ABBAS-MUSTAAN is one director duo that have always found their calling in the thrillers (though they strayed around with an occasional Chori Chori Chupke Chupke) - Khiladi, Baazigar, Soldier, Ajnabee, Aitraaz are their five best works. Will Race be an ace amongst these?
Not quite. For, any thriller to work, the narrative should have edge-of-the-seat moments and characters who catch you unawares; however, Race misses both of these attributes. The only solace is that the film is infinitely better than their recent outings, Tarzan –The Wonder Car, 36 China Town and Naqaab.
Though, the initial reels give a feeling that Race, as the title gives away, is set against the backdrop of horse racing. It is in fact a game of conceit and deceit between the principal players Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye Khanna, with their prized trophies (of course the girls have nothing to do) – Bipasha and Katrina.
The film is set in Durban, South Africa. Ranvir (Saif) and Rajiv (Akshaye) are stepbrothers. Ranvir owns a huge stud farm and his horses are a favourite at the races.
Sophia (Katrina) is Ranvir’s secretary and is smitten by his charm. However, Ranvir has hots for an upcoming model Sonia (Bipasha Basu).
However, on learning that his younger brother Rajiv has fallen for Sonia, Ranvir forgoes his love and gets Sonia married to Rajiv; but Sonia is not happy with Rajiv. To further complicate the matters Rajiv, who feigns to be an alcoholic, is in fact after Ranvir’s money.
Thus the stage is set for a thriller. The point is: Is the movie really thrilling?
As already mentioned, a thriller primarily works on two attributes: A narrative with edge-of-seat moments and characters that catch you unawares. If Race misses on these attributes, it is because of Abbas-Mustaan’s earlier films, particularly, Ajnabee and Naqaab.
The cross machinations of the couples: Saif-Bipasha, Akshaye-Bipasha, Saif-Katrina, Akshaye-Katrina is so similar to the Bobby-Urvashi, Akshaye-Urvashi, Bobby-Urvashi track in Naqaab. Similarly, Saif’s death and his sudden appearance in the pre-climax is a straight lift from Bipasha’s death and her sudden appearance in the pre-climax in Ajnabee; while in Ajnabee it strikes like a bolt from the blue, over here the viewer is expecting it.
The discerning viewer even knows the interval point, entry of investigative officer RD (Anil) and his dim wit assistant Mini (Sameera). Like Sherlock Holmes and Watson!
The production values are rich, Ravi Yadav captures the scenic South Africa in the best possible manner he could. Background score by Salim-Suleiman adds more than the required punch to each scene.
Music by Pritam is good. However, the best song of the movie “Pahli Nazar Mein…” is a perfect example of how to spoil a beautiful song with grossly unimaginative filming.
More than the screenplay, it is the dialogues that keep the movie afloat.
While almost everybody in the cast is good, it is Akshaye Khanna who takes the cake. He is the perfect antagonist. In fact, it seems he is forming a team of sorts with Abbas-Mustaan (Humraaz, 36 China Town and Naqaab). His is the best and the most natural act. Katrina Kaif with her new trimmer look, is simply stunning.
Directors Abbas-Mustaan are very competent in a couple of scenes, particularly the scene, where Saif blows up his jockey, Monto. The dialogue “Koyee mujhe harakar maar bhi de… to parvaah nahin; per dhokha dene waale ko mein kabhi maaf nahin karta” (I don’t care if somebody defeats and kills me but I never forgive a person who deceives me) sets the tone for the whole movie and most importantly the character of Saif.
Definitely not an ace amongst the thrillers, but an average fare for the audience with an eye for thrillers. 
3.13 / 79 votes 
