Watch No Smoking [eng./OV]
- 2017
- 10 hr
"No Smoking" is a 2007 English-language Indian psychological thriller directed by Anurag Kashyap, starring John Abraham, Ayesha Takia, Ranvir Shorey and Paresh Rawal. The film revolves around K, a chain-smoker who decides to quit smoking, but things take a strange turn when he visits a rehabilitation center and signs a contract without reading it.
The opening scene shows K (John Abraham) standing outside a window, smoking a cigarette, and staring blankly into space. The next scene shows K in his office, smoking a cigarette and blowing smoke rings. He is a successful writer who is unhappy with his life, and his wife (Ayesha Takia) is threatening to leave him if he doesn't quit smoking.
K decides to visit a rehabilitation center to get help, but he is taken aback by the bizarre methods used by the center's director, Baba Bengali (Paresh Rawal). Baba Bengali tells K that he will help him quit smoking, but there are certain conditions attached to the program. K signs a contract without reading it properly, and soon realizes that he has entered a world of pain and suffering.
The film takes on a surrealistic tone as K is taken through a series of mind-bending experiences that test his limits. The first sign that K has made a mistake is when he finds himself trapped in a room with no windows or doors. The room slowly starts filling up with smoke, and K realizes that he is being punished for smoking.
As the film progresses, K is subjected to various other bizarre experiences, including being locked in a coffin and being forced to watch graphic videos of people suffering from smoking-related illnesses. He is also hypnotized and taken on a journey through his subconscious mind, where he is forced to confront his inner demons.
The film is a commentary on addiction, and the lengths people will go to in order to quit their bad habits. It also takes aim at the self-help industry, and the people who exploit the vulnerable by promising them quick fixes.
John Abraham delivers a compelling performance as K, and his transformation from a cocky smoker to a broken man is believable. Paresh Rawal is also excellent as the sadistic Baba Bengali, and his scenes with Abraham are some of the film's most intense moments. Ayesha Takia and Ranvir Shorey also deliver solid performances in supporting roles.
The film's cinematography and direction are top-notch, with Kashyap creating a dark and unsettling atmosphere that keeps the audience on edge. The use of hallucinatory visuals and surreal imagery adds to the film's dreamlike quality.
Overall, "No Smoking" is a unique and thought-provoking film that will stay with you long after the end credits have rolled. It is not an easy film to watch, but it is a rewarding experience for those who appreciate challenging cinema.