Cast: Vivek Oberoi, Dalip Tahil, Sanjay Kapoor
Director: Kookie Gulati
Prince is director Kookie Gulati's international man of mystery who is modeled on several comic book heroes. The leather-clad lad can safely jump off buildings like ‘Batman’; spin life-saving webs like ‘Spiderman’, but unfortunately can emote no better than 'Pac Man'. There is very little that one can write about this two and a half hour disaster except that it is an extremely tedious watch. In spite of larger than life locations, some backbreaking camerawork and ambitious special effects, 'Prince' ends up being a cinematic 'Pauper'. If one were to list its every failing, the film's script would top the list. The dialog is terrible and the writing cannot make its mind up. Is the film homage to the camp action films of the 70's or is it a slick futuristic thriller?
Vivek Oberoi plays 'Prince', a most wanted international thief. He steals diamonds in a high security enclosure by performing 'daredevil’ stunts like hiding in a chute till the building closes and then springing out to ambush the CC tv security guards. Then he uses 'sophisticated’ gadgetry like a long periscope that rises from a parked van to enter a chamber up in the building. This tube then metamorphoses to become, lo and behold, a giant vacuum cleaner that ingeniously sucks all the diamonds down into the van. ‘Its Showtime’, says Prince with a half smirk.
When 'Prince' loses his memory, several characters enter his life, claiming to know who he is, but 'Prince' doesn’t know whom to believe. Truth is, characters like the snow headed Dileep Tahil and the designer stubble cop Sanjay Kapoor are so caricatured that many in the audience didn’t believe them either Of the three new pretties, all claiming to be Prince’s girlfriend Maya, Nandana Sen probably leaves the biggest impression. This is partly achieved because of her strange hairstyle and chalky make-up, making her look like a cross between a hairy 'Lhasa Apso' and a painted 'Geisha'. While Sen sometimes seems uncomfortable in her leather boots, she plays the trigger happy 'Maya' with some relish. Niroo Singh's portrayal of Maya looks like an extended item number that danced its way into the script and Aruna Murty, though beautiful, emotes less than the inanimate 'coin' that all and sundry in this tired thriller are looking for just what this coin does and why an embedded microchip in its mould could hold the key to 'Prince's lost memories is a question you may ask right till the end of this leather fest. Much to the ire of innocent cows, designer Narendra Kumar Ahmad dresses his entire cast in leather jackets and over coats. Yet, there is no heat for this cold meat.
In spite of frenetic editing and tiresome action sequences, the narrative lacks the energy that one expects from a thriller. The music of the film is insipid; more suited to the skin fest music videos that one was subjected to on television a few years ago. Director Kookie Gulati sets up some spectacular Hollywood style sequences but doesn’t do much with his actors. The cast awkwardly stumbles its way around Sukant Panigarhy’s impressive sets.
Oberoi seems influenced by Tom Cruise in 'Mission Impossible' & 'Minority Report' and the script seems influenced by Oberoi's dire need of a hit film. Everything possible that can be done to project Oberoi as a super hero is done, including the Bondesque ploy of accessorizing him with three pretty newbie’s, super gadgets, hot wheels and loaded guns. The film even has an evil villain that sports re-bonded hair and a mechanical hand.
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