Ek Hasina Thi (2004) User Reviews

"Once There Was a Beauty"

[Peter_Young · 8/10 · 15 July 2009]

Ek Hasina Thi is a wonderfully absorbing film. It is gritty, realistic, gripping, and it successfully adopts the style of Ram Gopal Varma's film-making. This thriller develops at a taut pace, starting as a simple romance and later gradually growing in suspense with its shocking proceedings. It is about a young independent woman, Sarika (Urmila Matondkar), who falls for a young suave man, Karan (Saif Ali Khan) who is actually not the one he appears to be. Unexpectedly, her world is turned upside down when she finds herself jailed because of him. That's how the story of her hardening begins, when, toughened by prison life, she gets determined to take revenge. The film does not have any unnecessary subplots, it avoids melodrama, it is relatively short, it has no songs, and all these elements contribute to its authenticity and suspenseful mood, also aided by its fantastic background score, brilliant dialogues, and superb cast.

Urmila Matondkar is one of the finest and most versatile actresses in India. But, in spite of having attained nationwide fame, she is still extremely underrated. It may be because she stepped into a new kind of cinema in order to satisfy her artistic hunger and show her exceptional acting abilities. In Ek Hasina Thi, Urmila stars as Sarika Vartak, but although she plays one character, she actually plays two different women. She is first a gentle and simple class-working woman who, after being deceived by a man, turns into a merciless, calculating and almost sadistic avenger. The complexity of this challenging character arc is astounding, and there is not a single false note in the way Matondkar portrays this deeply troubling transformation. She is thoroughly relatable, real and compelling, handling the toughest and most brutal moments with depth, authenticity and unsettling intensity. This is a performance to remember.

Quite obviously, the rest of the cast are here only to support Urmila, but they include a host of talented actors, all of whom do well. Saif Ali Khan is very impressive in this villainous turn. This is one of his most restrained acts, and his serious character comes as a pleasant surprise after all the comic, lighthearted and womanising characters he had played before. Seema Biswas can always be counted on to deliver a credible performance, and that's what she does as Malti. She creates a tough screen persona which is appropriately intimidating. Pratima Kazmi is superb as the powerful yet compassionate prisoner Pramila. In conclusion, Ek Hasina Thi is a great dramatic thriller, which is enjoyable, unconventional and thoroughly fascinating. The film has some disturbing moments and many moments of relief and joy. The ending is also one of the most unusual you will see in a Hindi film. One of the best Indian films of 2004.

Good thriller from Bollywood.

[Amyth47 · 7/10 · 13 February 2019]

My Rating : 7/10

A bit long-ish but if you're familiar with Bollywood movies then it's nothing.

Overall, a good watch and well-acted. Rare to find darker stories in Bollywood cinema so it's great to actually have something like this to have even been made.

Well-paced, well-directed and no unnecessary melodrama, no songs either which is rare. Recommended.

Subtlety is a rare commodity in Bollywood...

[bigfeet · 8/10 · 2 February 2004]

...but EHT manages it very well. Its a refreshing change from the fare the we are regularly subjected to by Bollywood. There are no ridiculous song and dance sequences, no melodramatic dialogue delivery and even the gory action sequences are underplayed.

The movie is about a single girl living alone in Mumbai away from her family ("on her own terms" is what the reviews say) and how she deals with extraordinary circumstances that surround her meeting the man of her dreams (on the lines of Pacific Heights, or Sleeping with the Enemy). The movie suspiciously feels like its a remake of some Hollywood thriller, but without concrete evidence, I'll give it the benefit of the doubt.

The movie manages to remain realistic on the whole without giving in to the usual ludicrous melodrama and action scenes at the end. Having said that though, there are a few elements that are difficult to believe. For one, the occupation of the lead character, Sarika. Can a single girl really survive alone in Mumbai with her lifestyle as a booking agent in a travel firm? And for a single girl, she is amazingly gullible when a man woos and beds her. Is it really that easy? Finally, Ram Gopal Verma's penchant for introducing threatening and mysterious characters that turn out to be harmless and irrelevant (the neighbour, Kamdar and the talent scout) is getting old.

