Aa Dekhen Zara has everything I love about Indian potboilers. A hot cast. Catchy music. An original but ultimately outlandish concept. Foreign locales. Exciting fights. Thrilling twists. And an ending that throws you for a loop before becoming what you expected. Directed by newcomer Jehangir Surti, ADZ stars Neil Nitin Mukesh (who, 1.5 years ago gave us the sublime Johnny Gaddaar), the always delightful Bipasha Basu, Rahul Dev and Sophie Chaudhary (whom you might recognize as Baby Doll Vol. 3 from Pyaar Ke Side/Effects). Most of the music is by Pritam but there is a remix of the song "Aa Dekhen Zara" which was remixed by Gaurav Dasgupta. The remix is sung by Neil Nitin Mukesh. More on that later.
Ray (NNM) is a struggling photogapher who just found out his grandfather, Dr. Joshi, has died. He has inherited an old camera from his grandfather, who was a famous inventor. Ray tries out the camera but when he develops the pictures, he realizes that the pictures aren't of what the subjects were doing when he took them but of what they're doing now 24 hours later. He realizes that this camera shows the future. He then uses the camera to win lotteries, horse races and at the stock markets. He becomes a changed man due to his wealth, much to the chagrin of girlfriend Simi (Bipasha Basu). When he develops a picture that was taken of himself, it is blank which, according to the film's mythology, means that he will die. Add to that, the Captain (Rahul Dev) is after the camera and will stop at nothing to get it. How Ray and Simi evade the Captain as well as try to figure out how to change Ray's fate forms the crux of this thriller.
Like, okay, you know and I know that ADZ is not the best picture ever (Dostana, you are safe, don't worry). But if you can enjoy it for what it's worth, then you are in for a fun ride. Like most desi potboilers, this one moves at too quick a pace for you to notice the plot-holes. It's a fun, escapist thriller. For what else can you ask the Film Gods?Let's be real here: this is a movie about a camera that can tell the future... You know that it's not going to be grounded in reality.
Neil Nitin Mukesh is not given as complex a character as Vikrum in JohnnyG. But he performs well. He also is not as hot as he was in JohnnyG but he looks good enough. One of the many things I like about him is that he always looks composed. Only once does he actually have a breakdown but it's understandable since he just found out that he's going to die. So this movie may not be the best choice for his career but I can see how this role was attractive to him.
Oh, Bipasha...Yo puedo mirarte en cualquier pelicula. I can watch you in any movie (except for Footpath). I like Bipasha because she always plays independent, ambitious and urban career girls. Sure, you have a boyfriend but you don't need him to survive. Like Ray, Simi is not the most well-written character. But Bipasha makes her fun. Did I mention these have a great chemistry? Rahul Dev leads the supporting cast and he performs well. Everyone else fits their part. God, I wish there were more of Sophie Chaudhary. She was perfect in PKS/E and there was a small trace of that same charm here. But she was grossly underused.
The best thing about the movie is its music. Aside from the god-awful "Paisa is Power" track, every song is a hit. "Rock the Party" is a mellow dance track that's perfect for just hanging out to some cool beats. "Gazab" is the movie potential chartbuster and the video, though it literally comes out of nowhere, is a winner with some campy choreography, interesting costumes and a stellar performance by Shaan and Sunidhi Chauhan. The "Aa Dekhen Zara" remix is okay but NNM's singing is above average. But the crowning jewel of the album is "Mohabbat Aapse." An Indo-pop love song, this one has interesting music, great lyrics and a stellar rendition by Akruti Kakkar. Don't worry, I'm not too sure who she is either. Download "Mohabbat Aapse" and "Gazab" for sure.
Is this a perfect movie? Of course not! I paid $5 for my ticket and I felt like I got more than my money's worth. Hot faces, fun music, solid thrills. Isn't that precisely what potboilers are all about? Aa Dekhen Zara rates a 7/10. Enjoyable!
