Mission Istaanbul is obviously inspired from real-life acts of global terrorism. But in playing them out on screen, it makes a mockery of the tragic reality. It reduces every person, event and institution to a mere caricature. The references are oh-so-obvious and literal. Osama becomes Abu Nazir who terrorises the world from the trenches he’s hiding in. Al Jazeera is called Al Johara with its headquarters in Istanbul. And Aaj Tak, is, well, Aaj Tak.
As for the story, it’s centred on an Aaj Tak journalist (Zayed Khan) who likes to be in the line of fire and is so committed to work that he turns up late even for his divorce proceedings. His nubile wife (Shriya Saran), also a TV journo, calls him names like "mouthpiece of terrorists". Yet she has time to take his "I’m feeling alone without you" call in the thick of a serious interview on the Kashmir situation with Omar Abdullah (who looks terribly stiff and uncomfortable playing himself). A callow Zayed thinks a pair of specs and facial hair is enough to help him perform like a serious journo. He’s mistaken. As his wife Shriya simpers and dons perfect makeup even in the toughest of situations.
Coming back to the plot: well, the journo goes off for an orientation programme to Al Johara news channel that the world thinks is "glorifying terrorists" but its head honcho believes it’s giving the "other side of the news". This severely muscled boss also suffers from a bad case of flaring nostrils and says "let’s party" with an awful nudge and a wink. It doesn’t take long for our journo to realise that Al Johara is like Hotel California, you may enter but can never leave. Chases on Istanbul streets and killings later, it eventually ends well.
There are other peculiar characters: a leather-clad femme fatale called Dr Lisa Lobo and Vivek Oberoi as a helpful stranger with a constant plastic grin-cum-smirk. There’s also a deadbeat item number from Abhishek Bachchan. But the only thing which works is the Naked Gun-style absurd jokes on George Bush who thinks the Indians are ‘taking over’. And the person he thought was the Indian ambassador turned out to be the governor from South Lousiana!
High Fives
Bollywood
1. Kismat Konnection
2. Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na
3. Mission Istaanbul
4. Money Hai Toh Honey Hai
5. Contract
Hollywood
1. The Dark Knight
2. Step Brothers
3. Mamma Mia!
4. The X Files: I Want to Believe
5. Journey to the Center of the Earth
Pop Singles
1. Sleep When I’m Dead (The Cure)
2. We Rock (Cast of Camp Rock)
3. I Decided (Solange)
4. Give It 2 Me (Madonna)
5. Emmanuel (Strobe Lights)
Courtesy: Film Information
