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.
Review of Ek Hasina Thi
