With films bombing at the box-office, steadily film makers are reluctant to take chances. So they import ideas bit by bit from outside; be that from a film or a book and worse they don’t make their own versions. Vishal Bhardwaj, who dares to swim against the tide, in his latest flick, Saat Khoon Maaf, relies on a book penned down by Ruskin Bond, starring the former Miss World Priyanka Chopra. It is in keeping with the trade mark Vishal Bhardwaj to import ideas and make his own versions. 
However, this directorial work certainly does not deserve any pardon. The saddest part is that the creative director is not able to create a single energetic scene despite having accomplished actors in the form of Naseerudin Shah and Irfan Khan. The film becomes predictable early on, when the screenplay falls into a set pattern.
 The movie is about a woman who is very unfortunate in love and married life. To find the soul of her life she takes herself into the arms of men who are wrong for her as they turn out to scumbag.  For all these wrong men in her life she has one answer: DEATH. While one is kicked into the den of famished man-eating panthers, another is overdosed with drugs, third one snake-bitten and so on; be it Neil Nitin Mukesh, John Abraham, Irfan Khan, Aleksandar Dyanchenko, Anu Kapoor or Naseerudin Shah.
Juggle all the said characters and you expect the fireworks. But this cracker never bursts. With so many men battling for her hand, Priyanka has lot to do. She has got into the skin of Susanna with one buddy and Sultana with other and Anna to other.
To find the worthy husband for her, she even moves to Kashmir and marries Wassiullah, an Urdu poet played by Irfan Khan. But I was taken aback, instead of portraying the picturesque Kashmir to sync with the character the film maker plants an unnecessary scene of some stone-pelters picking up a tear-gas shell and hurling at police jeep. Why? Is this any political movie to depict falsely, as done before by the Bollywood industry, what is happening in Kashmir? Better to focus on the scenes required to meet the theme and not to deviate from it.
 Earlier Priyanka in her previous film ‘What’s your Rashee’, played 12 characters but the film couldn’t sustain itself for 12 days at the box office.  Here in this movie she dons seven different looks all painted in grey shades. After showcasing her negative acting skills in Aitraaz, Yakeen and the film in review, Priyanka has added another bad-girl to Bollywood list.
 Now coming to the music of the movie which definitely is the highlight of the movie. If Omkara and Kaminey had sound beats to excite your senses, then expect ‘Saat Khoon Maaf’ to be next big thing on charts.
 On acting part, everyone has got the chance to show their antics. Priyanka is the designers delight and therefore her charms become hard to resist for her seven husbands. She dives courageously into her role.
Now the final words: Boring isn’t a word you’d normally associate with a Vishal Bhardwaj film, but ‘Saat  Khoon Maaf’ really tests your patience. Apart from music the film is too long, tedious and exhausting. Take my advice and don’t become 8th prey of this film.

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Lastupdate on : Fri, 25 Feb 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 26 Feb 2011 00:00:00 IST