character who is important but not enough to get a lot of screen time. Shorey is one actor who always gets sidelined sometimes. Paresh Rawal is excellent as Shri Shri Baba Bengali. He is mysterious and scary while stil working in a few jokes. I wouldn't say that this is his best role but the role could not have been done well without him, that's for sure.

Vishal Bhardwaj's score fits the bill. The songs are used mostly in the background with only the two chartbusters, Jab Bhi Cigarette and Phoonk De, having full-out videos (the latter of which stars the amazing Bipasha Basu). Jab Bhi Cigarette should be noted for its original choreography which is in the style of Bob Fosse. Even the bar the song takes place in is called The Bob Fosse!

Anurag Kashyap's cautionary tale about the dangers of addiction wasn't a box office gold mine nor did it garner great reviews. Perhaps the majority of Bollywood fans isn't ready for such abstract visuals and symbolic dialogues. Perhaps they don't like to question themselves or to make their own interpretations. That's okay. That group of Bollywood fans can always stick to their "Oh, So Obvious" masala films. But the rest of us can enjoy this enigmatic picture. No Smoking rates an 8.5/10.