Producer: Pooja Bhatt & Sujit Kumar Singh
Director: Pooja Bhatt
Starring: John Abraham, Udita Goswami, Mohan Agashe, Madan Bhiku, Gulshan
Grover, Sandeep Mehta."
Released on: January 30, 2004
SYNOPSIS
- When the Rimpoche - thhe religious head from a serene
monastery in Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, gets a vision about his Master's
reincarnation in New Delhi as a six-year-old boy, it is left to a young,
educated girl from the town Kaya
(Udita Goswami) to bring the six-year-old child Llahmo (Madan) back to the
monastery. Although Kaya
has been brought up in the quiet but disciplined environment of Spiti and has
been conditioned by her stern Father (Dr. Mohan Agashe) to believe that denial
is the only route to higher truth, her heart wanders into territories common for
a girl her age. She yearns for love and waits for its arrival during her private
moments. As fate would have it, Llahmo gets involved with the murder of a key
police officer in New Delhi and becomes a key witness to the case. Investigating
the murder is a righteous police officer Shiven (John Abraham), who is tough,
honest and with a very distinct and practical notion of life. Although Kaya
resents his philosophy and clashes with him on several occasions owing to his
views on reincarnation, sacrifice and higher truth; she finds herself strangely
drawn to him too.
The murder case complicates further till there is no option for Shiven except to
reach Kaya
and Llahmo to their own safe surroundings. Injured in the process of this
escape, he still manages to take them safely to Spiti. His injury is serious and
he is forced by the elders and Kaya to stay in the village amongst the monks, a
village life, a bitter father and his growing attraction for Kaya till he is
healed. During his stay he manages to evoke several suppressed feelings in Kaya
and this causes concern to her father who has already chalked a path that she
must take.
As the danger from the city, in the form of the actual murderers comes closer
and closer to Spiti threatening to break the silence in the valley with blood
and gunshots, Kaya has to make up her mind whether she wants to follow her heart
that will give her happiness in this birth or follow a path of sacrifice to
secure joy in her future births...
John. Back to Back. "Paap" released a week after "Aetbaar" did. I couldn't wait to watch the movie since John looked so hot in the promos. The songs are amazing. My favorite one has to be Intezaar. Originally the heroine was suppose to be played by Salman's beau Katrina Kaif. "Paap" is a remake of Hollywood hit film "Witness" with Harrison Ford. When will the Bhatt's stop remaking? I have to admit I do enjoy their films anyways.
First,
I have to give major props to Pooja Bhatt for having beautiful scenery for the
film. She does have potential. However, what the movie lacked was
originality. "Paap" is a 90% copy of "Witness."
The only creativity in the film is changing from an Amish community to a
Buddhist monastery. The rest of the movie - the plot, action, little kid,
murder - all that is taken exactly from "Witness."
John shines in the film. Too bad his voice is dubbed. What can we really say except it is a Bhatt production. Not only can John act but he sizzles on screen being bare-chested in most of the film.
Newcomer Udita is cute. She does have a look of a Chinese girl that fits the role of a Buddist. but she is lacking a good performance. Her role is strong but she doesn't fulfill it. It's too early to judge her yet. Maybe in her next film, she can show everyone she can act.
The songs are beautiful. My favorite song is Intezaar. Too bad only three songs were picturized in the film - Intezaar, Garaj Baras, and Mann Ki Lagan. I wished Garaj Baras would have been picturized better but I can understand since it was in the background.
Overall, "Paap" isn't a bad film but it isn't great either. If you haven't seen Witness, then do watch "Paap" otherwise you'll just see a Hindi version. But do watch it for the beautiful music and John.
6.5 out of 10
NiCKi