Ajnabee

Another unoriginal fare by Abbas-Mastan, Ajnabee does work maybe because it was generally well made by the directors-brothers duo Abbas Mastan who often prefer to concentrate on the making of a film rather than invest time and write a new script. Well a job is a job and everyone is working for money, so remaking a foreign film is a much easier way to make money. Creativity/originality is not the word to describe this duo but they do manage to make an enjoyable flick every once in a while so let it be. Ajnabee is quite an interesting watch - it has good cinematography, very good editing, exceptional music, suitable actors and a very modern concept. The portrayal of Indians living in a foreign country is well done, the suspense is successful, and it uses the usual Bollywood clichés from time to time. The film is mainly surprising because of Akshay Kumar's shocking villainous turn (well if he had accepted the directors' early film Baazigar maybe things would have gone differently for him). He is convincing and wins most of the viewers' attention. It has a very lovely newcomer named Bipasha Basu who makes a confident debut. It also has an average Kareena Kapoor, a Bobby Deol (about him I don't have anything good or bad to say), and a hilarious Johnny Lever. I was annoyed at the beginning of the film to see Dalip Tahil who laughs and laughs for no reason - very disturbing. Anyway, you can try it if you like, it is a decent Indianised, fairly updated and changed version of Consenting Adults.

Raj (Deol) and Priya (Kapoor) meet, fall in love and get married in India. Shortly after their marriage, they move to Switzerland due to Raj's job as a polo player/teacher. Once settled into their new home they meet their glamorous neighbours Vicky (Kumar) and Sonia (Basu), also a married couple and the two couples become close friends very quickly. Whilst Priya is not very good at cooking India food and is quite a party animal, Raj craves home cooked Indian food and a peaceful home life. Vicky seems to be a party animal whilst his wife is very homely and loves to cook Indian food.

It soon becomes apparent that both men are more than a little attracted to each others' wives (mainly due to their similar tastes) but when both couples are on holiday in Mauritius Vicky suggests a wife-swap to Raj, Raj loses his temper, fights Vicky and breaks off their friendship. They return home to Switzerland. Do you see where the plot is going? Not yet? OK read on… By chance, Raj ends up saving Vicky's life and they become pals again and after an evening out celebrating a birthday and their renewed friendship, a drunken Raj ends up going towards his neighbours' house whilst Vicky heads off towards Raj's home. Waking up in the morning, Raj leaves the house in shock, only to find out later than Sonia has been murdered and he is the prime suspect.

This plot was lifted straight out of "Consenting Adults" which was released in 1992 and starred Kevin Kline, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Kevin Spacey and Rebecca Miller. Being a film aimed at the Indian market, the storyline was toned down somewhat.

Not an original story, so you can guess the ending if you've seen the Hollywood version, nice scenery, pretty good acting, good-looking Bollywood star cast - all round I'd give Ajnabee a generous 7 out of 10.

Far ahead of its time.

This one's of a Hollywood level. Fst away from melodrama, and full of twists and turns.

Will keep you hooked till the very end

From songs to storyline. Loved it. !!!

Abbas-Mastan's movies are known to make suspense thrillers. Although the topic of wife swapping was a new theme for Indian Cinema.

Ajnabi too is a copy of Hollywood flick 'Consenting Adults' (1992) staring Kevin Spacey, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Kevin Kline.

Abbas-Mastan are known to lift stories from Hollywood movies.

Right from 'Bazzigar' (1993) to 'Race' (2007) are all copies. They try very hard though to add some Bollywood tinge, and get away very easily.

And in the process have won quite few awards successfully. There is nothing wrong to draw inspiration, but making straight copies frame to frame is not good.

Two people Raj (Bobby Deol) and Priya (Kareena Kapoor) happen to met by chance and fall in love, they decided to get married due to the fact that Priya's dad (Dalip Tahil) knows the Malhotra's. After there marriage in India, they decided to go and reside in Switzerland, where they met two other Indians Vicky (Akshay Kumar) and Sonia (Bipasha Basu). Very quickly the two couples became friends and decided to go on a holiday to Mauritius where Vicky began to spoke to Raj about wife-swapping. Raj got annoy and decided to fight with Vicky and there friendships were shattered. After a couple of weeks the two couples became friends again and decided to celebrate Vicky's birthday party outside. Where the two men got drunk and each one goes over to the opposite wife. At morning Raj comes to know that Sonia is dead and he is being accused by Vicky, when his case is being try ed in court he break loose from there and goes outside to look for evidence to prove his innocence.