After weeks of no show at multiplexes, we have all been waiting for a ‘good’ movie and quite frankly we haven’t yet had a decent release the whole of 2009. Watching the promos of New York, I had this feeling that this John – Neil – Katrina starrer could be the one to break the trend of disastrous movies.
New York produced by Aditya Chopra and directed by Kabir Khan (Kabul Express) is set against the back drop of a city filled with opportunities and freedom. The film talks about friendship, freedom, racism and consequences of the 9/11 attack. At a time when Bollywood is dire, will such a theme that talks about social relevance work with the audience?
New York revolves around three young, energetic and trouble-free friends Sam (John Abraham), Maya (Katrina Kaif) and Omar (Neil Nitin Mukesh) who discover a new world of happiness in each other’s company. But one day an event that put the entire world into a state of shock changed their lives drastically, a change that was way beyond their control. Roshan (Irrfan Khan), an FBI undercover agent, in attempts to protect the freedom that he believes everybody in America enjoys, takes us on a roller coaster ride.
New York Bollywood Movie Review
Unlike some of YRF films, this time New York (the city) is the backdrop with a relevant reason. The movie has a little dose of friendship as its strength but it widely deals with racism and more importantly the inhuman treatment of innocent suspects in the detention centers of USA post 9/11 attack.
After Kabul Express, director Kabir Khan has come a long way and New York could well be his claim to fame. His second outing, yet again carries a very humane and sensitive plotline, well written by Aditya Chopra. The director finds the perfect balance between happy and conflicting moments to make New York a great watch, filled with riveting moments.
Although some sequences are over looked to avoid controversies, that such movies usually generate, the unbiased screenplay is convincingly written and executed grippingly that you find yourself glued to the screen guessing what could happen next and each time you are left surprised.
New York starts off brillianty with no beating-around-the-bush in introducing and establishing the relationship between the three friends, the director gets down to the point in no time. Both the light and the aggressive moments are shot extremely well. Post interval, the movie neither looses its pace nor its grip on the audience. The climax although not extraordinary is told very convincingly. Cinematography is first-rate. Editing and background score is brilliant. The dialogues are good. The music is very good too, among all you’ll find yourself humming to the tunes of Junoon.
It’s not just the story that makes this movie a great watch but also the first rate performances by its lead cast. John Abraham does well in a powerful role. Be it while playing an innocent family man or a man out to set the society right, its clear the John has put in a lot of effort into this.. Neil Nithin Mukesh is brilliant, from the beginning to the end, a very consistent performance.
Katrina Kaif is the surprise package and proves herself in a de-glam role. Undoubtedly, her career best performance. Irrfan Khan manages to amaze once again.
Overall, New York is a must watch – well scripted, well directed and add to it the stellar performances. One of Yashraj’s finest movies, in a long long time! With fingers crossed, we hope the film succeeds at the box-office.
Dont miss it and remember to watch it only in theatres. Immense amount of work goes into the making of each film, so we kindly request you not to buy, rent or download pirated copies!
Rating: 
June 26th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Awwwww…… After a long time a 4 star movie? Good, good. I was waiting to watch this. If Indicine gave it 4 stars I’m sure I’ll be able to give 5 stars. :) Will definitely watch it during the next week.
June 26th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Hope you enjoy it Anupama.. Do post your review here after you watch it :)
June 27th, 2009 at 2:02 am
Thanks Indicine Team for your review.. I can’t wait to see this movie, and from the trailer, I could say that Katrina improved in her acting.
About Neil Mukesh.. I was sure when I saw him for 1st time, in the trailer of his debute movie (Johnny Ghaddar) that this actor is not only a good looking guy only but talented, and I had the feeling that he’d reach the top in bollywood.
I heard that New York is like a sequal to the Pakistani movie ( Khuda ki Liye).. where Khuda ki liye ends.. New York starts, a movie which everyone must watch and which was about the consequences after 9/11 and about some muslim’s belief in what relates to the music and songs).
