Kurbaan (2009 film)

Kurbaan
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRensil D'Silva
Written byDialogues:
Anurag Kashyap
Niranjan Iyengar
Screenplay byKaran Johar
Rensil D'Silva
Story byKaran Johar
Produced by
  • Hiroo Yash Johar
  • Karan Johar
Starring
CinematographyHemant Chaturvedi
Edited byAsif Ali Shaikh
Music bySalim–Sulaiman
Production
company
Distributed byUTV Motion Pictures
Release date
  • 20 November 2009 (2009-11-20)
Running time
160 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Budget500 million (US$6.0 million)[1]
Box office429 million (US$5.1 million)[1]

Kurbaan (transl.Sacrificed) is a 2009 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Rensil D'Silva and produced by Karan Johar under Dharma Productions. It is based on a story by Johar who co-wrote the screenplay with D'Silva. Starring Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor, the story revolves around Avantika Ahuja (Kapoor), a psychology professor in New York who returns to Delhi, India to caretake her ailing father and develops a relationship with Ehsaan (Khan). Avantika and Ehsaan fall in love, get married, and leave for the United States, where she discovers that Ehsaan and his family are linked to Islamic terrorist groups after witnessing the house arrest, domestic abuse and murder of now family member Salma (Nauheed Cyrusi). The film's backdrop on global terrorism forms the crux.

The original story was conceptualized by Johar, who wanted D'Silva to direct it. In his directorial debut, D'Silva framed the script through the lens of the female protagonist, the romance between Kapoor and Khan, the thriller element, and a social message. The film was shot across Philadelphia, Brooklyn, New York City, Delhi and Mumbai between January 2009 to June 2009. The background score and soundtrack album are composed by the duo Salim–Sulaiman. The song sequences were choreographed by Vaibhavi Merchant. Anurag Kashyap and lyricist Niranjan Iyengar have penned the dialogues.

Kurbaan was released on 20 November 2009 and received positive reviews from critics, with praise for its direction, screenplay, soundtrack, and performances of the cast, with particular praise directed towards Kapoor's performance. However, despite critical acclaim, it was declared a flop by Box Office India.

At the 55th Filmfare Awards, Kurbaan received 2 nominations – Best Actress (Kapoor) and Best Male Playback Singer (Sonu Nigam & Salim Merchant for "Shukran Allah").[2]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :8 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Filmfare Awards 2010 Nominations - 55th Filmfare Award Nominations List". www.awardsandshows.com. Archived from the original on 14 January 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2021.