Even with its flaws, EHT deserves a high rating. Not because its a great movie or will be a classic someday, but because it simply offers a better movie going experience than most other Bollywood movies today. Its very nice to know that a movie without songs can hold its own, especially when it is mainline cinema.

A magnificent debut by director Sriram Raghavan with stunning performances by the lead artists

[S_Menon · 10/10 · 24 February 2004]

From the production house of Ram Gopal Varma comes another powerful film about love, hatred, passion and revenge. "Ek Hasina Thi" is director Sriram Raghavan's debut film but you wouldn't be able to tell that after viewing this film. He puts other experienced Indian directors to shame with his debut film. He even surprasses Ram Gopal Varma at his own game.

"Ek Hasina Thi" tells a story of Sarika - a simple, working-class woman who seems to be content with her life until her chance encounter with a suave, ultra-cool individual - Karan. She falls in love with him and dreams of a future bliss, marital life. From there on, however, Sarika's world is completely turned upside down. Saying any more would ruin the premise of the film, not to mention, the experience of watching it, but I highly doubt any Bollywood film this year will make an impact on me the way "Ek Hasina Thi" did.

One of the major aspects that makes "Ek Hasina Thi" so powerful are the performances by the lead actors. Both of them, Saif and Urmila, give the performances of their careers. Saif Ali Khan, who is suddenly on a white-hot streak with films like "Dil Chahta Hai", "Darna Mana Hai", and the recent "Kal Ho Naa Ho" easily gives the finest performance of his career. Usually, in hindi films, villainous characters are shown to be mere caricatures - a snarl here, a facial contortion there, etc., but Saif Ali Khan plays Karan Rathod in such a subtle, cool, and horrifying real manner that the viewer almost sympathizes with him. If you thought he was great in "Dil Chahta Hai" and "Kal Ho Naa Ho", you will be completely unprepared for his volatile, brilliant performance here. Truly an award-worthy act. Urmila, who is getting much praise for her films in 2003, actually gives her career-best performance as well in "Ek Hasina Thi". In most of her films, Urmila tends to overact even when the character doesn't call for it. But, in "Ek Hasina Thi", Urmila goes through a wide array of emotions and does it very convincingly. Some of the prison sequences are heart-wrenching simply because of Urmila's act. Also, the initial scenes where Saif and Urmila meet are some of the best scenes in the film. They share such an intense and real chemistry. Bravo to both actors for portraying their characters so effectively.

As mentioned, director Sriram Raghavan gives the best debut film I've seen in years. Some of the camera angle, quick cuts, stylish close-ups he employs are just wonderful. There are no songs in the film, thankfully, which makes "Ek Hasina Thi" a much better viewing experience. The screenplay by Pooja Ladha Surti is solid. C.K. Muralidharan's cinematography is fantastic - probably better than any film Ram Gopal Varma has been associated with. Editing by Sanjib Datta is superb. Some of the cuts he makes are really innovative. Finally, Amar Mohile's background score is just excellent. It really suits the mood of the film. "Ek Hasina Thi" is easily Varma's finest production. In fact, "Ek Hasina Thi" is even better than Varma's own film - "Company". I look forward to seeing what Sriram Raghavan has to offer us next. "Ek Hasina Thi" is a film that should not be missed by anyone who appreciates intelligent, different, and profound cinema.

A movie to Remember!! Way ahead of its Time...

[souravkundu-00050 · 10/10 · 9 January 2019]

This is exactly what we want from a thriller movie, director Sriram Raghavan has done tremendous job on it and the two main characters, especially Urmilla is exceptional, this is her finest performance. The background music is good and the storyline and suspense will keep you hooked till the end. One of the most intelligent movies ever made in Bollywood...

Surprisingly good

[Maciste_Brother · 7/10 · 9 August 2006]

Though EK HASINA THI will never be considered a great classic I was pleasantly surprised that this Bollywood thriller was better than expected. The story is sorta hokey and the acting is campy but what's fun is how entertaining it was. Very few films today are entertaining, per se, so you can imagine how unexpected it was to see an entertaining thriller from Bollywood.

