Ajnabee

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.

Though its adapted from a hollywood movie, still it is praiseworthy for providing entertainment. It doesn't lose the thrill throughout, but also sometimes fuses the innocence cum comic characteristics of both hero and the villain. Akshay kumar is believable as the dishonest lover, a greedy opportunist, a betrayer, a liar and finally a killer. I see it only for him, his performance kinda stands as the reminder to all the liars and dishonest guys out there. Akshay just acted his heart out, really fits in the role. It may not be the best movie in its genre but from the entertaining side it deserves a praise, a thrilling experience, a rewatchable film despite its flaws and annoying intentional comic scenes.

Bobby deol plays a lovable character, a guy who is downright honest and good, believes in goodness, unity and progressiveness. He lives with his wife, who is fun loving, caring and honest. Their meeting is itself a strange incident depicting the made for another scenario. But Akshay took the opportunity of Bobby's goodness and exploits him, only to open his own downfall. The message of the film is very clear, without any confusion will leave you with the idea that good prevails either by hook or crook. The comic characters doesn't seem comic really, rather annoying at some but the director cautiously placed some thrill within the funny characters and made their presence significant in the movie's storyline.

Technically it's presentation is fine, atleast it retained the thrilling environment with well crafted BGM, may be a bit noisy at some but had put necessary echoes in exact places. Narratives are fast paced but not too fast like surpassing viewers comprehensibility. Finally well acted performers who atleast succeeded in bringing the intended characters into the screen. All these aspects made it a rewatchable suspense film, despite unrealistic moments like French police and government being so naive esp regarding immigrants, language barriers and as usual Bollywood action scenes of hero vs villain. Nevertheless all these issues couldn't degrade the film and it delivered what it wanted to deliver. And that's a suspenseful journey.

An 8/10 for its entertainment value. An 80 on a scale of 100.

No Spoilers! First of all, the main reason I added this movie to the watchlist is the Akshay Kumar's great meme. You know if you know. Anyways, it's the first picture added in the image list in the IMDb, so you can see it there. The movie started slow. Very slow. I hated the songs. 4 songs, some seemed highly unnecessary. Akshay Kumar enters late. But the movie takes pace since, takes meaning. Akshay Kumar was so sensational, he made his chemistry even with Bobby great along with the other two. Bobby was average. Bipasha was super hot. There were few exotic scenes in the movie, too much considering it was the very early 2000s. But not much at all in this era of web series n tv series. Akshay Kumar and Johnny lever added so much fun in the movie, they made it quite Entertaining. Yes, it was a thriller with comedy. Excellent last 60 minutes and the climax. Apart of the songs, and the initial romance, the movie was great. Enjoyed it. Recommended if a Bollywood fan.

• Pawan P

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.

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.