Movie Review: Ek SecondJo Zindagi Badal De(2010)

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Ek Second…Jo Zindagi Badal De: AVOID!!

Rating: 1.5 out of 5*

Starring: Jackie Shroff, Manisha Koirala, Muammar Rana, Nikita Anand and Agastyaa Singh

Director: A Partho Ghosh

June 11, 2010 (Sampurn Wire): Having missed the press show of the film, it was a tough job on my part to convince the multiplex staff to play this film which had no audience but just myself because I had to review this film. While they almost decided to cancel the show, they finally kept it on as two couples came in for the show, confident of seeking solace in the empty hall. Now if that, my dear friends, hasn’t given you any idea of how the film is! Well! Read on.

The film narrates the tale, rather the tales of Rashi (Manisha Koirala) who is engaged to the famous novelist Shantanu Rai (Moammar Rana). She is unaware of all the girls who were present in Shantanu’s life before. Then destiny plays a game bringing Rashi face to face with a situation when she loses her job and misses her train, the very same day. Here on, the narrative structure suggests two parts. One where she is unable to catch the train and what follows thereafter and second one where she manages to catch a train and meet Yuvraj (Jackie Shroff) - who is a fun loving and kind hearted person.

With a plot, that is blatantly copied from Gwyneth Paltrow starrer Sliding Doors (1998) which incidentally wasn’t much of a box office success, ESJZBD is a total bore. Though the bottom line of the plot suggests that whatever is destined to happen, do happen but if we fight against it and turn around the incident it will occur accordingly. But nowhere does the screenplay matches up to that. Badly written, and badly directed the film is a total waste of your time.

Director Partho Ghosh ,who had once delivered super hits like 100 Days, Agnisakshi and Dalaal has lost his form and this one shows that he has completely lost his technical finesse as well. One wonders who the target audience of this film is. Manisha Koirala may be making her comeback but audiences have lost interest in her already.

Manisha Koirala, in an author backed role, fails to evoke any interest due to her laid back style of acting. Jackie Shroff ,appears disinterested too. Pakistani actor Moammar Rana is mechanical. Nikita Anand looks hot and indulges in an uninhibited body display but displays very little of her acting talent. Rozza Catalano is just about okay but dances well in the item song. The producer of the film Suniel makes a blunder by casting himself in the film.

All in all, this is one of those films which shall be forgotten past its release day. Just avoid it!

-Sampurn Wire