This beginning has you screaming for the end!

Sukanya Verma

Cast: Sunil Shetty, Sushmita Sen, Namrata Shirodkar, Sharad Kapoor, Suman Ranganathan, Anupam Kher, Gulshan Grover, Mukesh Rishi, Sharat Saxena and Govind Namdeo

Director: Yogesh Ishwar

Producer: D Rama Naidu

Music: Anu Malik

Lyrics: Sameer

Location: Galaxy, Bombay

Show:First Day First Show

Status: Current booking available for all shows this week -- stalls and balcony inclusive.

Plot: Hackneyed, stereotyped, seen-this-one, heard-those-lines.

Haryana-bred Govind (Sunil Shetty) and younger sister Ratna arrive in aamchi Mumbai, hoping to get over a disturbing past, namely Suman Ranganathan and Sharad Kapoor, and start afresh.

Good Samaritan Nanda (Anupam Kher) and his chirpy daughter Gitika (Namrata Shirodkar) welcome them with open arms.

Some song-and-dance routines later, a righteous Govind spots a crime being committed at the hands of Danny baba (a repulsive Mukesh Rishi). Bad news for Govind.

Danny is the spoilt and pampered brother of goonda No 1, Johnny (Sharat Saxena).

In fact, a goonda cultural meet is well under way with Karim Khan Toofani (Govind Namdeo) and Sadanand Kutty (Gulshan Grover), joining hands with otherwise staunch rival Johnny.

But then, true to Hindi film herodom, nothing happens to Govind. He's just invincible. Even after being shot twice -- in the front and back; stabbed -- left, right and center -- he is as good as NEW.

However, things spiral out of hand when his sister is brutally raped and he decides to sue the silent spectators (the bastiwallahs whose cause he had been supporting and because of whom he landed in the mess, in the first place), to the crime.

Think this is novel? You might want to watch Jigar, Rakshak, Zor, Ziddi and Krishna.

Clichés: One, this is a remake of the Telugu film, Sivaiah. Every third film seems to be 'inspired' or directly lifted from the South.

Two, an irritating basti set. Here, too, we are forced to watch small-time television actors mouthing crude dialogues as loudly as Govinda's shirts.

Three, hero's sister gets raped. Argh! How many times will we have to be subjected to this torture?

* Shooting abroad. Another 'must'. You are rather immune to Sunil Shetty clad in a Pathani suit one moment and sporting Versaces and Tommy Hilfigers the next -- as soon as the singing session kicks off in some exotic location of Thailand or the Alps.

Four: A make-up savvy cop. Tabu in Kohraam. Shilpa Shetty in Aag. And now, Sushmita Sen in Aaghaaz looks more a Vanity Fair model with perfectly painted lips, and precise eyeliner instead of a no-nonsense cop.

Five: Johny Lever. Is there a masala film without this man's mad antics? This one has him playing Rajnikanth's ultimate fan and is a riot, as usual.

Last but not the least, is the sacrificing good-hearted friend. Our sympathies lie with Namrata.

Verdict (of the audiences): Kids: Sorely missing from the crowd.
Teenagers: (what-are-we-doing-here expression written largely over their mugs) "Crappy film. I think I am going to get a headache."
Men: "Liked the film." "Good action." "Sunil Shetty is fine."
Women: (gushing over the Shetty hunk) " We came to see this film only for Sunil Shetty. He is great, fights so well. And looks so sweet. Just love him."
Personally: I prefer seeing Sunil Shetty essaying a powerful character role in films like Jungle and Refugee, than a powerless lead role in films like Rakshak and Aaghaaz.

How many more ways can he express pain at his sister being raped film after film? A sensible role from a sensible man like him would definitely be something to look forward to.

Of all the three actresses, Namrata has a meaty part, both in terms of footage and quality. And she delivers the goods.

Sushmita is wasted in a meaningless part. Besides, she looks unhealthy and unfit to play the part of a tough-as-nails cop.

Suman Ranganthan is required to squirm and squeal -- she does it well.

After Josh, one would have wanted to see Sharad Kapoor doing something worthwhile. Unfortunately, he disappoints.

Anu Malik's music sucks. Big time.

I should know. I praised his Refugee. Not a single song worth humming.

Technically, the lack of a good story, direction, crisp editing, music and punchy dialogues is evident.

Frankly, Aaghaaz -- The Beginning fails to take off from the beginning.