Aashayein
Starring: John Abraham, Sonal Sehgal, Anaitha Nair, Girish Karnad
Direction: Nagesh Kukunoor
Music: Salim-Suleiman
Production: Percept pictures
After all that the staff and crew’s long time waiting, Aashayein finally was released. The film had its problems already because of an argument between the producers and the movie distributors. But because Nagesh Kukunoor never ran out of hope, the film finally got released.
The movie Aashayein all about how a young man’s heart and mind is changed all because of hope. When a gambler named Rahul (John Abraham) wins a big amount of money he then proposes to his girlfriend Nafisa (Sonal Sehgal). When we just began to think what a happy ending it would be, Rahul then finds out from the doctors that he has lung cancer.
The movie first begins with John keenly staring at the gasping TV screen while he puffs his cigarette. He then learns that it is his lucky day after winning a jackpot right after he bet on the loss of an Indian team. He then throws a party to those close to him and proposes to his girlfriend whom he has been living in with and all of a sudden he faints. The doctors then finds out that he has lung cancer which leaves him anxious and desperate. He then decides to leave his girlfriend and a big amount of money when he finds out about Hope foundation.
He then brings with him just a few clothes and a lot of money and ends up in a hospice that has 50 people who are also dying. Here, the audience meet a lot of different kinds of characters. There’s Uncle Parthasarthi (Girish Karnad) who is unable to speak because of throat cancer. There also is Madhu (Farida Jalal) who happens to be a prostitute before and has AIDS and is considered to be an untouchable. Padma (Anaitha Nair) is a high-octane patient and Govinda who is a kid and what others think to possess spiritual powers. Here, John communicates with the characters and he finds out what life is really about. He then becomes a blessing to those around him and finds out that it really is hope that makes people go on with their lives.
The audience will see scenes that are appealing and there will be those that will just melt your heart. But what makes the film really nice is the fact that it did not turn out to be preachy. Nagesh has always been the one director that knows how to tell a wonderful story but the problem is he is unable to give the audience the kind of feel that the movie is supposed to draw out.
There is no doubt that the cast in this film is just wonderful. John Abraham was definitely able to bring out his character. He definitely was able to bring out the emotion that was needed in each scene’s situation. This goes the same with Sonal Sehgal. The rest of the cast such as Girish Karnaud, Farida Jalal and Ashwin made sure that even if they had small roles theirs was done with justice. All eyes were definitely set on Anaitha Nair who played the role of the obnoxious Padma who can bring out all the emotions in the film.
Sudeep Chatterjee definitely made a good job on the cinematography especially the scenes in the beach and the hospice. The music of Salim-Sulaiman was average but sometimes gets in the way of the movie’s mood. Overall, this movie is a great film to watch especially with its inspiring touch.