Ek Second Jo Zindagi Badal De Review-Screenshots
Screenshots
Film Story
Ek Second... Jo Zindagi Badal De?
Director: Partho Ghosh
Producer: Rachna Sunil Singh
Cast: Jackie Shroff, Manisha Koirala, Nikita Anand, Muammar Rana, Rozza Catalano, Agastyaa Singh, Hanbir Malik, Sonia Chopra
At the beginning of the film, a character incorporates the films title within a dialogue, like they did in older films. This dialogue leads to a song where we see Sunil Singh (apparently the producers husband) break into a dance reiterating the films title. Its a sight youre unprepared for, but is crucial in preparing you for what lies ahead. For very often, Sunil Singh, avuncular and portly, appears in scenes preaching about love and dancing in slow-mo with softly flying hair, amidst semi-clad women. In the last song, we see him flanked by Manisha Koirala, Rozza Catalano and ex-Miss India Nikita Anand - and you wonder about the big bucks spent on living out a fantasy. Well, why not you reason, if they have the bucks. But then again, why not do a home video instead of subjecting the janta to this. These are futile arguments, but swim through your head at a furious pace as you see the rest of the film unfold.
Ek Second... is a lift from the Gwenyth Paltrow-starrer Sliding Doors (1998) that was a rage when it released. As you may know, Sliding Doors follows the characters life (played by Paltrow), exploring two possibilities in parallel tracks.
Set in Malaysia, Ek Second... starts with Rashi (Manisha Koirala) rushing to catch a subway; the film pauses and we see Rashi miss the train by a second. We then witness, in two parallel tracks, what would have happened to Rashi had she caught the train, and simultaneously, had she missed it.
Then on we have a bulging biceps and equally spherical-eyed actor (Muammar Rana) who plays a hot-shot novel writer and Rashis live-in boyfriend. With expressions consistently contradicting the context, this actor still appears a veteran when compared to Singh.
He has just written a book about destiny and how your fate is predetermined. Hes a strange fellow and in true retro style, pounds the piano when his novels get only average reviews. Then he opposes himself in an instant, and decides his next book will be about how you must challenge your destiny.
Jackie Shroff, looking stiff and puffed-up, always appears in time to save Rashi and keeps saying a fighter always wins.
Meanwhile we track the corresponding lives of Rashi - in one she catches her boyfriend with his ex-girlfriend; in the other she catches on later. In one life, shes super-successful, in the other shes constantly struggling.
Manisha Koirala, caked in make-up, gives a spirited performance and your heart goes out to the actress who once worked in A-list projects. The film is directed by Partho Ghosh (Agnisakshi, Ghulam-E-Mustafa) and is shot in lush foreign locations.
As the film ends, we see Singh appearing in different get-ups, flanked by close-ups of the Ek Second logo stamped on the backsides of miniskirts. Its a new low for the movie.
On the way out, the comments one heard were priceless. A gawky teen felt he, too, stood a chance of turning lead actor. Another person snapped, comedy picture. Of course, it wasnt meant to be.
Rating: 3 stars out of 5