Synopsis of the review: It is a shame that another brilliant concept has been flushed down the drain because of half-baked attempts at narrating and acting. The product comes across as tacky because of the constant shuffle between comedy, unintentional comedy, a few extra-predictable scenes, and unexpected plot twists.
As a movie buff I would watch this movie just for the creative concept. Unfortunately, however, it does not get support from any of the other departments. Also, it’s a shame that while the overall plot is imaginative, way too many individual scenes are so clichéd that you can say what’s going to happen next with your eyes, ears and brains shut.
As any thriller should, the movie moves at a remarkably fast pace and before you know it you are watching the interval previews. And thus no time is wasted on character development, detailing or consistency. Also the actors playing these characters don’t help the cause. Barring Akshaye Khanna, the rest of the ensemble either drone to make you sleep or shriek to wake you up. And it isn’t Akshaye’s best performance either. Part of the credit for lousy acting and characterization should also go to the ridiculous dialogues.
They seemed to have had a hard time trying to decide whether this should have been a comedy or a suspense thriller. I am willing to take a bet that it would have been a much better product if they had chosen one and just stuck by it. Mixing the two has done irreparable damage to it. Especially since the thrilling twists and turns, very unintentionally, make you laugh and the juvenile comedy makes you grit your teeth in anger. And the back and forth manipulations in the second half become a tad too exhausting for the viewer.
The saving grace is that the director of photography, the editor, and the sound designer have shown considerable restraint. Given the locales and the subject of the movie it was very easy to go overboard in these departments.
On the other hand, I seem to have run out of ways to complain about Sameer’s lyrics. And is it original music by Pritam this time? That could explain why it is worse than mediocre.
What I find most amazing about any work of art is the passion with which the artist creates it. In a movie it is more exciting because there are so many passionate people involved. But it is most unfortunate when almost everything looks like a half-hearted attempt. What a waste of a clever idea because nobody felt the need to pay attention to the details!
Rating: Watch if you have nothing better to do
Rating Scale (best to worst):
• Must see – on the big screen
• Watch for sure, preferably in theatre
• Wait for video release
• Watch if you have nothing better to do
• Switch channels if it’s on cable!
Click on next page to read the details meetu scribbled while watching the movie – this may include spoilers
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I don’t agree with this negative review about Naqaab! This does not make any senses at all! Naqaab is a refreshing and real flick of Abbas Mustan! It has an intelligent-clever concept! Akshaye Khanna is terrific, superb and first-rate! He’s outstanding with author-backed role too since Naqaab belongs to him from the beginning to the end! Bobby Deol is quite impressive in the second half and Urvashi Sharma is brilliant as a newcomer! Abbas Mustan is very creative as a director! Best script and screenplay by Shiraaz Ahmed. Editing job by Hussain is excellent! Alluring choreography!
I watched Naqaab thrice in one day (today)! It was truly fantastic. I like the ending. The thriller was really shocking and has lived up to my expectation to a very great extent. Abbas Mustan are really clever and great master of thrillers. Naqaab was one of his best thrillers after Humraaz. Naqaab was like a chess game…that you need to use brain to understand the movie which is really difficult since we, cinegoers/audiences are not intelligent enough and this is what thrills me. That’s why I like the ending after so much of romances, comedy, horror, suspenses, twists, shocks and surprises.
Of course, Naqaab is truly fantastic and Akshaye Khanna is definitely first-rate and he steals the show.