The joy of movies is back. The earliest show was full so I went for the second one. New York offered a full house after ages!

Pakistan has Khuda Kay Liye, America has Rendition (Jake Gyllenhall, Reese Witherspoon) and many other films on this theme and now we have New York.

Everyone knows it’s a story of three friends, Maya (Katrina), Omar (Neil) and Sameer (John) whose lives change post 9/11. Omar is the quiet chap who feels out of place, Maya is the sunshine girl and Sam is the centre of attraction. Irrfan Khan plays FBI officer Roshan who sends Omar to keep a check on his friend’s suspicious activities.

New York is a serious and moving film. There are many moments in the film, like the 9/11 scene, the climax, John’s humiliation sequence (authentic; will make you cringe) that move you to tears.

It’s technically brilliant; the cinematography is superb and the background score by Julius Packiam is beautifully designed. Sam’s theme and the New York theme are memorable.

Everyone has delivered good performances. Neil and Irrfan have the most screen time and do full justice to it. Irrfan has the best lines in the movie that make you crack up. Neil is a delight and emotionally expressive, even in difficult scenes. Katrina looks gorgeous, in a very real and natural way. This is her most true-to-life and simple performance so far. She has been perfectly cast as the angrez. John is his stud self in the first half but is brilliant in the scenes when his character is tortured. He isn’t just a pretty face showing off his butt or muscles but acting too.

I knew the ending of the film but I still couldn’t wait to see the events unfold. The film deals with identity issues and racial discrimination. The scene where Irrfan says that only a Muslim can change the Western perception towards Muslims is so true. It shows how wrong America is to torture suspects without evidence and the difficult lives that the victims lead due to the humiliation they suffer at the hands of the FBI. At the same time, it tells us what’s good about America like the diversity, opportunities and the freedom people have. So it is well balanced.

Kabir Khan has made a relevant film that will make you think. You have to pay attention to it to understand the layers. Kudos to him and YRF for making a film so different from their usual masala fare!

Janhvi Patel/Hill Road Media