Okay, we turn on the TV to watch GUMNAAM. We see a bunch of people who all helped a murder take place get marooned on an island. And then we here "Gumnaam hai koi, badnaam hai koi..." (that is, this really creepy and well-written song). But what follows for the next two hours really blows it.
GUMNAAM is an Indian-made blatant copy of Agatha Christie's classic whodunit "And Then There Were None" aka "Ten Little Indians." Anybody who has read the novel will find this film pretty disappointing.
I found GUMNAAM to be hopelessly unrealistic. Why is nobody suspicious when they find out that the butler knows their names? Why does everybody just sit down to eat as if they own the place?
Without giving too much away, I'd just like to say that the motive for the killer is unbelievably weak. And no explanation is ever given as to why "he" chose to stalk his "victims."
Furthermore, what the heck is Mehmood, a comedy actor, doing in GUMNAAM, a killer thriller? What is the point of all those songs? Why are people relaxing and tanning on the beach and swimming and eating fancy meals and FINDING ROMANCE as if they are on vacation? Aren't they afraid of death? Or is it more important to live life in style than to just live.
Where is the whole "I'm-scared-out-of-my-wits-of-death-so-I'll-do-something-incredibly-dumb" part? These people are doing stuff that is extremely dumb, but without the fear. The fact that they might not be alive tomorrow to swim or tan or eat does not occur to any of the characters.
If you can, try to find a copy of the soundtrack, because the song "Gumnaam Hai Koi" is very well-written, well-worded, and has creepy background music. Also, the song "Hum Kale Hai To Kya Hua?" aka "Khayalon Mein" is very good, though completely out-of-place.
Overall, GUMNAAM is a big disappointment for anybody looking for a thriller, a murder mystery, or even a good comedy. Well, it might work as a comedy. MIGHT.