EK HASINA THI is not your typical Bollywood movie: there's no musical numbers, the violence is realistic and it looks modern enough. What's amazing is EK HASINA THI succeeds were many Hollywood produced films fail. Films like KILLING ME SOFTLY, which made me laugh nonstop, looks like a complete joke compared to EK HASINA THI.

Saif Ali Khan gives a good performance but the movie belongs to Urmila Matondkar, who is over-the-top and yet believable, which is amazing. There's a good balance of craziness, campiness and seriousness in her performance. Kudos to Urmila for giving such a memorable performance and basically making the film for what it is. Credit should also go to the director in creating such a fun film.

Rare Gem from Indian cinema

[kunaldalmia31 · 9/10 · 14 February 2019]

Revenge stories are done to death in bollywood but this is different, never wrong a girl who loves you from heart . Movie charter a different chart with crisp editing and impactful dialogues urmila plays it's part in amazing way Saif once again proves he is underrated Direction is superb

Hell hath no fury...

[nikhil7179 · 7/10 · 19 April 2007]

Although the plot of EHT would be regarded as the usual 70's exploitation/revenge fare, there's nothing typical about the fact that it is a Bollywood movie.

Female protagonists are rare enough, but avenging angel avatars are rarer still. Sriram Raghavan weaves an intriguing game of cat and mouse – where hunter and prey constantly switch roles.

Add to this another layer of players - that of cops and robbers, and you have a veritable maze of secrets and lies.

Although the film follows genre conventions, it does so with a sense of playful cynicism, always toying with the audience's expectations. It topples various Bollywood boy-meets-girl clichés and asks us to reexamine our preconceived notions.

EHT's main underlying theme reflects the evolving tastes and preferences of the Indian middle class - Prissy girl, though reluctant at first, is eventually seduced by mysterious stranger who delivers her deep dark fantasy – escape from a safe and mundane existence, but at the ultimate price – her very freedom. Death drive overdrive.

Possibly the most fascinating aspect of the film though is the undercurrent of masochism that runs through it. Sarika is submissive, conformist and physically weak and defenseless. Even her beauty is a liability and is more than once cause for undue attention.

She is always confined (repressed) – first by convention and culture, and later literally when she is wrongfully jailed.

She must come to terms with her own femininity (sexuality) and only then can she be liberated. Although her metmorphosis in the film is not entirely believable, that's the general idea.

Though Sarika is the submissive party in the first half and is constantly victimized physically and emotionally, the tables are turned in the end when the dominant Karan is tied up in the cave – a return to the womb as it were, and left to be devoured by ravenous rodents – messengers of the wrathful goddess herself.

But the film is far from being some kind of feminist diatribe. This is still Bollywood.

The cat and mouse scenario perpetuates itself in all sorts of interesting ways. In probably the most memorable scene in the film, Karan and Sarika engage in a game – of questions and answers, of truth and lies, a sort of icebreaker. This is in fact a piece of a bigger puzzle - a larger game they seem to enacting – one of role-playing – Karan as the mysterious predator, Sarika as the poor defenseless damsel.

Another interesting scene occurs when, after flying the coop Sarika sees Karan in the arms of another girl and her reaction is one of agony and loathing – totally understandable – however, the context renders it ambiguous. Is the emotion the result of being betrayed and falsely imprisoned or being two-timed by another woman? Moments like these elevate the film from being mere revenge play.

EHT is not perfect – it has pacing issues and even comes close to imploding in the third act with a hastily assembled climax, but it's assured sense of direction and strong performances by the lead and supporting cast save it from self-destructing.

But my main complaint has little to do with plot machinations. The film provides a great canvas for tackling taboo topics like sexual dynamics, gender roles, etc. and even takes a stab at them every now and then, but it fails to draw blood. It feels like the film is holding back for some reason.

Although EHT's subversive potential is largely untapped, Sriram Raghavan is clearly a talent to watch out for. I for one am curious to see what he comes up with next.

Simply Amazing !

