Movie Review: Namastey London (2007)

Movie Review: Namastey London (2007)

Cast: Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Rishi Kapoor, Upen Patel, Javed Sheikh, Clyde Stenden, Riteish Deshmukh

Directed & Produced by: Vipul Amrutlal Shah

Music by: Himesh Reshammiya

Lyricist: Javed Akhtar

Cinematographers: Dariusz Wolski, Johnathan Bloom

Rating: 7.5/10

A British brat meets a Funjabi boy and they are off to London….itni simple si love story..Ah huh!! There is a lot more to this one. Director Vipul Shah’s previous movies Aankhen and Waqt were based on stage plays and they were shot on studio sets whereas Namastey London was shot all over London and Punjab (India).

The movie boasts of a highly imaginative star cast (Upen Patel playing a Pakistani), a successful music composer, thoughtful lyrics, compatible background score (Salim-Sulaiman) and an entertaining story (Suresh Nair).

Jazz (Katrina Kaif) is a brat, born and brought up in Phoren. She thinks partying and drinking in pubs is all that there is to life. Here, Papa Manmohan Singh (Rishi Kapoor) enters the scene and demystifies the generation gap.

Now, Papa takes Jazz on a joy ride to India where he forcefully makes her marry apna desi munda Arjun (Akshay). Later she educates dad that this wedding does not stand a chance to be authenticated in UK, reason she likes someone else (Clyde Stenden).

Now, Arjun takes the whole movie on his swing in the second half as he applies a simple strategy to win back Katrina. The character does not do anything extraordinary which makes it even more believable (Ajay Devgan of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam).

The movie draws sympathy to all its characters in pieces. Initially, people feel for Jazz aka Jasmeet (Katrina Kaif), then towards Arjun (Akshay Kumar), Manmohan Singh (Rishi Kapoor) etc.

Namastey London is a standard NRI film which exploits foreign locations and Indian emotions to the maximum.

The movie creeps into your heart with some blazing performances and story narration. The clash of cultures, the widening gap between parents and kids, also racism — judging someone by the color of the skin – Namastey London tackles it all.

The movie stands out as a winner in involving the audience in various emotional aspects. A scene wherein Akshay gives it back to the arrogant Englishman and the rugby match where the Indians/Pakistanis win against the goras are exceptional and take you on a joyful ride. The cool lecture on India’s worth also connects you with the scene.

A lot of Pardes effect is palpable in the second half especially when Katrina refuses sex to her English lover before marriage. Writer Suresh Nair’s screenplay is believable with no loose or left out pieces in the story. The second half couls have been edited in a better way, though it can be ignored. The usage of English may make the Indian audience uncomfortable at times though the youth is accustomed to it.

The combination of ace lyricist Javed Akhtar and controversial yet talented music director/nasal singer Himesh Reshammiya for the first time, experimentations with poetic intellect of MEHFIL MIX, the expertise of musical genius of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and RDB (UK based rock group) makes the music excellent. Jonathan Bloom’s cinematography is nice, though a lot of redundant shot could have been omitted.

Akshay Kumar certainly leaves his mark throughout the flick. One of the coolest performances of the star, though there could have been better dialogue delivery. Katrina justifies her role, duly because of the accent she carries. She authentic for the part she’s playing.

Rishi Kapoor has reinvented himself with this performance and is a treat to watch in the emotional scenes. Clye Stenden too plays his part with utmost ease.Upen Patel is getting better and better. Surprisingly, Riteish has done maximum justice to his special appearance.

Overall, it is a great product, and with an honest and beautiful story is surely to make waves at the box office too. A complete timepass with a feel good factor attached to it.