Starring: Dharmendra, Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Shilpa Shetty, Katrina Kaif, Kirron Kher
Director: Anil Sharma
Anil Sharma brings back another flick yet again. He was first noticed for his All Time Blockbuster movie, Gadar. Apne and Gadar are proved to be his best films while The Hero and Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo were not. Apne brings the three Deols together for the first time and the Big Brother UK 2007 winner Shilpa Shetty. He handles the roles of the three Deols really well.
Like Gadar, Apne was not exactly the most hyped movie of the year but is doing better than the other two releases box-office wise. It got rave reviews from various critics as well. Apne might not bag all the awards but it will definitely catch the eyes of the family movie lovers. To be precise, Apne is a family film that is about loving your father.
As for the story, ex-boxer Baldev Choudhary (Dharmendra) has had a stain in his boxing career. He wanted to wash it with his son Angad’s (Sunny Deol) success, but times were hard and a financial situation kept him from achieving this dream. Though Angad pulled through fine, Baldev never forgot who ruined his chance to wash the stain. An opportunity strikes Baldev in the form of a T.V. Show. He trains a local boy to get into this media hyped boxing show, but is ditched for a better coach at the last minute. Baldev’s younger son Karan (Bobby Deol) has just launched his first music album. Realizing his father’s life is in a crises, he gives up his dream of musical career to get into the game of boxing. Karan works hard and wins all through thinking that his victory will bring the two pillars of his family together. After winning within the nation, he wins all over the world. The final match is with the current world heavy champion. The match goes fine, but Karan is tricked and he ends up paralyzed in a hospital bed. Baldev, who wanted to wash the stigma is now about to loose his son. He feels like killing himself. Angad steps in to turn the game upside down and bring his father the happiness of a lifetime.
The movie has no great music. It is a huge disappointment and the only letdown for the film. The only pleasant song is Dekhoon Tujhe Toh Pyaar Aaye; it features Bobby Deol & Katrina Kaif and shows the deviance between them. Mehfooz is not a song to listen to. The rest of the songs are intolerable. One expects something much better from Himesh Reshammiya, definitely one of his worst albums so far. Without doubt, the album of Apne is disappointing.
As for the performances, Dharmendra is first-rate. He brings up another wonderful performance after so many years. Sunny is in form after a long time, we hope to see him in such roles more often rather than roles he has been doing lately. Bobby is exceptional; he delivers a natural performance yet again. Kirron Kher is very natural; she played her role with precision as usual. Shilpa was good especially in her introduction; she delivers in a small role. Katrina Kaif was disappointing lengthwise; she just had 2 to 3 dialogues. However, she looked pretty all through.
Overall, Apne is definitely one of the best movies of this month. We hope to see more of Anil Sharma; this movie proves that he has not lost his touch. It might not be a must-watch but it definitely has all the ingredients of a hit film. It’s a good-feel family film!