I loved too the director’s movie Kabul Express and watched it twice, but couldn’t understand why ppl in India didn’t like it! it was nice, funny, a different script with good direction.
I will get back with my review on Sunday.
June 27th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
gr8 review indicine.. and u givin four stars… must b unavoidable.. eager to watch!!! thnx
June 27th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Indicine team,
Yeah sure,will do so. :)
June 27th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
gonna watch it tomo……………. im too eager 2 watch john in dis movie and dat too after reading d review…………….
June 27th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
I have seen this movie!! and its just great!!!
June 27th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Post your review Bejul, what did you like in the movie? What about the performances?
June 27th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
This is movie is great!! New York takes up a topical theme and perfectly exposes the wily ways of the American FBI to which over hundreds of innocent Muslim people had fallen prey to post 9/11. It is a must watch for many reasons so just don’t miss it. So I would recommend you all to watch this movie!! John, Neil, Katrina and Irfaan all did great in this movie!! So go watch it and dont miss it!!
June 27th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Good short review Bejul.. Post your rating too.. Thanks
June 27th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Thanks Indicine Team! Well for this movie New York I would probably give it a 4/5! Trust me you all will love this movie!!!
June 27th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
I watched this movie yesterday at matnie, the movie was awesome after a long time such a great movie..john was terrific..neil portrayed his role very well and katrina was outstanding….best performance of her till date..irrfan as usual rocked on the screen…Very good driection…Hai junoon song stands out… rating 4.5/5!! and btw all teh best for akki On kambhakt ishq!!
June 27th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
very good review by Indicine Team.
what a great movie, i really like this movie, a very powerfull story,good direction & powerfull performances.
John is outstanding in this movie, he has a very bright future for sure.
Irfan Khan is an outclass actor,he is such a natural actor.
Katrina improves alot, i think her career best performance so far.
Neil nitin was good in Johnny gaddar but he delivers much more powerfull performance in this movie.
songs are average, very strong direction by kabir khan.
overall a super hit movie.
go for it guys u will really like it.
June 27th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Well, I watched New York first day first show…………….and what can I say about this movie.
The best thing which i found out in the movie that its pace………which never slowed down……My eyes were just glued towards the screen.Moreover, the spine shaking scenes of detention centre just made my eyes to open so wide….I was eating popcorn but were just not able to eat them after seeing those scenes…..Great acting by John specially in those scenes……….
Moreover, Neil Nitin impressed me the most as he portrayed the role of Omar very well.His dilemma whether he should betray his friends or not and all his scenes with Irfaan Khan just lifted the movie.
And Irfaan Khan is again awesome.His scenes with Neil Nitin and his senior officer, with both of the characters he made scenes worth watching.
Well not to leave Katrina.She is not only looking good, she is acting good too this time……The actor who played Katrina’s client was also very good in his role although it was short but he also left his impact.One could see the frustration and fear both in his eyes after the detention centre incident with him.
To sum up…fantastic acting by all the actors……..and brilliant direction by Kabir Khan…will like to see his other movies in future.
Ya, songs….Hai junoon is already popular but not to leave the Mohit Chouhan’s song-Tune Jo Na Kaha………..i liked this song very much……very nicely picturised on Neil Nitin.
So, the movie delievered its message quite well……that its time to forget what happened in the past..we should remove hatred amongst us and spread the luv.
My rating 4.5/5.Dont miss it……………2009 needs more movies like New York.
June 27th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Thanks Malik, Good review!
@ Tuhi Mera Naam – Great review.. Glad you liked the movie..
June 27th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
@ Indicine Team
Thanks…I am also glad that I watched this movie first day first show and then your review just completed my movie experience.One had to like New York.I dont think there is any other option.Its just so good.
