Producer: P.N.C.
Director: Leena Yadav
Music: Vishal-Shekhar
Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Aishwarya Rai, Zayed Khan

This is an age of experimentation for Bollywood cinema. More and more filmmakers are travelling the 'path less travelled' and making films with offbeat theme including last Friday released Black. Leena Yadav's debut film Shabd starring Bollywood queen Aishwarya Rai, Sanjay Dutt and Zayed Khan boast of a unique script. It sure is different from the regular Hindi films. However, will this movie be able to captivate the audience long enough to create ripples at the box office? Read on...

Aishwarya Rai plays Antara, a college professor married to author and writer, Shaukat (Sanjay Dutt). Shaukat, who is very upset due to the failure of his most recently released novel, is adamant not to accept another defeat.

Meanwhile, Antara happens to meet Yash (Zayed Khan), a bright lively young guy who with his sheer enthusiasm of spirit attract people towards him. Yash falls head over heels in love with Antara who in turn mentions this to her husband. Antara finds herself in a 'strange' situation when Shaukat seems intrigued and asks her to indulge in an extra-marital affair with her young colleague. He hopes to use this as material for his story to make it as realistic as possible.

Though Antara decide to support her husband in his endeavour, she finds herself more and more being attracted towards Yash. Shaukat in turn wants Yash out of the novel as much as he wants him out of their lives. The script is interesting as three lives get tangled in a vicious circle of fact and fiction. The story sure is different from the usual. But the theme might not appeal to a major section of the audience as such issues are still considered taboo in our society. While the first half keeps you pinned on to your seats, the second half tends to get a little monotonous.

Leena Yadav no doubt has handled certain scenes and sequences well enough - especially the intimate scenes involving Ash and Sanjay.

Sanjay Dutt as usual has given a terrific perfomance. His sober looks suit the character of Shaukat. As for Aishwarya, she has definitely given her best shot and looks pretty convincing in all the scenes. Zayed Khan however doesn't quite fit in the role of a professor and looks too young to carry off the role with conviction. The other starcast including Sadia Siddiqui and Kamini Khanna are just about average.

As of now, it doesn't look like Shabd will be able to hold it's end at the box office. Got to wait and watch!

Stills - Shabd
Aishwarya Rai - Gallery, Profile, Wallpaper
Sanjay Dutt - Wallpaper, Profile

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