FILM REVIEW: EK KHILADI EK HASEENA (2005)

Producer: Pritish Nandy Communications
Director: Suparn Verma
Cast: Fardeen Khan, Koena Mitra, Kay Kay Menon, Rohit Roy and Gulshan Grover
Music: Pritam

Writer turned director Suparn Verma’s ‘Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena’ is not one of those hardcore, action-packed thrillers with exploding cars and stunts but it explores the mind game of conmen. It is a cool flick with lots of show off and high attitude. The film is certainly not for those who leave their thinking caps at home. It presents Khiladi (Fardeen Khan) and Haseena (Koena Mitra) working together against all odds to win the deadly game of conning the greatest conmen of present time.

Arjun Verma (Fardeen Khan) and his friend Rohit (Rohit Roy) are small time conmen doing con jobs like cheating and forging, who aspire to be multi-billionaire one day. The lure of easy money makes them con an accountant of a big company and they succeed. But their game turns deadly when it turns out that they have conned an employee of dreaded underworld don Sikander (Gulshan Grover) and the money belonged to him. Arjun best buddy Rohit is found killed and he finds himself plunged in debt against Sikander. Sikander traces Arjun and warns him to shell out Rs. 4 lacs now (the capital amount of Rs. 75,000, plus the interest) within ten days, or else face his wrath. Sikander’s henchman Kaif (Kay Kay) is instructed to follow Arjun like a shadow.

Arjun gangs up with 2 other friends, Jack and Rohit, along with Kaif (Sikandar’s watch-dog) and they have to pull a heist where they can recover the money in 10 days. Here enters Natasha (Koena Mitra), a behavioral psychiatrist who wants to do a research study on the everyday life of Arjun. She is fascinated by Arjun’s con games and decides to be a part of the group. Arjun narrates tricks of conning people with his intellect, charm and skill. While carrying out one such act, she accidentally shoots a cop [Murli Sharma], who dies on the spot. Later, Natasha discovers that the group had conned her into parting with her hard-earned money. Friendship turns into enmity and Natasha entices Sikander to con Jehangir Khan (Feroze Khan), the president of Standard Bank, through Arjun and his gang for Rs 250 million. Jehangir Khan, intelligently deceptive underworld don rules the white collar crime world where billions and trillions are transferred through scams and hawala rackets.

Five rogues and one glam doll set out to play the evil game. At this point all of a sudden several simultaneous developments take place in the sub plot. Natasha seems to be having something cooking in her mind. To make matters worse comes CBI cop Sardesai (Sharad Kapoor) who has been on Arjun’s trail for quite some time now! An intense game follows with everyone in the scene out there to outwit the other. The gang impose themselves as directors of an IT company. Natasha seduces the bank official and the loan of 250 million is sanctioned. Arjun plans out a wicked plot where he succeeds in conning law makers, gangster Sikander and Jehangir Khan thereby becoming the greatest Khiladi of all times.

Fardeen Khan looks dashing throughout the movie but sometimes fails to deliver in the scenes that demand top notch acting stills. Koena Mitra looks sultry, has no inhibitions when it comes to flaunting her sex appeal and her styling is perfect. As an actor, while she needs to loosen up a bit, she does manage to make her presence felt in a couple of sequences. She uses her husky voice to the best and displays enough ooze and charm.
The film has a number of other characters, but it’s Kay Kay who’s most efficient. The actor delivers a flawless performance yet again. Gulshan Grover is first-rate, essaying the part of a cold-blooded person to perfection. Mukul Dev is alright, while Rohit Roy is likeable in a brief role. It is Feroz Khan that catches your attention with his imposing presence, fiery eyes and swagger.

Suparn Verma who has done the screenplay as well as the direction for Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena is also smart enough to promote it through its mind blowing, foot-thumping and catchy songs. His latest MMS clip (Koena Mitra and Fardeen hot number going round) strategy is also compelling enough to attract viewers to theaters. Pritam has shown vibrant colors in his musical display. Cinematography by Manoj Soni is another promising factor that works wonder for the film. Verma’s indifferent story telling makes it spectacular with some loose ends. The plot grips the audience but ends with unrealistic flavors. The sequence at the jewelry showroom, when Fardeen buys a ring for Koena by conning another customer, is interesting. But the entire Standard Bank episode in the second half, when the gang pretends to be IT professionals, isn’t the type that would find acceptance from an average moviegoer. The series of incidents from the money transfer, to nabbing Gulshan Grover with drugs, to Koena shooting Fardeen, to Feroz Khan knowing of their plans, all appear to be unrealistic and very Filmi.

Overall the movie is a good timepass!

RS Rating: 5/10

Credit: This review was submitted by Ankit Jain of Footprints.in. They run their own movie Blog at DCECinemas. To submit your own review for posting on radiosargam.com please email.