June 28th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
i watched d movie today n i got just 1 word 2 describe it – FANTASTIC!
im a gr8 fan of john but i gotta say neil stole d show………. john was perfectly flawless, his evry emotion just made me feel it…………… katrina at her best in dis movie…………. irrfan has done an awesome job makin us feel united 4 a cause(and makin us laugh many times)………… to sum up all this, the story line by aditya chopra is mind boggling and kabir khan sweeps u off ur feet by making it d best film yet of 2009……….. dis movie cudnt get any bigger or better………….. the climax makes u wanna fight for a cause n makes u feel soory for people hu suffer for wat dey havnt done…………. overall i loved d movie, evry1 will……. id giv a 5/5 mainly for d cause d movie is based on………
June 28th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
I just watched new york. It is a brilliant m0vie.abs0lutly gripping! And katrina f0r once is an absolute joy to watch. After such dismal releases lately,new york is a breath of fresh air. The story is clean cut,n0 beating about the bush, and keepz u guessing till da very end. Fantastic.i give it a 5 outa 5,and am g0na catch it on big screen f0r the sec0nd time.
June 29th, 2009 at 1:17 am
you’re right Indicine Team.. the movie was great.. I loved it and it was upto my expectations.
Everything was good in this movie, the script, the direction, the performance by the actors.. few songs but were nice songs.. Neil was the soul of the movie.. the focus was on him more than John.. and if this actor who did so far 3 films performning this way.. then with no doubt he’ll be on top of the world and in a short period of time.
John was just excellent.. did a good job.. I was going to cry in the scene where he’s in the jail, eating his food from a plate and crying.
Katrina.. improved as an actress, this is her best perfromance so far and she was also very beautiful.. Katrina doesn’t need to do a heavy makeup, just little makeup will go for her, with a simple top and jeans trousers she looks great.. she’s beautiful when she’s simple ( but I’m so angry that she’s Salman Khan’s girlfriend!! she deserves better.. Salman is a crazy guy and can’t be a good husband although he’s in the middle age now but still not matured enough.. ( if u all saw Dus ka Dum.. hosting Katrina & Neil) he treated her bad, and she was so unhappy to come on the show.. as someone just forced her to do it! and ofcourse it was Salman..noone knows.. I think he’s forcing her to stay under his wings and never fly away because he’s the reason for her success!!
He can be a good father but can’t be a faithfull husband.. there4.. better for Katrina to breakup with him and find a better partner.
The movie was nice.. we all enjoyed it.. we were 5 people together watching New York, and no one said any negative point about the movie.. we had a good time..but..but.. but.. I’m sure in this world there’re lots of ppl who would say: yeh bakwas film hai.. laken qui bakwas hai?!! I’ll answer it.. becasue they’re some bakwas ppl who love “only” bakwas shallow stupid movies.. there’re lots of people who consider good movies as bad and vice versa!!
So.. please just ignore those ppl who don’t know how to value any good movies.
June 29th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Nice review. A brave attempt by Kabir Khan to make such a movie in a ‘Liberal’ country like India. But i wondered why a film like New York got good reviews by the Indian critics, It’s really strange.
June 29th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Still i thing Khuda k liye was 10 times better than New York ignoring all its technical stuff.
June 29th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
fathiya:Who the hell do u think salman khan cannot be good husband !!!!Now i Almost 100%sure u r crap and u doesnot have mind!!!!!Talk abt the movie y to talk abt Salman khan here!!!!Old women!!!!!!u suck
MoviE wAs GooD!!!!!i LikE thE mOviE!!!!IFfran khan again deliver very good peformance !!just love it!!!iT is NoT Tht gOoD mOviE buT it iS nice one!!!It deserve to be HIT!!!!!
NeXt WEeK ,iTs biggEsT ReLeasE oF thE yeAr 2009!!!!!KamBakkHt iShq!!!sO excItEd To WatCh It fiRst Day FirSt Show!!!!hOpe It WiLL bE gOOd OnE ALso!!!!!
June 30th, 2009 at 12:38 am
Sudeep: you’re a crack dumbo.. just like your typing.. see which way you’re typing yr comments.. we’re unable even to read them.. !! i LikE thE moviE.. etc.?! awful typing!
