By: Pradeep Kashyap

Film: Aankhen
Staring: Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Arjun Rampal, Sushmita Sen, Bipasha Basu
Director: Vipul Amrutlal Shah
Producer: Gaurang Doshi
Music: Jatin-Lalit, Aadesh Srivastava

For weeks you have been tolerating mushy romance on screen, here is something new for you. Aankhen, produced by Gaurang Doshi and directed by Vipul Shah, is a revenge story but with a difference. It's all about three blind men robbing a bank! The film tells the story of Amitabh Bachchan, a general manager who has been sacked by the higher authority despite the fact that he looked after the back for so many years. Added to this he remained a bachelor (Now that's heights of commitment!!). Now, he wants to take revenge and in order to he hires Sushmita Sen to train three blind men, who later on do the robbery for him.

The film, which is inspired by a Gujarati play 'Andhalao Paato', has a very unusual story. You wont digest that three blind men are all set to rob a bank. Is it a joke or something? But trust me you will believe this when you watch it. .

Though the drama has been done very much convincingly, the writers' leaves several question unanswered. That's the biggest flaw of the movie. The way three blind men perform the robbery is convincing.

The first half of the film is entertaining and promises much in the way of thrills and action, the second half is complete let down. There is no thrill, no action, no romance and no good music. Instead, there is a convoluted screenplay.

It is a bold step to make a film on a theme different from the beaten track.
But the script has lots of loopholes. If the blind men doubt on Amitabh Bachchan's intention, why do they come back? Moreover, if ruining the bank's financial position was the only intention of Amitabh, then why does he acts greedy for the money? Will you believe if I say such a huge organisation has only one watchman???

Directorial, Vipul Shah has done very well and one must congratulate him for having guts to choose this kind of unusual subject for his directorial debut. But had he concentrated more on the screenplay, the result would have definitely been better.

Musically, 'Gustakhiyan' and 'Phatela Jeb' are pick of the lot. While, 'Chhalka Chhalka' (picturised on Kashmira Shah and Paresh Rawal) are aimed at the masses. Cinematography is first-rate.

Performance-wise, the film belongs to Amitabh Bachchan who comes up with a portrayal, which will be difficult to bear for quite some time. He has given an award winning performance. Paresh Rawal has best dialogues and punches and he the second best thing in the movie after Big B. Sushmita Sen is good.

Akshay Kumar is all right. Arjun Rampal has nothing much to do. Bipasha Basu (only for a song) looks sexy. Aditya Panscholi is okay. Others are ok.

Aankhen despite all odds definitely deserve a dekho, for the theme and off course for the Big B.

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