Movie Reviews

Aetbaar

Producer: Mandeep Singh/ Cutting Edge Entertainment
Director: Vikram Bhatt
Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, John Abraham, Bipasha Basu, Supriya Pilgaonkar, Pramod Moutho, Tom Alter, Shruti Ulfat, Ali Asgar
Released on: January 23, 2004

An overprotective father wants his daughter to make perfect choices in life. But what is perfect according to him may not look the same to his grown up daughter. She believes she is mature enough to take crucial decisions of her life.

Vikram Bhatt-directed Aitbaar deals with the subtle complexities of relationship between a father and his daughter.

For Dr. Malhotra (Amitabh Bachchan), the most priced possession in this world is his daughter Ria (Amitabh Bachchan). Having raised her like a piece of his heart, he is over-protective about her and wants the best in everything for her.

Ria too loves her father, but she is sometimes put off by the old man’s possessive attitude.

The strains between father and daughter start appearing with the coming of Aryan (John Abraham) in Ria’s life.

Aryan has all the qualities that Ria looks for in a man. He has a wild, magnetic personality with sweet charm and self-confidence. Above all he is obsessively in love with Ria.

On the other hand, Dr. Malhotra wants Ria’s spouse to be a decent man with a secure life. He disapproves of Aryan from the first meeting. Thereby starts the conflict of ideologies and principles between father and daughter.

Dr. Malhotra thinks that by choosing Aryan, his daughter is headed for a disastrous and chaotic life. On the other hand, Ria believes that her father is too stubborn and possessive to give her the liberty of making her own choices in life.

"Aetbaar" is suppose to be John's debut film.  Ironically it became his third released after "Jism" and "Saaya."  The Bhatt is back again with little creativity since "Aetbaar" is a remake of Hollywood hit film "Fear" with Mark Wahlberg and Reese Witherspoon.  One of the biggest question about "Aetbaar" is why another remake of "Fear" since "Inteha" was a remake of "Fear."

To see "Aetbaar" as John's debut film would be something new since he was in a negative role.  He was already a hot sexy model beforehand.  "Jism" isn't a typical Bollywood film either so I'm glad "Jism" and even "Saaya" released before "Aetbaar."  John acted very well in "Aetbaar" that he scared the crap out of me.  He has great emotional facial expressions.

"Aetbaar" is more John's film even though Bipasha and Amitach are in the film.  I've seen Bips have much better roles than in "Aetbaar."  I was very disappointed with her character.  She was very weak.  But she does look great in the film.

Amitach is good like always.  Whatever role is given to him, he does justice to it.  He even sings a song for the film, Zinda Hai.

The downfall for the movie is mainly the songs.  The movie is predictable but a lot of films are.  It's whether or not, a person wish to enjoy it or not.  The movie is worth it for John to see him in a different type of role.

7 out of 10

NiCKi

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