7 Khoon Maaf Review

'It's ironical that all bad men had to come in my life'

This statement pretty much summarises what the character played by Priyanka Chopra goes through in '7 Khoon Maaf'. Well that could have been the thought of the audience as well which starts going through the motions within 45 minutes of the film. When you have someone really angry (Neil Nitin Mukesh), a drug addict (John Abraham), a sadist (Irrfan Khan), a spy (Aleksandr Dyachenko), a sex-hungry Romeo (Anu Kapoor) and an opportunist (Naseruddin Shah) entering into your life one after another, there is indeed something wrong in the script. No, not of character's life but the one written for the film.

Really, the film tests your patience and Vishal Bhardwaj manages the impossible by keeping '7 Khoon Maaf' thoroughly boring throughout the film's length hence ensuring that many didn't even bother to stay back in theatre when the epilogue around the 'saatvaan khoon' began. Yes, it did happen where I saw the film and yes it was in an upmarket multiplex where the target audience - the urban intellgentsia - was seated.

Another reason that makes one wonder why was '7 Khoon Maaf' ever mounted with such star-cast because frankly, a lot of talent is actually wasted big time here. Irrfan Khan is the one who would be most disappointed as not just his episode the most boring of lot, his performance too is hardly anything to boast about, something which isn't something that goes with his name. The actor who was totally in form in 'Yeh Saali Zindagi' just a few days back is just out of sorts here.

Naseruddin Shah is another actor whose services were just not required in this film. In any case he features in a rather hurried episode and whatever little he does is also something which could have been done by anyone far junior in experience and skills. For all the talks of Anu Kapoor leaving an impact in the film then well, his act sounds more like hamming then comical. Neil Nitin Mukesh leaves the maximum impact amongst all and also features in the best of the stories. Unfortunately it's the first to come which means there isn't much remaining for the audience in the film to follow.

John Abraham as a drug addict with a kinky touch is superb while occupying stage as a rockstar. However his role is short-lived which means one has to be content with whatever unimpressive that follows next. Aleksandr Dyachenko comes across as a confident actor but his episode takes a predictable route.

This is where silver lining comes in the form of Priyanka Chopra who is frankly the only reason that makes one at least sit through '7 Khoon Maaf'. Really, with a lesser actress the film would have been totally unbearable due to its plot movement and weird storyline. However one expected an act of substance from Priyanka and this is what one gets from her right from start to the finish of the film.

All said and done, the film is an ordeal to go through and only ends up making one remember disasters like 'Raavan', 'Kites' and the mother of them all - 'No Smoking' that tried telling different stories (or telling them differently) but failed, hence leading to total disconnect from the audience, '7 Khoon Maaf' doesn't do any better and unfortunately turns out to be Vishal Bhardwaj's weakest attempt till date.

Disappointing.

Rating: *1/2