[pure_shores00 · 10/10 · 1 February 2006]

i think this flick is one of the best so far from RGV factory ... urmila has proved herself again and again .. But this movie has proved that she doesn't need big banners to impress her critics or viewers ! her acting is one of the best seen in bollywood history to date. even bhoot looks pale in front of it i think Saif should be ranked as the most outstanding khan of bollywood ! the new director shows talents .... this movie is only 2 hrs long which is a complete surprise for bollywood i think makers like yash chopra karan johar should incorporate such techniques in their movies and try to bring such talents in front of viewers instead of being stereotypes best this movie which guarantees you wont be disappointed ... saif and urmila will be a treat 2 watch !

Good thriller

[manishrvce · 7/10 · 3 October 2005]

Although most of Ram Gopal Verma's movies are not officially directed by him still they carry the Verma stamp all over.Ek Hasina Thi fortunately falls in the really good movies section. It is different and good.

Sarika(Urmila) is an independent working girl in Bombay. She works in a travel agency and stays alone in an apartment. One day a handsome young man Karan (Saif Khan) bumps into her and tries to be over friendly. After initial mood swings both hit it off and become really close. One day Karan flies to another city and tells Sarika to entertain one of his friends. To Sarika's horror it turns out that Karan's friend was a gangster who is killed in encounter but not before leaving a suitcase at Sarika's place. When the police raids her house they find the suitcase filled with weapons and money and Sarika is arrested.

Now starts a thrilling game as Sarika is thrown into prison and she comes in touch with several hardcore criminals. She realises that Karan is the man behind all this and swores revenge. She gets out of the jail and takes her revenge in style.

A topic like this where the leading heroine is wronged by a aman and she takes her revenge were the subject of films like Insaaf Ka Taraazu, Anjaam and Gumraah. However the difference here is that she is not wronged by an out and out villain but by a man whom she loves and trusts. In early 80's there was a film called Durga where Hema Malini is shown to be madly in love with Raj Babbar and she loses her honour to him who cheats her leading her to revenge. But while Durga was a pot-boiler Ek Hasina Thi is a very slickly made movie where there are no stereotypes. After watching the movie I am also relieved that the movie is NOT a remake of Double Jeopardy. It has some portion inspired by it and thats it.

The film has a good story and a reasonably good screenplay. The editing is good but after the thrilling first half the second half looks a bit drag specially towards the end. The direction by debutant Sriram Raghavan is engrossing. The movie like most recent Ram Gopal Verma's movies is technically brilliant. The cinematography is brilliant and the camera effects at places really makes an impact. The sound quality is also excellent.

Like Bhoot even the titles look straight out of a good Hollywood production. Had there been a little more attention in the second half Ek Hasina Thi would have been a much better film. The best scenes of the film are the ones shot in the jail. Although we have seen 3 Deewarein (read my review) which was based on jail but Ek Hasina Thi provides insight in a female prison like never before. Although female prisons have been shown in a good manner in Gumraah and in a horrible way in the disastrous Anjaam,Ek Hasina Thi really thrills you in the realism of jail life. I really admire the director of creating fear in the audience in a jail without showing a molesting villain or an over the top woman. The look is real and at times even scary. Even in the most filmy scene where Urmila fights the jail bully-ya even I was reminded of Kaalia-the fight looks real and well enacted.

Shahrukh Khan has eaten his words many times. After Baazigar and Darr although Anjaam flopped,he said that no-one can play negative roles like he has done. After that Arbaaz Khan in Daraar,Nana Patekar in Agnisakshi,Akshaye Khanna in Humraaz and recently Ajay Devgan first in Deewangee and then in Khakee(read my review) have proved him wrong. His contemporaries Aamir played an underplayed negative role to perfection in Earth-1947 and Salman Khan created ripples with his obseesive lover act in Tere Naam. Still Shahrukh Khan had never imagined in his life that someone as good looking and charming like Saif Ali Khan can play a negative role and that too in style. I guess that sums up what Saif has done in this movie.His character really catches u when he plays the wicked question and answer game with Urmila.

