Pain of 9/11, without emotions

New York
Cast:  John Abraham, Katrina Kaif, Neil Nitin Mukesh,Irrfan Khan
Director: Kabir Khan
Rating: ***

It’s a little too late to see films about the post-9/11 world where racial profiling and illegal dentition were prevalent unless you offer a new insight or unearth a compelling true story. New York does neither of these. It is derivative of many Hollywood films and yet lacks the emotional connection that the scenario should make, much more effectively achieved by Pakistani film Khuda Kay Liye and Tanuja Chandra’s Hope and A Little Sugar.

Mostly told in flashbacks from the point of view of Omar (Neil Nitin Mukesh) and Sam (John Abraham), this is the story of how the lives of three young friends change after the attacks on New York’s World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001. While Omar’s life is altered because he is heartbroken and not getting the girl he loves, Sam’s plans take on a different texture for very different reasons.

Along with him, Maya’s (Katrina Kaif) world is also affected forever. Seven years later, FBI agent Roshan (Irrfan Khan) is the puppeteer who has the strings of all three lives in his powerful hands.

Kabir Khan crafts a film which engages till the interval. Though he keeps the story focussed, it is not taut. At two and a half hours, it tests your patience. As a production, it is convincing and impressive, especially scoring on cinematography, styling and music. However, the screenplay and performances are wanting.

The lead trio plays happy-go-lucky to the hilt, but bring age, trauma and torture in, and they’ll out of their depth.

In the post-interval section, the sermons are dull and the mixed messages, disturbing. The biggest missing elements are originality and emotion. If you aren’t big on Hollywood movies, then this one might be okay for a rainy weekend watch, otherwise it’s likely to leave you unmoved.