The After Hrs review: 'Blood Money'

Film: Blood MoneyDirected by: Vishal MahadkarCast: Kunal Khemu, Amrita Puri, Manish ChaudhariRating: *1/2

The film’s name Blood Money is obviously inspired by Leonardo DiCaprio’s Blood Diamond, and the hero here is shown to be dealing in diamonds too.

But don’t let any of this fool you to expect any sparkling moments in this one. Treading on the tried and tested, the story revolves around a young couple Kunal (Kunal Khemu) and Arzoo (Amrita), who leave behind their struggling apparently lower middle-class Mumbai life and move to Cape Town, after Kunal lands a cushy job in a diamond firm.

It’s made clear early on that the boss (Manish) is actually a diamond kingpin with enough shady dealings with the mafia and terrorists to put him on Interpol’s wanted list, but for his simple businessman cover that keeps the cops at bay.

Our hero is clearly unaware of them though, well, initially at least. It’s all too good to be true for the young couple as they take in their huge bunglow and the perks and Arzoo says she is waiting for the wicked witch to pop in their Hansel and Gretel like fairytale of a life. And she is right too.

Only here, the witch is the choice, an ambitious Kunal is faced with: Follow his dreams or give it all up to side with what’s right. The choice made, Kunal starts his ascent to the top at break-neck speed, while his personal life spirals downwards at the same pace (Jannat anyone??). Hubby makes work priority, gets some action in an office party, wifey gets bored at home and the audience in theatres (yawn, yawn)!

Khemu is known to be a good performer, and his act usually finds takers even if his films don’t, but here despite an earnest performance, he just fails to make his character endearing. Manish’s villainish act is anything but ‘superb’ a phrase that he mouths often and is more suited for TV soaps, while Amrita’s cutesy act is ruined by the dialogues that she has to dole out.

Others in supporting cast too are barely impressive. The film remains consistently boring through the end and has absolutely no element that would hook the audience’s interest. The songs don’t make you move or feel, nor do the utterly uninspiring dialogues and the immature handling of clichéd situations makes it further unbearable.

With a climax that mocks the audience’s intelligence even by filmi standards, you see yourself go between ‘What the #@#@ and Yeah, right!’ Overall, the film fails to impress on any count and has nothing you would want to look forward to. Make the right choice that Kunal didn’t: stay away!