Remake of Karz is a one time-watch for Himesh Reshammiya fans. For others it is better to catch a DVD of original Karz. The makers may take heart from the fact that this is the best remake till date better than Sholay, Don and Umraao Jaan.

The production-house Mukta Arts, that made the Rishi-Tina starrer 28 years back, was one of the first to pave in the corporate culture in Hindi cinema.

The lead actress’ (Tina Munim) husband’s (Anil Ambani’s) company, Big Pictures is distributing the new Karzzz.

A small audio company that revolutionised selling cassettes (Rs 10 mind you!) - T-Series - accused of selling cover and infringing on copyrights (including the original Karz) - has produced the film with all the grandeur that comes with a remake (remember Don).

It is being questioned if the new Karzzz is as entertaining as the original?
No. For the new Karzzz has a similar body but there isn’t the identical soul.

The writer’s family told him that when Karz played in the family-owned cinema (the writer is into movie exhibition business), he used to throng to cinema straight from play-school to listen to Om Shanti Om... and Ek hassena Thi... numbers. The rendition of the latter by Himesh Reshammiya is a blatant murder of the melody made immortal by Kishore Kumar.


Most of the audiences knew the story of Karz, released in 1980, directed by Subhash Ghai. The film was an Indianised version of The Reincarnation of Peter Proud, for those who are unaware of the plot.


Ravi Verma is a wealthy scion of Shantaprasad Verma family. He has just won a court case against Sir Juda, a wily criminal. Before going back home, he marries kamini whom he loves. However, Kamini has her moorings in money and material comforts. In a cold move, she murders Ravi. However, Ravi is reincarnated as Monty, a popular singer. He has got to pay a Karzzz - Kamini’s Karzzz.

In a remake - comparisons are inevitable. There is no doubt the old Karz (like many originals) score in most of the departments - particularly acting.


The writer felt some of the scenes in the original -

• Mother breaking down on Ravi Verma’s dead body (brilliant act by Durga Khote)
  

• Monty recollecting his past memories
  

• The introduction scene of Rishi Kapoor and Simi Grewal
  

• The picturisation of Ek Haseena Thi, and
  

• The brutal killing of Raj Kiran by Simi Grewal
  

- were the scenes that had a strong impact in the original movie. However, in the remake these scenes are not even half as hard-hitting as the original.


The only scoring point of the movie is it’s production values that has utilised some of the most exotic locations on Earth.


What rocks the movie:


The film is a remake of one of the best works in terms of writing.
The immense popularity of Himesh Reshammiya.
The production values.
The new tracks: Lut jaaoon, lut jaaoon and Tandoori Nights.


What chucks the movie:


Shwetha Kumar playing Tina is very stiff (surprisingly, she’s director Indra Kumar’s daughter).
The half-baked characters of Kabeera and Sir Juda.
Second half loses its pace midway.

Verdict


The film is a remake of one of the best works in terms of writing, so by default it can’t be ’bad’. The film is a one time-watch for Himesh Reshammiya fans. For others it is better to catch hold of a DVD of original Karz. The makers may take heart from the fact that this is the best remake till date better than Sholay, Don or Umraao Jaan.