Opening Doorz

By Martin D’Souza | Opening Doorz Editorial | November 03, 2017

Rating: 1.5 / 5

The essence: Ittefaq does not have that necessary ‘X’ factor that would categorize it in the thriller segment. Sadly, performances too are mandatory.

Ittefaq is a film ‘inspired’ by the 1969 Rajesh Khanna-Nanda starrer by the same name. This murder mystery too revolves around two murders. Primarily, the plot is somewhat on the same lines as the 1969 flick. However, instead of a painter (Dilip Roy played by Rajesh Khanna), we have a writer, Vikram (Siddharth Malhotra).

Vikram, an Indian settled in the UK, has come to India for his second book launch with his wife who is also the publisher. On the day of the book release she is found dead in her hotel room. Whilst being taken for interrogation, Vikram escapes from the police and Ittefaq se, ends up in Maya’s (Sonakshi Sinha) house. He requests Maya for help. Maya, who is acting suspicious, flees the home and when she returns with the cops, who are in search of Vikram, finds him standing near the dead body of her husband.

Two murders, one suspect, two versions. One from Vikram;  another from Maya. We also learn that a rape survivor who had given inputs for Vikram’s novel had committed suicide after Vikram allegedly revealed her identity in the book. The girl had helped out because she was told she would be helping other victims like her.

Dev (Akshaye Khanna) the investigating officer has to crack the case in three days. His boss tells him Vikram is a citizen of UK and Saturday and Sunday is a holiday! So Dev goes about collecting evidence and gathering clues.

The best part about this film is that it does not follow a set pattern of a definite, triumphant end. However, it leaves you a bit exasperated that the investigating team made up of bumbling, over-acting cops, are not able to keep pace. Also, the plot is not convincingly executed to keep the viewer involved in guessing. It’s an amalgamation of flashbacks, with no subtle clues given to the viewer, which director Abhay Chopra pieces together to tell a tale at his convenience.

Thrillers get you to the edge-of-your-seat when you are involved in the plot and make an attempt to solve the case as it is played out on the screen. No such luck here, you give up mid-way and wait for the end to reveal itself.

Ittefaq does not have that necessary ‘X’ factor that would categorize it in the thriller segment. Sadly, performances too are mandatory.

CREDITS
Producer: Karan Johar, Gauri Khan
Director: Abhay Chopra
Star Cast: Siddharth Malhotra, Sonakshi Sinha, Akshaye Khanna