Asambhav

Cast: Arjun Rampal, Priyanka Chopra, Naseeruddin Shah, Sharat Saxena
Language: Hindi
Banner: Trimurti Films
Director: Rajiv Rai
Producer: Gulshan Rai
Camera: Sukumar Jatania
Music: Viju Shah
Year: 2004

A Gulshan Rai _ Rajiv Rai film is always eagerly looked forward to. Their films have had their share of gloss and content as well. Unfortunately, Asambhav is an apt case of body beautiful, minus soul. The film is one of the slickest products to hit the Indian screens in the recent times, but how about giving us an equally inspiring content?

Asambhav is set in Locarno [Switzerland]. Vir Pratap Singh [Dr. Mohan Agashe], the President of India, is visiting Locarno not on an official visit, but for a short vacation with his daughter Kinjal [Dippanita Sharma], who studies in the U.S. An international terrorist, Mabros [Shawar Ali], kidnaps the President and his daughter and keeps them hostage in a secluded island-hotel. The brains behind this kidnapping conspiracy are ISI officials Ansari [Milind Gunaji], Gazi [Tej Sapru] and Hashmi [model Chetan Hansraj]. Also, another international terrorist group, Al-Hamas, led by Yuzan Baksh [Mukesh Rishi], is hand-in-glove with Ansari. Captain Aadit Arya [Arjun Rampal] is entrusted with the responsibility of bringing the President and his daughter back safely. The mission is called ‘Mission Asambhav’. In Locarno, Aadit comes across Sam Hans [Naseeruddin Shah] and Brian [Tom Alter], who are involved with Ansari and the drugs that have been flown into the country through a pop singer Alisha [Priyanka Chopra]. Arya poses as a journalist to get to the core of the matter. He realizes that someone in the Indian embassy in Switzerland is also involved in this conspiracy. Who is it? The initial reels of Asambhav keep you on the edge. A good portion of the first thirty minutes is devoted to background, setup and getting the characters in place. Besides the slickly executed sequences, even the story unfolds at a feverish pace, involving the viewer completely in the proceedings.

Asambhav belongs to Naseeruddin Shah. The veteran enacts his part with admirable ease. Arjun Rampal does play the super-hero but the role offers him no scope to enact. Priyanka Chopra is reduced to being a mere prop. Amongst the horde of character actors, Sharat Saxena, Mukesh Rishi and Tom Alter are noticeable. Dr. Mohan Agashe is wasted. Newcomer Chetan Hansraj is wooden. Director Rajiv Rai is just not in form this time around. The film pales when compared to his earlier products. Viju Shah’s music consists of forgettable tunes. Cinematography [Sukumar Jatania] is fantastic. The locales of Locarno are a visual treat. Action [Mahendra Verma] is alright. On the whole, Asambhav is a weak film in all respects.

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