Alag: He Is Different.... He Is Alone...

Remember that movie "Powder" from the 90s? The hairless albino kid with electric powers found after his caregiver died? This is a derivative copy of that movie with some Bollywood flair thrown in. They did try to change it up with the addition of an evil scientist, but the movie was the same. Right down to the weird hat that Powder wore. Props for trying to add a love interest though. Although it is very unlikely that a woman that good looking was single in the first place! Even more unlikely that she falls in love with this guy in less than a couple of weeks! Try harder!

It's like they didn't even try.

+'ve::

One must appreciate the courage of the new lot on being experimental. Take the case of "Alag", which attempts to strays away from the regular Bollywood ishtyle. The story is novel, screenplay is great and performances okay. The story-telling format keeps you glued especially in the initial 30-minutes. The CGI have been used appropriately and is of good quality. Screenplay is good.

Akshay Kapoor gives his best shot to get into the skin of "Tejas/Alag" and fares remarkably well, considering he is next to a new-comer. Diya Mirza carries herself very well and delivers her lines at ease. Tom Alter does a good job of a obsessed scientist.

-'ve::

To begin with, I am sure the project looked indeed different at the conceptualisation stages,- but amidst execution it succumbed into the trap of regular Bollywood fare.

The movie resembles a comic-book as the basic premise is about super-powers. The concept should go down well with the kids, however two things work against it - a few scary moments in the movie and the romantic track.

The romantic angle lacks depth and hence it should have either been given more depth or avoided completely. The songs which I am sure have been suggested by God-knows-who is a bad idea.

Also the idea of keeping son locked in the house for 18-years by the father is slightly illogical. Tejas character gets etchy at times - saviour, punisher, dancer, lover, singer, scared, avenger, magician, compassionate!!!! As mentioned earlier the first 30-minutes are good and then the story loses momentum.

Jayanth Kriplani is loud. Beena is wasted.

Overall - the positioning is wrong neither appealing to kids nor adults.

PS: And if the movie is a copy of "Powder" as a few claim, then Mr. Director you should change the title aptly "Alag Hollywood Copy"

What I am struck by the tremendous amount of creativity among Indians in all spheres - whether in Music or Movies or in Technology but apparently the Indian masses are stuck in their Masala traditions. Even the Indian movie critics - who are supposed to promote the experimental or innovative efforts at movie making - seem to judge movies by their marketability rather than genuineness of spirit. It is indeed heartening to find that young movie makers are undeterred by these and continue to create art close to their soul rather than based on public approval. I am an unabashed admirer of Indian creativity in this context.

Take the case of movies like 'Alag' or 'Benares' or 'Encounter, the Killing'. What is notable about these movies is that every frame of these movies is pulsating with action, the makers of these movies grip your attention from the word go and keep you enthralled for the entire duration of the movies and yet Indian movie goers as well as critics give them lukewarm reception. On the other movies like 'Fanaa', 'Kabhi Kushi Kabhi Gham' or 'Ham Aapke Hain Kyon' take such a long time to make a point that one can go for a game of tennis while watching the movie and come back and you would not missed any of the action except for a few songs. Such movies receive raves from the Box-Office as well as accolades from critics as well - as if what matters most in the final analysis is that every movie shall be a chick flick.

It just goes to prove a point that market success and genuine creativity in most cases reside on different planets. But I am thankful India is producing as many Orson Welles or Prakash Dwivedis as they are producing Karan Johars and Kunal Kohlis.

Why??? Why do Bollywood directors have to copy Hollywood when they are doing a project which is different from any typical Bollywood film, this movie is just another example of how Bollywood can make a good Hollywood film not only look bad but rip off totally.

I cannot remember ever seeing a Bollywood remake of a Hollywood film and actually make it enjoyable rather than annoying, this movie is just another one to add to the list of unoriginal Bollywood films and another director/writer to add to the list of unoriginality. there are many bad Bollywood films out there but when it comes down to movies like this it really is embarrassing to the industry that they even got the budget to make the movie.

In the industry today there are only two directors which have made Bollywood proud and these two directors are Ashutosh Gowariker and Sanjay Leela Bhansali who are not only great directors but also great writers. The director and writers really need to take notes from these two directors.

Overall I wont really recommend this movie to anyone even though it may have the best special effects for a Bollywood movie.

p.s. I wont be surprised if the director/writers try making there own version of Swades after reading this comment.

One of the best content I see ever. And the acting by Akshay Kapoor was Fabulous, In my view he was one of the most underarate actor in bollywood industry.