Movie Review: I See You ...

By Taran Adarsh, IndiaFM

Cinema-

going experiences, like culinary encounters, can either stimulate you

or put you off completely. When you enter a cineplex to watch Arjun

Rampal’s first outing as a producer, I SEE YOU, you expect to watch a

soft-on-your-senses, feel-good multiplex movie since the promotions

have been very specific, very direct on that front.

I SEE YOU, directed by debutante Vivek Agrawal, is targeted at the

multiplex junta, but right intentions don’t necessarily translate into

right films. The problem with I SEE YOU is that it works in bits and

spurts, not in entirety.

It’s not blasphemous to be inspired by a Hollywood film [JUST LIKE

HEAVEN; starring Reese Witherspoon, Mark Ruffalo], but writer Suresh

Nair and director Vivek Agrawal should’ve ensured that the desi

adaptation appeals to Indian sensibilities and is captivating enough

from start to end. Sure, I SEE YOU has its share of interesting

moments, but the recipe [screenplay] used for cooking this dish lacks a

few vital ingredients.

To sum up, I SEE YOU is the kind of film that works best on the tube

or DVD circuit. As far as its theatrical business is concerned, it

might find its share of advocates in a handful of multiplexes of

Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore mainly, but even that segment of

viewers would be minimal.

Write your own movie review of I See You
Another factor that goes against the film is its release period. To

expect viewers to rush to a nearby theatre on 31st December [Sunday] or

1st January [Monday] would be foolhardy. The cinema attendance goes

downhill during those days and expecting the business to pick up from

Tuesday onwards is like expecting snowflakes in Mumbai.

Story: Raj [Arjun Rampal] is the star attraction on the TV show

British Raj. One evening, Raj finds an unexpected visitor in his house

-- Shivani [Vipasha]. Is he dreaming? Is she for real? At first Raj

thinks his friends are out to make a bakra. But he realizes that

Shivani is a spirit.

Shivani breezes in and out of his home and office whether he likes

it or not. Unfortunately, Raj is the only one who seems to be able to

see her or talk to her. His friend Akshay [Chunky Pandey] thinks it’s

an alibi and also arranges for a meeting with a shrink [Boman Irani] on

his wedding anniversary.

Gradually, Raj falls in love with Shivani. But Shivani and Raj have

to find answers to questions that led to Shivani’s current state.

I SEE YOU is a ghost story, but it doesn’t belong to the BEES SAAL

BAAD or BHOOT variety. It’s not on the lines of Ramsay productions

either. A love story revolving around a spirit and an ordinary mortal,

the plot focuses more on humor and romance than spine chilling or tense

moments.

Although the premise is refreshingly different for Indian audiences,

the manner in which writer Suresh Nair and director Vivek Agrawal open

the cards is what gives you hiccups. In the first place, no

explanations are offered as to why Arjun alone can see Vipasha. Also,

she can’t touch a telephone, but the twist in the tale has her opening

the door of the room where her comatose body lies. How did she manage

that? Chalo, maan liya, spirits in Hindi movies can even break into

songs and dances, but the opening of the door is like double crossing

Arjun since the cop [Michael Maloney] is already at the doorstep.

Even the finale -- the mystery behind Vipasha’s accident is solved

and the doctor is arrested -- is far from convincing. A few minutes

earlier, didn’t we see the doctor and a nurse entering Vipasha’s room

in the hospital and even injecting a drug to put her to sleep forever?

So how did the cop [Michael Maloney] reach there from the BBC Studio

[he’s being interviewed ‘Live’] and how did Vipasha suddenly come

alive? It’s a screenplay of convenience!

In a nutshell, I SEE YOU tries too hard to appeal to the heart, but

it forgets that moviegoers have thinking minds too.

On the plus side, a few individualistic sequences are well executed.

The initial portions -- Arjun refusing to believe Vipasha is a spirit

until he visits the hospital -- are interesting. The humor-laden

sequences involving Chunky Pandey also keep you in splits. The finale

-- Vipasha disappearing from Arjun’s arms [faulty writing] -- is well

handled too. Ditto for the end -- Arjun introducing himself to Vipasha

at an eatery -- is worthy of note.

Vivek Agrawal had the opportunity to play with special effects since

the protagonist is a spirit, but the storyteller doesn’t utilize this

aspect in the narrative. Also, his choice of the story is perfect, but

not the screenplay. How could he okay a faulty script in the first

place? Vishal-Shekhar’s music is pleasant. ‘Subah Subah’ and ‘Halo’ are

two noteworthy tracks in the narrative. In fact, the set décor and

choreography [Shiamak Davar] of the ‘Halo’ track is superb. Ashok

Mehta’s cinematography is delightful. Dialogues [Niranjan Iyengar] are

strictly kaam-chalau.

I SEE YOU rests on Arjun’s shoulders. Arjun is efficient in a role

that doesn’t really demand histrionics. He has proved his credentials

in the past and his performance in this film is at par with his earlier

works. He works best in the dramatic portions. Vipasha may not be

gorgeous to look at, but she’s a decent actor.

Chunky Pandey is only getting better with every release. He

registers an impact. Kirron Kher gets very little screen time. Boman

Irani tries hard to make you laugh. Sonali Kulkarni also has a

miniscule part. Sophie Chaudhary adds to the glamour quotient. Her

scenes with Arjun [especially the one at the start, when Vipasha lands

up at the studio] are truly funny. Michael Maloney [the Hindi-speaking

angrez cop] is good.

Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan make fleeting appearances in the

‘Subah Subah’ song. While SRK is strumming a guitar, Hrithik breaks

into a small jig.

On the whole, I SEE YOU could’ve been an interesting fare, but is

letdown by a lopsided screenplay. At the box-office, the lack of face-

value and an inopportune release period [people don’t like to spend New

Year in a cinema hall] will only add to its woes.

Bollywood.com Rating: 1.5

Source:

src="/images/indiafm.jpg" width="100" height="49" border="0" />