Karry Best movie of this year hands down!

Fluentiama Perfect cast and a good story

Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Skyler Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

MartinHafer In recent years, more and more Indian films are making their way to America. Just a decade or so ago, they were practically impossible to find. Now, Netflix, Hulu and even local cable channels carry Indian films. While they are not yet commonly watched by the average person in my country, this is quickly changing as people are realizing that India is making some great films.Most of the films we have been getting are musicals--which are very popular in India. Most of these are also romances. However, a few films are NOT the same formulaic pictures (even though I like these romances, there is a certain sameness about many of them). A few of Satyajit Ray's films, gangster films (which I assume are VERY popular in India since I've seen so many) and comedies are also available--but you have to look a bit harder for them.One of the best of these non-formula films I've recently seen is "Ek Hasina Thi". When I say non-formula, I mean that it has no production dance numbers and the film is much more realistic and gritty. And, because of this, the film is a nice change of pace and well worth your time.This movie begins with a beautiful lady (Sarika) being stalked, somewhat, by a handsome young man (Karan). He is VERY persistent and a tad creepy--as he comes on really strong. But he's also very thoughtful and sweet and she falls for him...reluctantly. A bit later, one of Karan's 'friends' drops by her apartment and leaves a suitcase. Soon, she sees on the news that the man who visited her was a gangster and he's dead!! Sarika has no idea what to do and still thinks her boyfriend is what he claims to be--a guy who's made his fortune in stocks and bonds. This is a HUGE mistake, as soon the police arrive and find her with the suitcase and arrest her. And, based on advice from him and his sleaze-bag lawyer, she pleads guilty. These two told her the court would just release her and that would be that. Instead, she's given a huge sentence and sent to a hellish prison. She soon comes to realize that she's been set up to be the fall girl for a very bad man...and the quiet and sweet girl evolves into a very angry lady--one who is able to kill, if need be, to get revenge.While I would normally say no more (as it might spoil the film), I noticed that IMDb's summary gives a LOT of information. So, it lets you know that she does escape prison and she does plot revenge. I really, really liked this--as it was exciting to see the mousy lady become a Rambo-like hero. However, very importantly, it was NOT all action and a lot of the crazy stuff she did was believable....at least compared to many revenge films. See this one--and see the really cool ending. Well made all around.

nikhil7179 Although the plot of EHT would be regarded as the usual 70's exploitation/revenge fare, there's nothing typical about the fact that it is a Bollywood movie.Female protagonists are rare enough, but avenging angel avatars are rarer still. Sriram Raghavan weaves an intriguing game of cat and mouse – where hunter and prey constantly switch roles.Add to this another layer of players - that of cops and robbers, and you have a veritable maze of secrets and lies.Although the film follows genre conventions, it does so with a sense of playful cynicism, always toying with the audience's expectations. It topples various Bollywood boy-meets-girl clichés and asks us to reexamine our preconceived notions.EHT's main underlying theme reflects the evolving tastes and preferences of the Indian middle class - Prissy girl, though reluctant at first, is eventually seduced by mysterious stranger who delivers her deep dark fantasy – escape from a safe and mundane existence, but at the ultimate price – her very freedom. Death drive overdrive.Possibly the most fascinating aspect of the film though is the undercurrent of masochism that runs through it. Sarika is submissive, conformist and physically weak and defenseless. Even her beauty is a liability and is more than once cause for undue attention.She is always confined (repressed) – first by convention and culture, and later literally when she is wrongfully jailed.She must come to terms with her own femininity (sexuality) and only then can she be liberated. Although her metmorphosis in the film is not entirely believable, that's the general idea.Though Sarika is the submissive party in the first half and is constantly victimized physically and emotionally, the tables are turned in the end when the dominant Karan is tied up in the cave – a return to the womb as it were, and left to be devoured by ravenous rodents – messengers of the wrathful goddess herself.But the film is far from being some kind of feminist diatribe. This is still Bollywood.The cat and mouse scenario perpetuates itself in all sorts of interesting ways. In probably the most memorable scene in the film, Karan and Sarika engage in a game – of questions and answers, of truth and lies, a sort of icebreaker. This is in fact a piece of a bigger puzzle - a larger game they seem to enacting – one of role-playing – Karan as the mysterious predator, Sarika as the poor defenseless damsel.Another interesting scene occurs when, after flying the coop Sarika sees Karan in the arms of another girl and her reaction is one of agony and loathing – totally understandable – however, the context renders it ambiguous. Is the emotion the result of being betrayed and falsely imprisoned or being two-timed by another woman? Moments like these elevate the film from being mere revenge play.EHT is not perfect – it has pacing issues and even comes close to imploding in the third act with a hastily assembled climax, but it's assured sense of direction and strong performances by the lead and supporting cast save it from self-destructing.But my main complaint has little to do with plot machinations. The film provides a great canvas for tackling taboo topics like sexual dynamics, gender roles, etc. and even takes a stab at them every now and then, but it fails to draw blood. It feels like the film is holding back for some reason.Although EHT's subversive potential is largely untapped, Sriram Raghavan is clearly a talent to watch out for. I for one am curious to see what he comes up with next.