However after that the focus shifts to Urmila and Saif seems to play yet another play-boy role.But towards the end, in the scene where he discovers the truth about Urmila and questions her Saif looks menacing and gets into the skin of the character. If he surprised me by playing an urbane patriotic soldier to perfection in LOC he surprised me gain by his bad guy act. I canno say that Saif has given the best negative performance in recent times but I can definitely say that the way he has portrayed a mean man,it is really very very different from any negative role in recent time.

Needless to say that he looks dashing in designer wears with a stubble on his face. Urmila delivers yet another ace performance after Bhoot.Although in some scenes towards the end she tries and act the way she did in Kaun and Pyaar Tune Kiya Kya-much to my irritation,But otherwise she shows her acting talent once gain.Her expression and dailogue delivery in the prison scenes shows that Urmila is capable of delivering the goods if she has Verma by her side.Seema Biswas is brilliant as the lady police officer. There are many regukar actors of Verma's movies and all fit in their respective roles. Overall a good movie.

One Wonder Product!

[santoshx1 · 10/10 · 2 May 2004]

I never even knew about this work by RGV & KSS with direction by Sriram R and sounds by Dwarak. I happened to catch it on one of those 24hr movie channels and what a fresh piece of work it was! The cinematography by Muralidharan, direction by Sriram Raghavan and the sounds by Dwarak are top class. From the cast, Saif Ali Khan, Urmila and Seema Biswas are outstanding. This has to be one of the finest performances by both Saif and Urmila in main roles. It was really surprising to see how on hell Sarika (urmila) could ever get into her jail terms. Her times in the jail are almost like the role of Stallone in Lock-Up. One never expects hardcore stuff from hindi films, yet this one has some of the most intense time-scale scenes in it. I wonder how this Urmila who gyrated her way with Rangeela could ever get into the skin of the role that she plays in this film which requires her to bring in physical encounters with jailmates and so on! The suspense is brilliantly held by the screenplay and background sounds. It was the ending that could have got a better editing. It can be clearly seen how the story loses its way towards the end. This one is for those who can appreciate intelligent and deep films by grasping the psyche of the characters in it. The direction is first class and if RGV can rope in such directors into his team, the indian film industry has got an invaluable producer with it. It really amazes to know that while other Directors struggle hard to set up a team of actors in the cast, Ram Gopal Varma manages to set up a team of directors along with a full team of cast and crew.

Where the hell did this come from??!

[agnilahiri · 7/10 · 9 March 2004]

I have been dissing indian cinema for a long time, ever since they DESTROYED my favourite movie Reservoir Dogs, but this was a very pleasant surprise, the editing i have to comment on, which i wasn't aware that the indian industry knew exsisted. if used correctly it gives a whole new feel to the movie, although i wont go as far as to say it did dat, but atleast they tried. use of sound through out the movie was impressive for indian standards, not saying that we dont know how to use sound,we just dont bother,Saif never had ne trouble acting in the past, so no difference here he shines throughout the movie, the ending was the bit that surprised me the most, it was VERY dark for indian audience, and its good to see that we have stopped being so squmish. 7/10 definatly recomended.

Must watch!

[aashishiyer · 5/10 · 27 November 2018]

Superb movie. Amazing acting by Urmila Matondkar. Director Sriram Raghavan is someone we all should look for. His movies are good. There was no song. Saif Ali Khan was okayish. Hope Sriram Ragahavan make more movies like this one, Andhadhun and Badlapur.

A must watch Bollywood Thriller

[rohanrs1 · 9/10 · 26 November 2013]

Amazing Thriller. Urmila proves once again that she is a versatile actor. Saif's character has Grey shades. Nice work done by Saif. Film didn't get its due. Must watch for Thriller/Suspense fans. Urmila takes a break from her psycho / possessed roles she had played in earlier films. She plays a victim here...who is victimized till pushed to wall. And then she bounces back to take the revenge. That transformation is amazing. Noteworthy mention: Seema Biswas as a cop and two women prisoners in the jail. Cons- Sometimes predictable. There are parts of film which look unrealistic, for example - Urmila blindly trusts Saif in the first half of the film (which is bit extreme). However, she learns her mistakes only after getting convicted for a crime she never did.

