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By Joginder Tuteja, August 20, 2009 - 15:54 IST
MOVIE DETAILS
Cast: John Abraham, Katrina Kaif, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Irrfan Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Director: Kabir Khan
Producer: Aditya Chopra
Music: Pritam, Pankaj Awasthi, Julius Packiam
Lyrics: Sandeep Srivastava, Junaid Wasi
THE FILM
New York gets on the point right away and within first 10 minutes itself arrests you enough to ignore the
household distraction around you. As you watch the film's DVD that begins with a brilliantly executed sequence of
events involving FBI and the round up of suspects, you further believe that Kabir Khan certainly knows the job
right. If in his first attempt Kabul Express he gave a documentary start to the film by showing actual
clippings of 9/11, in case of New York too he doesn't shy away from showing the world what America has become
post 9/11.
Moreover, time and again one sees that promos showcase the best of the scenes from the film and though they may be
all striking and manage to create a high impact, the actual movie may lack the similar punch. Thankfully, in case of
New York this is not really the case as the film goes beyond the promos. In real terms, there is lot more to
New York than just a three minute promo and this is something that one realizes as the reels progress.
So what one gets to see is not just America's mentality after 9/11 but also the way suspects are detained for months
and tortured in spite of lack of concrete evidence. However, to the credit of the filmmaker, the brutality being
demonstrated is pretty much under control. Even though the desired impact is created for the audience to be a part
of the lives of John, Neil and Katrina, nothing goes over the top or something that cannot be swallowed.
With a subject like New York where one of the protagonists is labeled as a terrorist and the other is out to
prove that he isn't, the film could have become a grim drama, more so because it deals with real issues. Still, the
makers do not allow New York to go beyond the boundaries where it could possibly have been classified as an
art or an offbeat film. Instead, a strict eye is kept on the box office hence making sure that for the audiences,
there is enough drama, thrills and most importantly strong emotional moments to keep them thoroughly engaged in this
over two hours affair.
Talking about the emotional moments, it is amazing to see the way the three protagonists have approached their
parts. John Abraham can finally do away with his trunks and ignore coming out of the sea and show his beautiful body
for next few years. The acting potential in him has finally been tapped by a film maker; as evidenced by the career
best performance that he has delivered. Watch out for the scenes in the detention centre or the film's climax; they
are surely going to bring a lump in your throat.
Neil Nitin Mukesh has the most complex role of the three as he has to be a part of the proceedings in spite of being
on peripherals. Without revealing much about his part, it can be comfortably said that all the flak that he got post
the release of Aa Dekhen Zara is now forgotten after seeing him in this author backed role. His scenes with
Irrfan Khan, who plays a FBI officer and is extremely effective once again, need a special mention. They are
extremely well written and enacted.
Katrina Kaif too suits the role to the T and after Namastey London again gets to play a part where she
actually contributes to the film's plot. She is nice and cute in the first half of the film but showcases her true
potential towards the concluding reels of New York. Film makers would finally be looking beyond her beauty in
the projects that she signs from here.
With the kind of subject that New York has, it could have easily become a sermonizing or a pseudo exercise in
motion. Thankfully Aditya Chopra, who has written the film's story, doesn't allow that to happen. He keeps it all
under check to ensure that New York reaches out to the masses while also ensuring itself quite a few awards
when the best of the best are announced at the end of the year. New York is indeed a must watch!
PACKAGING
Going with the tradition of movies coming from the house of YRF being excellently packaged with an attractive cover
design and case, New York too makes it's presence felt on the shelves from a long distance.
DURATION
The film's duration is 153 minutes
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Making of the Film
- Deleted Scenes
- Hai Junoon Remix Video
- Making of Hai Junoon Remix Video
- Mere Sang Remix Video
- Making of Mere Sang Remix Video
- New York Special - Zoom TV
- The New Yorkers - CNN-IBN
- New York Special - Times Now
- Theatrical Trailer and Promos
- Photo Gallery (Movie stills, Working Stills & Posters)
The 'Special Features' DVD of New York is quite voluminous. With over 2.5 hours of software, it gives a lot
to audiences to pick and choose from. 'Making of the Film' could have been one monotonous exercise if not for the
real footage featuring a couple of stunt sequences. It is interesting to see how John Abraham actually came down
from the 46th floor of a building and did all his stunts himself. Of course there are those usual camaraderie
conversations between John, Neil and Katrina or the cricket/baseball matches that they played with the other cast
and crew members of NewYork. In addition, the making of two of the most popular numbers from the film,
'Hai Junoon' and 'Mere Sang', are also added in this DVD. Overall, a 'feel good' watch!
However, the best is reserved for 'New York Special' on Zoom TV. It's the best of the chat sessions that Kabir,
John, Katrina and Neil indulge in as they get all comfortable and pally while taking a viewer through New
York. No, they don't get into those regular 'it was great working with you' conversations but instead share a
dozen odd funny anecdotes during the shooting of the film. They also delve a little into their personal lives but
never make it sound heavy or frivolous. Like Katrina talks about she was one of the most unpopular girls in
school/college (hard to believe her though!) or Neil Nitin Mukesh ran down all the way from to Aditya Chopra's
office when he was informed on phone that there was 'something' waiting for him. Or how Kabir Khan actually started
the film's shoot with a tough instead of a light sequence.
There are many more such stories that are also shared on 'The New Yorkers - CNN-IBN' and 'New York Special - Times
Now' as well which makes the atmosphere casual and lively for the viewers to watch these segments of the DVD at
least once.
There are around 6-7 minutes of deleted scenes as well that make for a good watch. The one between Irrfan Khan and
Neil where the former hands over a new mobile phone is dramatic and so is the scene in the detention centre
featuring John Abraham. There is a light hearted scene involving Neil's first day in office, a New York gutter,
which also manages to bring on a smile.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
- 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen Presentation
- Subtitles in English, Arabic, Dutch, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi (in parts)
- Dolby Digital 5.1 and Stereo
PRICE
Rs. 399/=
CONCLUSION
When a hardcore commercial flick gets a standing ovation and a huge round of applause at the end of the show, you
know that there is something definitely right that the director has done. This is what I saw first hand when I saw
the film in theaters. Ok, so families may not really stand up in their living rooms and begin clapping as the end
credits start rolling. However, rest assured, they would want to applause Kabir Khan for doing exceedingly well in
making a film that is not frivolous, has a message and still carries enough commercial ingredients to reach out to
masses as well as classes. No wonder, New York stays on to be a gripping dramatic thriller that ended the
draught that Bollywood was facing for half of 2009.
 
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