Genre: Action
Director: Apoorva Lakhia
Producer: Shabbir Boxwala, Suniel Shetty, Ekta Kapoor, Shobha Kapoor
Banner: Popcorn Motion Pictures Pvt. Ltd, Balaji Telefilms Ltd
Music Director: Anu Malik, Shamir Tandon, Mika Singh, Chirantan Bhatt
Lyrics: Sameer, Chirantan Bhatt , Shabbir Ahmed, Hamza Farokhi, Ishq Bector, Mika Singh, Virag Mishra
Cast: Viveik Oberoi, Shabbir Aluwalia, Shreya Sharan, Zayed Khan, Nikitin Dheer and Shweta Bhardwaj
Release Date: 25 July 2008
Moving on to Zayed Khan, he definitely gave a competent performance and looked totally ‘in form’. Shweta Bhardwaj was good in stunts, but nothing beyond that. On the other hand, Shriya Saran was totally wasted. Suniel Shetty was his usual self. One actor in the film who is worth mentioning is Nikitin Dheer, who impressed us once again, after Jodhaa Akbar. Even the TV actor Shabbir Ahluwalia did a commendabl job. All in all, Mission Istanbul is not great, but it is not too bad either.
Mission Istanbul Review
Terrorism and underworld seem to be the flavor of the season, at least as far as Bollywood is concerned. The latest flick based on terrorism, Mission Istanbul released today. Though it started off at good speed, somewhere along the line it started stagnating and failed to accomplish its mission. The movie revolves around an Osama Bin Laden look-alike, an actor playing George Bush and a television channel called Al Johara (rather than Al Jazeera). Apoorva Lakhia also integrated bits and pieces from real-life, into the movie.
Terrorism and underworld seem to be the flavor of the season, at least as far as Bollywood is concerned. The latest flick based on terrorism, Mission Istanbul released today. Though it started off at good speed, somewhere along the line it started stagnating and failed to accomplish its mission. The movie revolves around an Osama Bin Laden look-alike, an actor playing George Bush and a television channel called Al Johara (rather than Al Jazeera). Apoorva Lakhia also integrated bits and pieces from real-life, into the movie.
The problem with Mission Istanbul is that it added fiction to the reality, with the former going way over the top. The fight against terrorism became too Bollywoodish, especially with our two heroes (Vivek and Zayed) taking over an entire army of terrorists, single-handedly. The cinematic liberties taken here are too hard to digest. The action sequences of the movie are definitely good and manage to keep you on the edge of your seats. While Lakhia's execution is excellent, the cinematography is top notch and characters well sketched out.
Mission Istanbul starts on a very good note and promises all the features of a thriller. However, as the first hour goes by, the film starts slowing down and even goes off the track. By the time interval ends, action completely takes over the story of the movie. This is when it turns into a typical Bollywood film and loses all the charm and interest. Talking about performances, Vivek Oberoi is very good and proves his prowess once again. The only thing that we wonder is that why was he wearing a smirk throughout the movie!
Mission Istanbul Preview
Still reeling under the success of ‘Shootout at Lokhandwala’, Apoorva Lakhia is now set to release his
next directorial venture ‘Mission Istanbul’. The film takes a look at the world of international terrorism and is being produced by Shabbir Boxwala, Suniel Shetty, Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor. It will be released, on 11th July 2008, under the banner Popcorn Motion Pictures Pvt. Ltd and Balaji Telefilms Ltd. The star cast of the movie includes Viveik Oberoi, Shabbir Aluwalia, Shreya Sharan, Zayed Khan, Nikitin Dheer and Shweta Bhardwaj
Still reeling under the success of ‘Shootout at Lokhandwala’, Apoorva Lakhia is now set to release his
next directorial venture ‘Mission Istanbul’. The film takes a look at the world of international terrorism and is being produced by Shabbir Boxwala, Suniel Shetty, Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor. It will be released, on 11th July 2008, under the banner Popcorn Motion Pictures Pvt. Ltd and Balaji Telefilms Ltd. The star cast of the movie includes Viveik Oberoi, Shabbir Aluwalia, Shreya Sharan, Zayed Khan, Nikitin Dheer and Shweta BhardwajVikas Sagar (Viveik Oberoi) is a journalist who can go to any extent, even that of putting his life in danger, to get an exclusive story. Ambitious, ruthless and a thorough professional, he is touted to be the most promising journalist in the business. Popular amongst the viewers, he is seen by millions every weeknight, on TV 24. One day, he is approached by Owais Husain, a senior producer at the controversial Istanbul-based channel - ‘Al Johara’. The channel that is criticized for being the mouthpiece of terrorists is also amongst the most viewed ones in the world, watched even at the White House.
Owais Husain makes him the offer to head the channel's proposed Indian bureau, at an extravagant salary and other perks. The offer promises to make Vikas the highest paid journalist in India, along with the opportunity of getting an international platform. The only two conditions that Husain keeps are that Vikas will have to join almost immediately and then fly to Istanbul for a three month orientation program. Even the timing seems to just right for Vikas, who is undergoing a painful divorce with wife Anjali.
Anjali is also a very aggressive journalist, just like her husband, but the problem is that she wants to have a baby. Vikas, not yet ready for a child, asks her to wait for the same and the problem gradually leads them to the door of court. In order to escape from domestic problems and mend his broken heart, Vikas happily accepts the offer of going to Istanbul. His flight from India to Istanbul is just his first step towards something that is going to change his life forever, only he does not know that yet.
On the flight, he meets Lisa Lobo, a beautiful and flirtatious girl who claims to be visiting Istanbul for a medical convention. Vikas reached the office of Al Johara, believed to be the mouthpiece of Abu Nazir a dreaded terrorist who is on the most wanted lists of both the Interpol and FBI. He usually delivers his threat to wage war against several countries, including India, through the channel. However, the initial impression of Vikas is totally opposite, especially when he meets Ghazni, the charismatic founder of Al Johara.
Vikas starts getting involved in Al Johara’s newsroom and is given just one word of caution - not to go on the 13th floor, known as the Catacomb. Still trying to sink in the reality bytes on terrorism, he gets solace in the company of Lisa and Owais Husain, who is about to quit Al Johara and settle down with his Irish girlfriend. One day, he goes on an assignment to cover kidnapped journalists in one of Abu Nazir's terrorist camps in Afghanistan. There, he witnesses the brutal execution of Owais Hussain.
As he comes back to Istanbul, stunned with the encounter, he is approached by Rizwan Khan, a former Turkish commando. The latter hints at the fact that whenever a senior employee tries to quit Al Johara, he dies, usually in terrorist attacks. After confirming the hints dropped by Rizwan, Vikas starts feeling that Al Johara is not what it seems like. He soon starts digging more information about the channel and also makes the mistake of straying onto the 13th floor. Soon, he realizes that his life is endangered and he cannot trust anyone, not even Lisa.
His visit to the 13th floor is known and he is subject to torture, while being double crossed by Lisa and watching Anjali narrowly surviving a suicide bomb attack. Vikas is left with no other choice but to partner with Rizwan. He also manages to steal the secrets locked away on Al Johara's 13th floor. Following this, he is declared a criminal, wanted by Turkish cops, terrorists, the CIA and even Lisa Lobo! Now, he has to make a run for his life and expose the real face of Al Johara before the world.