Decent, taut revenge thriller

[hprill · 8/10 · 25 January 2005]

From producer Ram Gopal Varma and director Sriram Raghavan comes a pretty good revenge thriller, which is definitely one of the better Indian movies this year.

Cast against his usual roles, Saif Ali Khan plays a slick criminal whose dealings with terrorists and the Delhi underworld get his girlfriend Sarika (Urmila Matondkar) into prison. However, toughened by prison life, Sarika manages to escape and takes revenge.

Progressing somewhat slowly during the first 15 minutes, but then gaining momentum at an increasing pace, this movie never slows down and manages to keep your interest for the full duration, which at only 120 minutes is significantly less than most Bollywood movies. There are also no disruptive song or dance sequences that would distract you from the plot.

In fact, one of the problems that I have with this movie is that it is a bit too short -- in particular the prison sequence seems rushed: Sarika's character development from the innocent, naive girl to the tough, cold-blooded killer is not fully developed and feels a bit sudden as a result.

My second problem is with the ending, which, while not inappropriate, feels a bit out of line with her previous revenge strategy. It still works fine, but one feels that it could have been built up better.

Other than that, however, there are no obvious problems with the plot, and acting is good from most main and supporting actors. Seema Biswas in particularly stands out in her role as the determined female police officer in pursuit of Sarika.

Definitely worth watching, and much better than anything Hollywood, USA has produced in this genre in a long time.

Interesting thriller but far too long

[springsunnywinter · 6/10 · 26 July 2007]

I'm very keen in revenge thrillers and Ek Hasina Thi was quite different & interesting about Sarika, a happy, independent, single girl working in Mumbai. Karan a globe trotting financial whizz who sweeps Sarika off her feet. Life is beautiful, until one day a chance even plunges Sarika into a nightmarish situation with the police. Charged under the Maharashtra control of organised crime act, Sarika finds herself in jail. Karan assures Sarika that he will get her out very soon. But a tough as nails lady cop is determined to break Sarika. Prison, thrown in with a bunch of hardened women, Sarika has to kill the person she once was and discover herself anew. That is why the film is called Ek Hasina Thi and she really was looking beautiful with her long hair but when she cut it in jail then she was looking like a different person. The running length was far too long although it was about 140 minutes and with only one song but still it could of been cut down to about 90 minutes. The first half was straight forward then it got slow in the second half. Overall it is OK to be watched once and I can not watch it again.

Amazing

[beany82 · 10/10 · 3 December 2005]

What makes this movie so good and convincing is that it strays from every Bollywood stereotype out there. The plot moves quickly and does not lag. There are no forced song and dance scenes as this is not the type of movie for that and I am glad that the director did not force these into this movie. The acting is superb and there are many western elements such as storyline and direction that make this piece fabulous and a piece for people that are not familiar with Bollywood films to watch.

It does get a bit cheesy when Saif Ali Khan breaks out the martial arts moves but Urmilla's acting is wonderful. You can see her character transform convincingly and Saif Ali Khan as the menacing bad guy is quite the fit! It's a revenge story finally told right in the fluff that clutters the few gems of Bollywood cinema.

It's a movie that did not have it's vision compromised for the sake of trying to fit in to Bollywood. I would definitely recommend this movie to everybody, especially those that have not seen an Indian film before and who are curious.

An offbeat movie.

[Herag · 7/10 · 5 February 2005]

