No Smoking - Movie Review

Published: August 31, 2009

By JENNIFER HOPFINGER

Starring John Abraham, Ayesha Takia, Ranvir Shorey, Paresh Rawal

The film is based on Stephen King’s Quitters, Inc., and tinged with French artiness. The premise is commonplace enough—a woman wants her husband to quit smoking—but the subtext is far more profound. The film burrows deep into some heavy existential themes, and every word, action, and image drips with symbolism.

The alienation of the main character (played by John Abraham) is so extreme that he doesn’t even have a name—he’s simply called K. He’s a narcissist, who spends an inordinate amount of time in the bathroom, soaking in the tub, smoking, and admiring his beautiful naked body in the mirror. His refusal to quit smoking, despite the admonitions of his wife, Anjali (Ayesha Takia), and his friend, Abbas (Ranvir Shorey), is indicative of his overall selfishness. When Anjali leaves him, he reluctantly seeks treatment for his addiction in order to get her back, and he visits a place called “The Laboratory,” run by Guruji (Paresh Rawal)—and that’s when things get really weird. Guruji uses terror to cure his patients. For the first offense, a loved one of the patient is nearly killed. For the second offense, the patient loses two fingers. For the third and last offense, a loved one of the patient dies.

His abstract trip to recovery turns into a riveting supernatural thriller that oddly jibes with Eastern philosophy. The juxtaposition of conventional Indian settings and Parisian-like ones (that include jazz music, dark Western attire, cynical and inappropriately intimate cocktail-party conversations, the occasional French phrase, and incessant smoking)—with a dream-sequence detour in Siberia—dramatically heightens the sense of disconnection.

The director, Anurag Kashyap, is one of the most exciting experimental filmmakers today. However, his work, including this film, is not for everyone—some may find it way too bizarre—but it’s certainly an interesting departure from usual Hindi fare.

No Smoking is rated Worth Watching.

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