No Smoking (2007)

A surreal story about a man, his addiction of smoking, and a mysterious and powerful organisation, which claims to cure such addictions, though through very unusual ways.

Director:

Anurag Kashyap

Writers:

Raj Singh Chaudhary (story) (as Raja Chaudhary), 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
Kiku Sharda	...	Doctor in charge of K's brother J
Akhauri P. Sinha	...	ACP
Joy Fernandes	...	J's friend Alex
Karan Makhija	...	J's friend, at the starting.
Megh Pant	...	ACP Assistant
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Pravishi Das	...	Woman in Burkha (as Pravishee)
Joy Fernandas
Sanjay Gandhi	...	Chacha
Jesse Randhawa	...	Dancer / Singer
Gajraj Rao	...	Rajendra Kishan Dhingra
Vineet Sharma

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 | absurdism | ambiguity | snorricam | jazz music | 

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

India

Language:

Hindi English

Release Date:

26 October 2007 (India)

Also Known As:

Пагубное пристрастие

Company Credits

Production Co:

Big Screen Entertainment,Eros Entertainment,Panorama Studios

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Loosely based on Stephen King's short story Quitters, Inc.

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Connections

References Maqbool (2003)

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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

Brilliant, daring, unconventional...

"No Smoking" is the most brilliant,daring,unconventional film ever to come out of Bollywood. It could have been written by Franz Kafka or begotten by Stephen King upon John Grisham. John Abraham is outstanding as the arrogant selfish Indian yuppie "K", a Kafka hero if there ever was one. When his bullied wife leaves him, he's referred by a peculiar friend and his own peculiar family doctor to a mysterious clinic that guarantees he can kick his most nasty habit, smoking. The clinic turns out to be a nightmarish set-up (The Firm) from which there is no back-sliding without dire consequences. "K", the master of all he surveys immediately rebels and brings down hellish results upon himself and his family. The viewer is jolted along on this queasy and horrific experience just as is "K". Will "K" ultimately kick his "habit" and eradicate much of his personality along with it....will "K" become a model "Stepford" husband? Watch this disturbingly entertaining allegorical fable and find out!