Ram Gopal Varma and his cadre of Film Makers are respected and feared at the same time by the Mumbai Film Industry which is comprised of three factions-the older Yash Chopra's who have lost touch and they are the dinosaurs of the Industry. The younger crowd the likes of Johar clearly have prostituted their talent by falling into the fishnet thrown by the likes of SRK, whose motive is selfish and enriching at the expense of the Industry. Then there is the middle ground the likes of Ram Gopal Varma, Vikaram Bhatt and Nagesh Kukunoor, who have the courage and conviction, but they and their actors are chastised and black listed by the SRK/Johar crowd. I will see any movie from the RMG Banner with some reservation like "Dharna Mana Hai" which is more an aberration than norm. The best movies the Banner has produced were "Mai Madhuri Dixit Banna Chaahte Hoon", "Bhoot", "Company" and "Ab Taak Chappan". This movie is in the lines of "Teen Dewarien" by Kukanoor with a starking and violent female prison infested with gangs who prey on the new entrants like locusts nothing different from a male prison but more vicious. Prison movies are never a Commercial success since there are not located on the slopes of Switzerland where the main leads can dance to a 24 piece orchestra conducted by a Malik or a Rahman. Urmila Matondkar who is a discovery of Ram Gopal Varma has given an impeccable performance in a movie that the other actresses would shun away from. Saif Ali Khan who is one of the better actors with the last name Khan has done a superb job. The thing that stands out with this actor is his diction with a voice fit for an actor unlike Salman Khan who delivers his dialog like an obscene phone call. This movie is testament to the belief that good actors invariably end up with good directors or the other way around as in this case, Sriram Raghavan. The movie is spell binding with great authenticity of the prison scenes. This is one of the movies you derive pleasure from watching instead of the false sense of satiety of watching the the filth that is delivered in the name of cinema most of them dtarring the ugly Sharukh Khan Salman Khan and Amir Khan.

They Don't Make Such Brilliant Movies Anymore! Masterpiece!

[nairtejas · 10/10 · 19 December 2012]

Urmila Matondkar cracked this one. Her performance is impeccable and totally clings to her character. Reel to real, I must say.

Ram Gopal Verma and Raghavan have done a beautiful job with this thriller; written absolutely with finesse, characterization is mind- blowing so are the dialogues. It keeps you thrilled throughout the sequences and with the number of twists even the Hollywood biggie Shyamalan or O Henry would get startled. The screenplay is marvelous.

Now, this is one Bollywood film which you got to watch before you die. They don't make such movies anymore!

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? 60% YES

Language: Yes Sex: No Nudity: Yes Mouth-Kiss: Yes Violence: Yes; plenty

A better one than usual!

[comfortablynumb2 · 7/10 · 30 September 2005]

I have to admit, firstly, that despite understanding the language, Indian films in general aren't what I watch given a choice. I only watched this one as it was on late one night on Channel 4. Although it started out in the same way as most bollywood fare to begin with, it turned suddenly and from then it had my attention. With absolutely nothing in the way of the melodramatic song and dance routines so commonly found in Indian cinema coupled with two of the better young actors as the principals it actually kept me guessing as to where it would inevitably go. Well not guessing as such but the pace at least kept me watching. So if you're still a newbie to bollywood cinema, watch this and then, unfortunately, its pretty much downhill from there!

Khatarnak hasina!

[HeadleyLamarr · 8/10 · 30 September 2007]

Loved the film. It was gripping, well acted, beautifully shot and I changed my opinion about Urmila after this one. Boy, can she act and look good! She was great as the vulnerable girl and then amazing in the prison scenes. She was better than Saif, although he did a really good job playing the cold selfish man. There were times in the beginning when I thought he was leading her on, and then he would parry it off with some remark! I can see how this moved him on to his landmark role in Omkara.

The script was taut, the film was exceptionally well edited, had no songs and dances, and was real, brutal and honest for the most part. Yes there were some issues with the film. If you were stealthily stalking someone then it might not be a good idea to be dressed in hot pink, bright orange and bright red, and hardened criminals should be able to spot a closely following car. But I was not bothered much by this and other issues as I sat on the edge of my seat almost the whole time. And the director followed this up with Johnny Gaddaar! What talent! My two cents worth is that RGV should go back to production and giving chances to talented directors.