Saurav In one word this movie was AMAZING.Karan Rathod (Saif Ali khan) is a smooth, Handsome, smart, cunning, clever Gangster. He perfectly well knows how to use and misuse people. He is on the lookout for his next trap...Enter Sarika (Urmila Matondkar)...a decent but innocent middle class girl living entirely alone with nobody to take care of her. Being 20 something and living alone too made her desperate.Saif Ali Khan meets up with Urmila and without any effort Urmila falls into his trap. Saif easily tricks her, fixes her up and sends her behind bars. Poor innocent Urmila doesn't even reveal Saif's name to cops and accepts guilty. Urmila is sent to 7 years imprisonment.At Jail, Urmila begins to understand the entire setup. It is here that she decides to take revenge. With the help of her Jail Friend, she manages to escape the prison and get the required tools (Gun etc) to get back at Saif.Now the movie drags on and for the next 1 hour or so we see how Urmila chases Saif and fixes him up for the murder of Saifs boss......The end is the final battle b/w Saif and Urmila which follows.....The entire movie is fast paced and exciting. Saif Ali khan as a smooth, clever gangster is brilliant and Urmila too is good.All in all a must see.

manish Although most of Ram Gopal Verma's movies are not officially directed by him still they carry the Verma stamp all over.Ek Hasina Thi fortunately falls in the really good movies section. It is different and good.Sarika(Urmila) is an independent working girl in Bombay. She works in a travel agency and stays alone in an apartment. One day a handsome young man Karan (Saif Khan) bumps into her and tries to be over friendly. After initial mood swings both hit it off and become really close. One day Karan flies to another city and tells Sarika to entertain one of his friends. To Sarika's horror it turns out that Karan's friend was a gangster who is killed in encounter but not before leaving a suitcase at Sarika's place. When the police raids her house they find the suitcase filled with weapons and money and Sarika is arrested.Now starts a thrilling game as Sarika is thrown into prison and she comes in touch with several hardcore criminals. She realises that Karan is the man behind all this and swores revenge. She gets out of the jail and takes her revenge in style.A topic like this where the leading heroine is wronged by a aman and she takes her revenge were the subject of films like Insaaf Ka Taraazu, Anjaam and Gumraah. However the difference here is that she is not wronged by an out and out villain but by a man whom she loves and trusts. In early 80's there was a film called Durga where Hema Malini is shown to be madly in love with Raj Babbar and she loses her honour to him who cheats her leading her to revenge. But while Durga was a pot-boiler Ek Hasina Thi is a very slickly made movie where there are no stereotypes. After watching the movie I am also relieved that the movie is NOT a remake of Double Jeopardy. It has some portion inspired by it and thats it.The film has a good story and a reasonably good screenplay. The editing is good but after the thrilling first half the second half looks a bit drag specially towards the end. The direction by debutant Sriram Raghavan is engrossing. The movie like most recent Ram Gopal Verma's movies is technically brilliant. The cinematography is brilliant and the camera effects at places really makes an impact. The sound quality is also excellent.Like Bhoot even the titles look straight out of a good Hollywood production. Had there been a little more attention in the second half Ek Hasina Thi would have been a much better film. The best scenes of the film are the ones shot in the jail. Although we have seen 3 Deewarein (read my review) which was based on jail but Ek Hasina Thi provides insight in a female prison like never before. Although female prisons have been shown in a good manner in Gumraah and in a horrible way in the disastrous Anjaam,Ek Hasina Thi really thrills you in the realism of jail life. I really admire the director of creating fear in the audience in a jail without showing a molesting villain or an over the top woman. The look is real and at times even scary. Even in the most filmy scene where Urmila fights the jail bully-ya even I was reminded of Kaalia-the fight looks real and well enacted.Shahrukh Khan has eaten his words many times. After Baazigar and Darr although Anjaam flopped,he said that no-one can play negative roles like he has done. After that Arbaaz Khan in Daraar,Nana Patekar in Agnisakshi,Akshaye Khanna in Humraaz and recently Ajay Devgan first in Deewangee and then in Khakee(read my review) have proved him wrong. His contemporaries Aamir played an underplayed negative role to perfection in Earth-1947 and Salman Khan created ripples with his obseesive lover act in Tere Naam. Still Shahrukh Khan had never imagined in his life that someone as good looking and charming like Saif Ali Khan can play a negative role and that too in style. I guess that sums up what Saif has done in this movie.His character really catches u when he plays the wicked question and answer game with Urmila.However after that the focus shifts to Urmila and Saif seems to play yet another play-boy role.But towards the end, in the scene where he discovers the truth about Urmila and questions her Saif looks menacing and gets into the skin of the character. If he surprised me by playing an urbane patriotic soldier to perfection in LOC he surprised me gain by his bad guy act. I canno say that Saif has given the best negative performance in recent times but I can definitely say that the way he has portrayed a mean man,it is really very very different from any negative role in recent time. Needless to say that he looks dashing in designer wears with a stubble on his face. Urmila delivers yet another ace performance after Bhoot.Although in some scenes towards the end she tries and act the way she did in Kaun and Pyaar Tune Kiya Kya-much to my irritation,But otherwise she shows her acting talent once gain.Her expression and dailogue delivery in the prison scenes shows that Urmila is capable of delivering the goods if she has Verma by her side.Seema Biswas is brilliant as the lady police officer. There are many regukar actors of Verma's movies and all fit in their respective roles. Overall a good movie.