Ankahee is a film directed by Vikram Bhatt. After working with the Bhatt’s for a long time, Vikram too is developing a similar style where a lot of non-fictional incidents are used in the making of a film. The story is said to be partly autobiographical. It is based on Vikram’s extra-marital affair with former Miss Universe and actress Sushmita Sen. Naturally, a movie which will stir gossip mills as it has a non-fictional extra-marital affair with a well-known actress and is bound to create curiosity. It is a triangular love story that explores the concept of crazy passionate love, betrayal and deception. It is a film that deals with relationships and the different emotions that each new relationship brings along, some more powerful than the other.
Ankahee is the story of a man who betrayed his wife and daughter, but the reason for his betrayal remains ‘unspoken’. The love which was lost remains unspoken of and the reason for the betrayal too was left unspoken. Now this man wants to uncover the lies and speak the unspoken. The film has been produced under the Pritish Nandy Communications banner and has been directed by Vikram Bhatt. The film stars Aftab Shivdasani (Shekhar), Esha Deol (Kavya Krishna) and Amisha Patel (Nandita).
The story begins with an aged and ailing Shekhar wanting to meet his estranged daughter (Hrishita Bhatt) whom he had betrayed and left along with her mother 16 years ago. Nandita, who was once Shekhar’s wife urges her daughter Sheena to meet with her father one last time. Shekhar gives his daughter his diary, a diary that depicts his life and one that will explore his love, his betrayal and his sacrifice. Sheena is unwilling to forgive the man who deceived her and her mother, but decides to give him a hearing.
Shekhar has a job that he loves, he is a doctor with a happy life, a nice home, a beautiful wife and finally a little baby that cements his relationship with his wife. Shekhar is enjoying his peaceful life with his wife and daughter. His life is perfect, till one fine day he attends to a patient who is unique. Kavya Krishna is a beautiful girl who is a Miss World and a rising star in bollywood. She has everything, fame, fortune and a bright future. But she has nothing as she has no one whom she can love and by whom she can be loved. It is this vulnerability that draws Shekhar to Kavya when he first attends to her slit wrists in the hospital.
Kavya brings a different world into Shekhar’s life, she is young, full of vitality, carefree and breaks the monotony in his life. Kavya and Shekhar gradually fall in love. Kavya finds a firm lifeline in Shekhar, he fills the void and emptiness in her emotional and turbulent life. Shekhar too falls madly and passionately in love with her, so much so that he is willing to leave his wife and daughter for her. However two people who get caught in this brutal love story are Shekhar’s wife, Nandita and his daughter Sheena. The entire media is abuzz with the beautiful star Kavya and doctor Shekhar’s illicit affair. Nandita too finds out about the affair and confronts her husband about the affair. Shekhar admits to the affair. Nandita is heartbroken, but like any wife wants to save her marriage at all costs. Shekhar is the only man that Nandita has ever loved and so she makes many attempts to save her marriage. Nandita even goes to the extent of confronting the other woman, Kavya.
But Kavya is an obsessed lover and will go through any lengths to keep Shekhar with her. Kavya is used to getting whatever she wants in life and Shekhar is the only one she wants right now. She is blinded by her irrational and insensitive obsession for this man. Shekhar, caught between the two women ultimately makes a decision that he will regret forever.
Ankahee is a film that is loaded with touching emotional content. The writing by Yash-Vinay and Vikram gives a major boost to the story and Vikram’s execution too is carried out well. Vikram does not deviate from the story and gives the story a strong in your face feeling. He does not try to sugarcoat any aspects. The portrayal of relationships is real, raw and touching. There are many scenes which have been executed with finesse like the scene where Amisha Patel confronts Esha Deol and the scene where a little daughter questions her father about the affair he is having.
On the flip side the movie has a lot of emotional baggage and tends to weigh one down with its heart wrenching realistic portrayals. Dialogues are mediocre and cinematography which is mostly interiors is average. Also the pace of the film is extremely slow, especially in the pre-interval portions. The film in the second half too drags and the editing could have definitely been done more adeptly. The music is kept to a minimalist and the three songs do not make too much of an impact.
Another strong aspect that works for the film is the performances delivered by all the actors. The film no doubt belongs to Esha Deol, where she finally comes into her own as an actor to look out for in the future. Her portrayal of an obsessed, depressed lover is exceptional, she evokes the right feeling in audiences with her portrayal of Kavya. Aftab Shivdasani brings out Shekhar’s dilemma and defeat very well. He enacts his role quite well. Amisha Patel too enacts her part with ample dose of restraint and opts for a subtle but expressive approach this time. She plays her character with ease.
The movie is a strong, emotional film that deals entirely with relationships and their failure. However only selected audiences may find this film appealing. The masses may find Ankahee too serious and too overemotional. An audience who is mature enough to handle a serious film that depicts real life in all its ugly and forlorn aspects will find this film interesting. Women who may readily empathize with both the strong female protagonists may give this one a look. The film may definitely do better at multiplexes. The film is definitely worth watching at least once. At the box-office though, the film may perform average.
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| Reviewed By: Rachel Fernandes |
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