The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : For smokers only

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Oct 27, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

For smokers only

Film: No Smoking

Director: Anuraag Kashyap

Cast: John Abraham

Anuraag Kashyap continues with his fascination for experimental cinema. A few years ago, ‘No Smoking’ would have been a 15-minute documentary. Today, thanks to a multiplex boom Anuraag has dared to make a full-fledged movie, even packing in elements of rocking music and dance in what is essentially a cry for ‘no smoking’. He lifts a boring Sunday afternoon fill-in documentary theme, and culls together a film that is replete with black humour. There is understated wit, there is a dash of wisdom without homilies slipping in. Anuraag reins himself in as he directs John Abraham as a chain smoker, an urban achiever. He has a fat bank balance, and many years of prime youth left in the kitty. There is a beautiful wife, and a house that could pass off for an art gallery with its brilliant interplay of light and shadow. But many summers ago a poet said, ‘Kabhi kisi ko mukammal jahan nahin milta’. So, there is a little problem in our guy’s life too: He smokes chimneys, and his wife is threatening to call it quits if he did not kick the habit. So, does the guy end up with a shrink? No, there Anuraag comes up with a neat deflection, as he sends his hero to Baba Bangali, a self-designed doctor-dervish who cures everybody of the bad habit, in his own way. He does not prescribe medicine, just a blackmail. One more puff, and lo, the brother’s fingers are chopped, one more cigarette and the wife is kidnapped.

There are times when there is an air of monotony about the film. And termites are not far off as the film refuses to move. But it is saved in the nick of time with clever use of camera angles, shades and, and some good lines. ‘No Smoking’ is the kind of film you would applaud but few would venture to watch. It should come with a statutory warning: Making such films can be injurious to the box office health.

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