Race (2008/I)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Directors:

Abbas Alibhai Burmawalla
Mastan Alibhai Burmawalla

Writers:

Shiraz Ahmed (screenplay)
Shiraz Ahmed (story)

Release Date:

20 March 2008 (Kuwait)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Ranvir and Rajiv are half brothers who own a huge stud farm in South Africa. Ranvir is a very shrewd and aggressive man while Rajiv is laid back...

Plot Keywords:

Alcoholic | Secretary | Murder | Detective | Bimbo

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Bipasha Basu	...	Sonia
Gurpreet Guggi
Katrina Kaif	...	Sophia
Anil Kapoor	...	Inspector Robert D'Costa
Akshaye Khanna	...	Rajiv Singh
Saif Ali Khan	...	Ranvir Singh
Johnny Lever	...	Max - Marriage Registrar
Sameera Reddy	...	Mini
Dalip Tahil	...	Kabir Ahuja

Country:

India

Language:

Hindi

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Ireland:12A | India:A

Filming Locations:

South Africa

Company:

Tips Films Pvt. Ltd.

Trivia:

Fardeen Khan was first offered the role Rajiv Singh, however, the dates were clashing with Heyy Babyy (2007).

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): In a song, Akhsay Khanna teaches Bipashs Basu how to play Pool. All the balls are still on the table, and they pot the 8 Ball. Logically, the game should be over but they happily continue the game.

Movie Connections:

Remake of Goodbye Lover (1998)

Soundtrack:

Race Is On My Mind

Revival of Saif

Firstly take note that - Race is not a movie made for them those who power on the DVD player then insert the disc in it, and watch it till they feel asleep. This is made for them those who want to use their inner intelligence and sharp-brain to understand actually what is going on in between every roles. Don't rate this comment those who don't like Hindi thrillers.

I find it hard to believe even after fourth time watching Race that how Saif performed a deadly serious role as Ranvir Singh. In his first offer with director duo Abbas-Mustan he proved it great. So far his roles were mostly prepared for comedian purposes like in Hum Tum, Dil Chahta Hai or Salaam Namaste, but here he really proved that now he is matured as an actor by performing a serious, no nonsense and one-word guy's role.

Personally I like to watch movies made by Abbas-Mustan for their sense of making thrillers in Bollywood, and I cannot throw away Race apart from my mind. The story has some worth seeing twists which are surprisingly enjoyable. In funny and hilarious sections Akshaya and Anil own their credits. Although this is Akshaya's second negative character under the project of Abbas-Mustan after Humraaz, his role has enough importance in moving forward of the movie. Anil's role as a fruit-eater inspector Robert D' Costa (RD) makes a good sense of humour with his riddling but indicative words. For sometimes it is confusing whether RD is a negative or positive character, but it becomes clear only at the final ending part.

For the three glamor queens Sonia, Sophia and Mini (Bipasha, Katrina and Sameera), they have no much ability to handle the story since it is mainly controlled by the male leads, and focus goes on and on waiting to reveal the hidden truths. Ooops!!! after a long break from director duo, Johny Lever again appears in front of the camera for five minute, but with nothing special. Same is to Dilip Tahil who is the closest rival of Ranvir in horse racing business.

If we judge Race with proper sense there are bound to arise numerous goofs and faults in the whole set of the movie, anyway it's just made for entertainment. One most important goof I noticed is when Ranvir and Sophia goes to Capetown for some official purposes, but Rajiv also moves there and secretly attends an appointment in the marriage bureau along with Sophia (Katrina). But question is - does not Sonia (Bipasha) notice when Rajiv is not around her?

For Akshaya and Katrina's fans Race might be flop, while for Saif and Bipasha's fans it might be a super-hit. This is generally how a movie is rated by audiences. They don't like their favourite actors/actresses to get defeated in the climax, but if it happens so they will consider it worthless or super-flop. In truth a movie is considered successful mostly through the process of business profit --> large audiences = large earning. If you check weekly in the websites on the movie which is doing good businesses, it will be finally declared as hit, sometimes super-hit (or blockbuster) if the businesses run better than expected.

Finally, I like the movie only just due to Saif's new revival role of serious Ranvir Singh, and Akshaya Khanna's negative but interesting role as step brother Rajiv Singh.