And therefore u love Akshay.. a shallow actor with some shallow movies.. meaningless scripts.. cheap comedies.. will I hope that KI will do well but I don’t think it’ll be as good as SIK… maybe.. we don’t know yet.. we’ve to wait and see.
you’re saying about New York: it’s not that good movie but it’s nice!!!!! hahahahhahah.. r u drunk or what?!! anyone would say that?!! How it’s nice but it’s not that good?!!!!!
Go just teach yourself how to talk and how to type yr comments then come back to me, writing some shitty stuff here and consider yourself a brilliant commentator!!!
June 30th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
gr8 movie after a looong time….got in some fresh air after d strike…a brave attempt by kabir khan..d topic cud hav easily turned into a documentry…bt he never let d pace die.bt still dere wer some grey areas which make u sad..make u feel d pain of 9/11 nd after effects on asians
neil ws gr8 as an actor….he always is since johnny gaddar….
john i always feel is xpressionless..bt i guess dis movie ws perfect for his xpressionless expressions..:-D
katrina…beautiful as always..nd perfect fr maya.
June 30th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Fathiya:first i wanna say sorry!!!I become wild if someone speak nonsense abt salman and akshay!!!
i totally agree with u that movie is not bad .It is nice movie.BuT it is not better than the movie khuda ke liye(pakistani movie,i think this is the right name).It doesnot contain that emotion which this kind of movie have to been.When u come out of hall u will not have same emotional face or u donot really think again abt the real fact it show
MosT of the critics have given it 4 star movie but i think it is 3 or 3 and half star movie out of 5.there are also few critics who have given it lower than this.THe critics name rajeev mashad of ibn has given 2 star and zoom critics given it 3 and said it doesnot feel emotion in emotional scene
NY deserve to be hiT.Since we the movie watcher have dry period of 6 month.we go for enjoyment and if it provide than it must be hit or superhit
I wish every movie to be hit especially upcoming movies like kambakkht ishq(greatest expectation of all,it must be minimum superhit or blockbuster,if this movie is not wht i expect i will sure not watch movie after than) LOveaajkal(i think this movie will be also hit or superhit) kaminey(this must be superhit or even blockbuster) Eventhough i donot like saif ali khan and not big fan of sahid but still hope movies does well
I m JusT waiting to c more good movie!!!!
June 30th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
this movie is simply a copy of khuda kay lia!
cheaters…………….
July 1st, 2009 at 12:40 am
Abdul Hadi: no.. it’s not.. it’s not a copy of Khuda ke Liye.. I saw KKL twice.. that one is a different issue.. that one’s script is (not) about what happened post 9/11, only a part of the movie was.. but the movie New York is about this issue.. Khuda ki Liye is about music forbidden in Islam.. about how some people practice islam in a wrong way.. as well as the story about the father who lived in a sin for years with a girlfriend and didn’t remember his islam’s ethics only when he finds out that his daughter wanted to marry a british young man, whom she was in love with, and the way he ruins her life, in the name of Islam, and how some people’s attitude changes after meeting a fanatic sheikh who poisons their mind and teaches them wrong stuff about Islam.. it’s an explanation of all that.. it’s any explanation that music doesn’t harm any one in any way ( Naseeruddin Shah did a very good job in this movie) it’s like a lecture about islam.. in addition, it shows what happened during that period of time, in the 2nd half of the movie, the eldest brother was caught in US and he did nothing and was tortured.. so u can’t say that the movie New York is a copy of KKL because New York is about 3 friends who lived happily, didn’t have any problems and suddenly their life changes.
Hollywood did many movies about 9/11.. different movies, different stories.. so what? It was a big disaster in 2001, and I’m sure that bollywood will do some more stuff about 9/11 but in different ways.
July 1st, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Really awesome movie, with all masala needed for success.. Love, Loss, Fight, Joy, Anger, Revenge, Success.. Every possible cognitive aspect a movie can touch, you will find here… That also in an appreciate manner for perfect duration of time..