Lethal Hasina

[Chrysanthepop · 20 September 2010]

Raghavan's stunning directorial debut 'Ek Hasina Thi' keeps you at the edge of your seat from the very beginning. It is gripping, well paced, wonderfully acted and terrifically executed. The screenplay is excellent and the editing is superb. With this and 'Johnny Gaddaar', Raghavan seems to have mastered the thriller genre. Not only does he maintain the element of suspense so well (which is a crucial ingredient for a successful thriller), but his films (at least the first two) are solidly written and filmed. The background score and cinematography are very effective. Saif Ali Khan is very good as the caddish, smoothtalker who finally manages to charm the innocent Sarika. Saying more would be revealing too much about the character. Seema Biswas is great as the brutal cop who has a strong hatred towards criminal and Pratima Kazmi has already mastered the role of a queenpin. Yet, where performances are concerned, 'Ek Hasina Thi' belongs to Urmila Matondkar. She is spellbinding as the cautious but vulnerable city lass, the desperate inmate who is hardened by her surrounding and finally the not-to-be-messed-with woman on a mission. This woman was born for acting and I so wish she continued doing films today.

Good movie with some thrilling moments

[sahebabdullah · 7/10 · 23 May 2021]

Feels little outdated now but it was a good movie with a good story of deceit & human nature.

Ho hum

[CriticGirl91 · 3/10 · 6 April 2016]

I read a lot about this film, the most misleading of which was that this is a psychological thriller. It was a big let down considering that I assumed it to be a very powerful story after going through the reviews. Unfortunately, the only thing that made it attractive was that the protagonist actually sought revenge for her own sake instead of acting like a goody goody carpet which is a trend in Indian cinema.

I could not connect to the so depicted vulnerability of the protagonist. After all, she was far too suggestible, allowing an obviously fishy looking so called friend to come to her house and letting him keep a bag there. She was very quick to get into an affair as well. Neither did I find the antagonist as powerful as implied. He was very bollyywoodish, beating five men simultaneously and all.

Urmila did a fine job and did make me feel sorry for her. I would prefer not to comment on the acting of the rest of the cast. It was nice not to have songs but the one included, title song was jarring enough to make up for that. The protagonist using the opportunity of meeting a well connected prisoner was good for a plot, but her going and getting her way all the time; like killing a goon with no one around were just instances of luck that took away from her power.

I wouldn't recommend this even for a one time watch.

This ain't what most non-Indians would think they'd see from Bollywood.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 20 March 2013]

In recent years, more and more Indian films are making their way to America. Just a decade or so ago, they were practically impossible to find. Now, Netflix, Hulu and even local cable channels carry Indian films. While they are not yet commonly watched by the average person in my country, this is quickly changing as people are realizing that India is making some great films.

Most of the films we have been getting are musicals--which are very popular in India. Most of these are also romances. However, a few films are NOT the same formulaic pictures (even though I like these romances, there is a certain sameness about many of them). A few of Satyajit Ray's films, gangster films (which I assume are VERY popular in India since I've seen so many) and comedies are also available--but you have to look a bit harder for them.

One of the best of these non-formula films I've recently seen is "Ek Hasina Thi". When I say non-formula, I mean that it has no production dance numbers and the film is much more realistic and gritty. And, because of this, the film is a nice change of pace and well worth your time.

This movie begins with a beautiful lady (Sarika) being stalked, somewhat, by a handsome young man (Karan). He is VERY persistent and a tad creepy--as he comes on really strong. But he's also very thoughtful and sweet and she falls for him...reluctantly. A bit later, one of Karan's 'friends' drops by her apartment and leaves a suitcase. Soon, she sees on the news that the man who visited her was a gangster and he's dead!! Sarika has no idea what to do and still thinks her boyfriend is what he claims to be--a guy who's made his fortune in stocks and bonds. This is a HUGE mistake, as soon the police arrive and find her with the suitcase and arrest her. And, based on advice from him and his sleaze-bag lawyer, she pleads guilty. These two told her the court would just release her and that would be that. Instead, she's given a huge sentence and sent to a hellish prison. She soon comes to realize that she's been set up to be the fall girl for a very bad man...and the quiet and sweet girl evolves into a very angry lady--one who is able to kill, if need be, to get revenge.

While I would normally say no more (as it might spoil the film), I noticed that IMDb's summary gives a LOT of information. So, it lets you know that she does escape prison and she does plot revenge. I really, really liked this--as it was exciting to see the mousy lady become a Rambo-like hero. However, very importantly, it was NOT all action and a lot of the crazy stuff she did was believable....at least compared to many revenge films. See this one--and see the really cool ending. Well made all around.