Cast: Vivek Oberoi, Aruna Shields, Nandana Sen, Neeru Bajwa Singh, Isaiah, Sanjay Kapoor, Dilip Tahil, Rajesh Khattar, Manish Anand

Direction: Kookie V. Gulati

Prince – Power-packed punch

Prince (Vivek Oberoi) is a high-end thief who operates with his sweetheart Maya (Aruna Shields). The duo's talent attracts Sarang(Isaiah), South Africa's most infamous white-collared thief. He offers them a chance to work with him and the pair, ready as ever for excitement and challenges, accepts this offer.

Soon enough the couple is tired of the adrenaline pump, and decides to settle down with the booty earned.However, there's no custom of resignation in Sarang's company. The only way out is to permanently check out from this world.

The two options Prince and Maya have to live their dream is either to get Sarang arrested or get him murdered. They opt for the fairly humane former option. This double –crossing doesn't come easy and sets off a thrilling and exhilarating chase.

Prince looks into the many possibilities that arise when human intelligence and technology combines. Vivek Oberoi tries hard and well, some effort does pay off on-screen. Aruna Shields is a natural and has the sharpness and attitude of Demi Moore. Nandana Sen as usual happily shows off her assets but again fails to evoke a w-o-w. Neeru Singh is forgettable. Isaiah makes an impression. Sanjay Kapoor is plain and Dilip Tahil is same old, same old. Rajesh Khattar is okay. Manish Anand is decent.

Yay!

The beautiful locations of South Africa are breathtakingly captured. Claps to pure talent of cinematography (Vishnu Rao).

The action-choreography (Allan Amin) is grand. And as a pleasant surprise it has been well-executed by females Nandana Sen and better even Aruna Shields. Resul Pookutty makes it better with the apt sound of metals clanging and bullets popping.

The VFX work in the film is good and makes us happy that the standards are getting better for Bollywood films. The work is clean-cut with no shredded endings or gaping loopholes.

Editing (Nicolas Trembasiewicz) is sharp. Screenplay (Shiraz Ahmed) is dreamy.

Music is buzzy…or maybe it is the effect of Aatif Aslam's affecting voice. Choreography (Bosco – Caesar, Pony Verma) is indulgent.

New face Aruna Shields is a super-sizzler. Her striking figure gets plenty of footage in the film and I don't think anyone's complaining. Costumes by Narendra Kumar Ahmed make her all the more gorgeous.

Yawn…

Vivek Oberoi's styling could've definitely been better. The character's personality has not been executed fully.

Dialogues are deadpan and irksome. Like what's with the repetition if the film's tagline – It's Showtime! Also, when prince is all charged up he speaks in English and when he's down he speaks in Hindi. What's the deal with it?

A lot of sequences, not surprisingly, remind us distinctly of other Hindi and English films.

The chase hogs the whole film. It would've been nice if details of the theft and planning were divulged explicitly.

Yes or No?

The film is enchanting with its grandiose and is top-notch in its technical aspects. It is definitely worth the trip to the nearest theater.

Rating: ***

Reporter and Author: Susan Jose