Film: KURBAAN
Rating: 3.25/5 
Banners: Dharma Productions, UTV Motion Pictures
Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Vivek Oberoi, Dia Mirza, Kirron Kher, Om Puri, Akash Khurana, Nauheed Cyrusi, Kulbhushan Kharbanda etc
Music: Sulaiman Merchant- Salim Merchant
Cinematography: Hemant Chaturvedi
Director: Rensil D'Silva
Producers: Karan Johar, Hiroo Johar
Release Date: November 20, 2009
 
Story:
An intense tale, the story is about Avantika (Kareena) who teaches at a university in New York but comes to India as her father (akash) is ill. She takes up a professor's job in Delhi and teaches psychology. Here comes Ehsaan Khan (saif), a professor of Islamic study and it is love at first sight for him. He tries to impress Avantika and his confidence floors her in no time. They fall in love and decide to get married. Soon, Avantika gets a call from New York asking her to return and interestingly, Ehsaan offers to go with her and take up a job there. All goes hunky dory with a new home, Indian neighbourhood and soon they become friends with their muslim neighbours. However, Salma (nauheed) from the neighbours comes one day and asks for Avantika's help saying her life is in danger. The curiosity of Avantika slowly gets her into a web of evil plot and she realizes few shocking truths. What happens after that forms the rest of the story.
 
Presentation:
The director has come up with a predictable storyline and the presentation was top notch while the narrative could have been much better. The dialogues were good and clean, the script was alright barring few technical flaws, the screenplay was mild. Background score is the life and soul for the film and two songs are worth taking home. Cinematography is masterly and mesmerizing. Editing was alright, costumes were excellent and art department was neat as well. Violence was intense. Saif Ali Khan carries off his part with elegance and class, he is impressive. Kareena is a show stealer both with her looks and performance, if she can put no some pounds of flesh, she would be stunning. Om Puri was too good, Vivek Oberoi was a revelation, Dia Mirza is dazzling though brief, Kirron Kher is superb, Nauheed is neat, Kulbhushan was intense, the others did their bit to add value to the film.
 
Conclusion:
The film runs on the line of terrorism and Islam. Though the scenes are handled delicately, there are many instances where the intensity and magnitude could have been felt more strongly which didn't happen. While the first half takes off mildly, it is not before ten minutes of the interval that things pick up pace. The second half was consistent and the climax was predictable. The film has got traces of 'New York' and though there are a few silly errors, this could have been more effective if the pace was built up. Overall, the technical values were great but the appeal would be only for thinking and serious audience, nothing for the masses, there are specks of controversy that might erupt at a later time. Commercially, the film might find it difficult to become a hit but it will score few decent profits. 
 
Bharatstudent Verdict : Slow and predictable but sensible and thought provoking