Must see, Indians in NYC!

The media is abuzz with Sarkozy “stigmatizing” the Islamic communities in France and Obama urging the ‘post-Obama America’ to stop alienating Islamic communities. While one doubts if France has nothing personal against Islam per say, the Bush-America did everything in its bad book to settle their personal scores. So does America today look beyond 9/11? Kabir Khan’s cinematic genius gives us hope that it almost may.

Though his earlier genius, Kabul Express was given a shrift by critics as being too documentary-ish, New York is definitely high on gloss living up to the Yash Raj banner. The core theme of the movie touches close to another inspiration from 9/11, Khuda Kay Liye, but then again, that’s where massive production budgets, cutting-edge editing and cinematography come in. All these together ensure there isn’t a moment in the film that you will want to miss.

The plot revolves around the lives of three friends whose destinies alter during the same time as the skyline of New York City. Omar (Neil Nitin Mukesh) an Indian immigrant is forcefully detained by FBI officer Roshan (Irrfan Khan) and interrogated for his possible terrorist links. The interrogation forces him to flash back to his days as a student in NYU where he met Sameer aka Sam (John Abraham) the dude of the college. In comes Maya, (Katrina Kaif) a tomboy who he later finds himself falling in love with.

But in a true Bollywood style triangle, Maya fancies Sam. A revelation of this, and the fall of the World Trade Centre, Omar moves out of the lives of Sam and Maya, only to return seven years later, as an undercover FBI agent. Roshan shocks him revealing that one of his friends is a kingpin of a sleeper cell involved in terrorist activities. He agrees to be an undercover agent only to prove his friend’s innocence. Little does he know of the road that lies ahead.

One can’t stop marveling at the director’s sense of vision. The movie explores the reasons people take to terrorism as a form of revenge. Post 9/11 scenario, why now? In fact, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. When the wounds have begun to finally heal, the movie serves as a hope they won’t cut open again. Noticeably, the movie manages to please both, the victor and the vanquished, creating a win-win situation for itself. While on one side it terms America’s scared reaction post 9/11 as being wrong, it also doesn’t distinguish between a ‘good’ rebel and a ‘bad’ rebel.

Striking a superb balance between realism and fun, it is meaningful and entertaining at the same time. John does complete justice to some of the most poignant scenes in the film, of him being illegally detained. Just to watch him being subjected to the despicable atrocities is enough to make you flinch in your seat. Katrina is wonderful finally proving herself, portraying roles other than the ones in ‘non-brainers.’ Neil’s portrayal of an Indian immigrant is effortless and Irrfan is well, Irrfan… doing what he does best. Kudos to Kabir for his attempt to blend entertainment with political sensibility, in a cinematic brilliance! Definitely, something you will not regret having watched.