The team must be appreciated for such fine work.. It’s not just another Bollywood movie: it has its value, it’s impact, it’s great music.. all tied in a delicate and beautiful manner..
Loved it. And i know you will love it too…
July 2nd, 2009 at 12:46 am
Kalyan – Watch your word! SRK doesnt work with gay partners okay its just that karan, farah and aditya chopra just love his amazing work!!!! All his films are not from those three people only he knows how to socialise with other directors hes not like others get that! NO ONE can beat SRK not even your ”Akshay”!! haha!! SRK works much more harder then Akshay Kumar!!! SRK ROCKS AND WILL ALWAYS!!!!
I love you SHAHRUKH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
July 2nd, 2009 at 1:28 am
Kalyan, This topic has nothing to do with SRK and abusing any star isn’t allowed. Comment deleted
July 2nd, 2009 at 1:32 am
Thanks alot Indicine Team for taking his comment out!!!!! I can not take any abusing comments against SRK or Shahid!!
July 2nd, 2009 at 3:10 pm
i dont think the movie is as great as it is being made out …it doesnt touch you in any way..emotionally i mean..the story is a little crazily done ..nypd doesnt require the services of any friend of the suspect whom they want to uncover ..they can simply put him under surveilance tap the phones etc,,so the idea of omar being sent into sams family doesnt really get acceptance…also if they suspected sam so much they could have him shadowed!!!! as simple as that.. and all this happens in the first 15 mts of the film ..so the logic is thread bared there and then ..after that its quite a pain to sit out …there are no weepy moments nor tugging stills..i went out of the hall having no remebrances of the film so its a must avoid film ..try getting it from some torrent site..for me this was forgivable forgotton experience
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Indicine team, I watched this movie to day and as I promised, here is my opinion about the movie.
It is a really really nice movie. It is a really touching movie and makes us feel what those innocent people went through after this 9/11 attack. Neil was superb. John is hot and also good in his performance. But the ending could have been better than this. So I’ll give it 4 stars out of 5.
Kat was just amazing. She not only lighted the movie with her cuuuuuuuuuuuuute smile but also delivered the most brilliant performance ever. She deserves at least a filmfare nomination for this character if not the award. I prefer if she could receive the award this time as she has never won an award and all the other big actresses like Priyanka, Kareena, Deepika, Rani, Preity and Aish have won at least 1 award. Anyways, who will win the award will depend on how much justice Priyanka has done to her role in Kaminay and Kareena has done to her role in 3 idiots(if that movie releases in this year).
Kat,keep your sweetest smile forever. Keep doing this kind of quality movies. It’ll help with your career. You are the sweetest actress in Bollywood.
July 3rd, 2009 at 7:52 am
i agree ..it is not a great film performances are o.k. music is invisible so thank you very much for that ..thanx for not putting any bonhomie songs like yeh dosti naheen todenge types.. the story is very unconvincing… why would jeopardise his life and leave behind a wife and son for his unjustified revenge?? isnt he awre of the us laws?? and omars shoutings in front of the indian policeman ..he could shout back only becoz he was an indian policeman.. had it been a us cop he would have got smashed!!!! cmon guys ..this is a lazy depiction of 9/11 and youre loving it??? please grow up as audience and ask for a better cinema at least something which is convincing and shakes u up to the core not mediocre cinema!!!
July 4th, 2009 at 12:48 am
Super Movie No Doubt. This movie is not for the one who likes to watch all those tumkas and jumkas of YR movies. This movie is very practically said. Usually i never watch hindi movies so excitingly as i watched New York.
Appreciate the people who was part of this movie.
July 4th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Thanks for the review :)
I watched this movie on the first day and first show with my friends
and I really enjoyed watching this movie.
It was a great movie and the actors were amazing. KATRINA,JOHN, NEIL & IRFAAN wereee rockingg !!!
On the whole, NEW YORK is amongst the finest films produced by Yash Raj. At the box office, there’s no stopping this one. Go for it now!
