No Smoking (2007)

A man fights against a tyrannical institution for his right to smoke, hence, for individual freedom.

Director:

Anurag Kashyap

Writers:

Raj Singh Chaudhary (story), Anurag Kashyap (story),

Stars:

John Abraham, Ayesha Takia, Paresh Rawal

Cast

Credited cast:
John Abraham	...	K
Ayesha Takia	...	Anjali / Annie
Paresh Rawal	...	Shri Shri Prakash Guru Ghantal Baba Bangali Sealdah Wale
Ranvir Shorey	...	Abbas Tyrewala
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joy Fernandas
Sanjay Gandhi	...	Chacha
Karan Makhija
Megh Pant
Pravishee	...	Woman in Burkha
Jesse Randhawa	...	Dancer / Singer
Gajraj Rao	...	Rajendra Kishan Dhingra
Kiku Sharda
Vineet Sharma
Vivek Sharma
Sanjay M. Singh	...	J

Storyline

K lives a wealthy lifestyle in India along with his widowed mother and brother, J. His mother works as an interpreter with the German embassy. As a child K acquired the habit of chain-smoking along with his friend, Abbas Tyrewala. Now matured, running his own business, married to Anjali, who also doubles as his Secretary, Annie, K continues to chain-smoke. When Abbas quits, he manages to convince K to undergo treatment at the Prayogshala located near Kalkatta Karpets but K refuses. He changes his mind when Anjali moves out, decides to undergo treatment, goes to Prayogshala, meets with Guruji, is forcibly enlisted, then again forced to sign a Cheque for 21 Lakhs Rupees for his treatment, and after doing so is discharged with a warning that very bad things will happen to him and everyone of his family if he dares to smoke again. Watch what happens when K decides to secretly re-locate and continue to smoke.

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Plot Keywords:

secretary | neo noir | apartment | cigarette case | suicide | 

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Details

Country:

India

Language:

Hindi English

Release Date:

26 October 2007 (India)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Big Screen Entertainment, Eros Entertainment, Vishal Bhardwaj Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

128 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ranvir Shorey's character name was taken from Anurag Kashyap's good friend Abbas Tyrewala.

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Connections

References Main Hoon Na (2004)

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Soundtracks

"Jab Bhi Cigarette"
Written by Gulzar
Composed by Vishal Bhardwaj
Performed by Sunidhi Chauhan
Courtesy of EROS Music

User Reviews

The best tribute to Franz Kafka

For all those illiterates (the numbers of these great unwashed I do not doubt, it is hardly surprising that the movie bombed) who give it 1-2 stars and talk about preserving sanity, a question: Ever heard of Franz Kafka? I saw this movie just after I had read The Trial and The Castle back-to-back. It is a brilliant tribute to the genius of Kafka: I wonder that is what Anurag Kashyap intended in the first place. The plot follows the same twists and turns that one would have in a Kafka novel, particularly the descent to meet the Baba. It is not just any shady place, it is a passage from The Trial faithfully replicated: when K first approaches his accusers (note the name: another Kafka hallmark). Sheer genius. Both the original writer, and the film-maker.