Rating : 5/5
July 6th, 2009 at 6:18 am
will the indicine team try explaining why the entire movie is shot in slow mo .is there no other way to show the impact of a scene than put the shot in slow motion???? ..well to my imagination only 15 mts of the movie is played in normal frame .. it is this shoddiness which makes our movies poor quality movies in comparison to hollywoood
August 4th, 2009 at 10:47 am
I only watched the movie yesterday … and to my surprise it was brilliant, for the first time I have actually notice john on screen … cos most of the time its only his body but no soul in the character he plays. And honestly speaking it is one heart rending story .. it literally made me cry in the end … i thought katriina may not die .. but she did and it was shock but a good ending … all the actors hve done a great job … to be honest I hadnt thought who and how many people would have been effected after the 9/11 and until i saw new york and its really sad… and it got me really emotional… but well done for the good work.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:44 am
Saleena: Hi.. if u loved New York then you (must) watch the Pakistani movie (Khuda ke Liye).. I saw it twice.. it’s really a good movie which have different issues, not only about the innocent ppl who suffered after 9/11 but it’s also about the extremist in Islam and ppl who practice islam in a wrong way and have a great influence on the youngsters.. it’s a must watch movie.
September 16th, 2009 at 11:37 am
Fellow watchers, I am really confused about the motive of the movie…… what was the aim that YR wanted to achieve?
First I thought it was all about showing the real picture of what was and is happening in the US and all over the world because of our ethnicity. But the last of all comment that Barak Obama stopped the operation of Guantanamo Bay seems to me like a desperate try of the US authority to bring it image back on the unbiased platform.
Facts that a practicing muslim should never do were shown in this movie……in Islam it is forbidden to drink alcohol……I don’t really get it…..
Is it really so….!! people are now totally unbiased about the MUSLIMS? Will a fellow practicing muslim say and agree with that?
And being the Son of a terrorist…. will the kids like Danyal survive the bully and commments made to him? What will happen when he finds out the truth about his father? One day or the other it will come out…and we all know it….
A film is not supposed to be a simple entertainment of the moment to escape the boredom of life but it is there to send messages through out the century and generations to come….so when they see the movie they get the real picture of what happened and still the film remains unbiased….. Will something like this happen with NEW YORK?
The question remains unanswered.
September 16th, 2009 at 11:53 am
BTW, the cinematography was simply superb…I have to give the credit to that….simply awesome….But being a bangladeshi I must admit that there is corruption inside the corruption…..hahahaha…..and that Bangldeshi terrorist gets the bullet on his back!!!!!!!….how pathetic……lol….
The movie was soft but the ending was to harsh for sam and maya…..
Besides not enough details were given about what happened with Danyal after sam and maya died…..Danyal simply accepts Omar? No questons asked , no emotion? OH!! we have seen better endings I have to admit that… It was like danyal was just a part forgotten to be developed…..But very IRONICALLY, Danyal is the future image of the muslim immigrants on the US SOIL!!!
October 1st, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Im writing to let you know how much i enjoyed watching this movie.
Im an Australian female 18 year old, and i dont really have an interest to watch indian movies however this one really made me lose sleep as it wouldnt leave my mind.
I was so emotional during the last scene where Katrina and John get shot, i felt moved and quite happy that i got to experience and feel what i did.
Ive been telling all my friends to watch it, i think its a really good movie out there especially for a specific target audience which should be teenagers and later their kids.
I also have to say Neil is pretty goodlooking too, and what a fine actor, would love to see more of him!
:)
Goodluck-
Pooja
October 9th, 2009 at 8:24 am
Great film! Shows the reality behind terrorism, that revenge can cause more harm than already present and gives Bollywood credit that it can now produce more realistic films. Also, in Islam, Muslims are not allowed to kill each other NOR innocent people including Muslims and non-Muslims. And this film shows the reality behind racism–how it shows ignorance on people and causes harm. I feel sorry for all the innocent victims (about 1,200 people as said in the movie) who were wrongly accused of terrorism and were tortured after 9/11. May God bless them all. :)