Mumbai: It isn’t as if 'New York' was the first remarkable film to synthesise terrorism and friendship. Mani Ratnam’s 'Dil Se' comes to mind immediately, where the enigma of the female terrorist played with supine splendour by Manisha Koirala was often invested into scenes of disarming domesticity.
'New York' went a step further to explore the evolution of terrorism in the context of home-grown emotions such as friendship and betrayal. In the film, Director Kabir Khan discards the exasperating documentary-like directness of his first feature film 'Kabul Express' to transport us into a cinema that needles us into swirling sensations suggesting a close link between cinema and life.
Neil Nitin Mukesh recalls the experience of working in 'New York'.
“As a career and life-changing experience. 'New York' released sixteen years ago today and it still feels like I was on sets just yesterday.
"Directed by Kabir khan, produced by Aditya Chopra, 'New York' gave me, what I believe to be one of the most iconic films and characters in my career till date.
"My character Omar has been etched in the hearts of millions of lovers who identify with his unconditional love for Maya. Even today, a true friend can feel the character's pain for betraying his friend Samir.
"Tu ne Jo Na Kaha is an anthem for all those who believe in the existence of love and friendship. I still hum that song to myself. Besides bonding with Kabir, Katrina and John, I feel blessed to have shared screen space with late Irfan Khan Sir whom I consider an institute in acting.
"John Abraham, whom I consider like a big brother even today and of course everyone’s dearest Katrina, without whom I would never have been able to portray Omar the way I could.
"I’ll forever be grateful to Aditya Chopra and Kabir Khan for giving me this opportunity. Every actor needs that one film in their career that can immortalise them.
"Without 'New York' in my filmography, I would simply be incomplete,” he reminisces.
'New York' challenged the existent codes of cinematic conduct, and not by being fashionably unconventional. On the surface it is an old fashioned film about three students who grow up and grow wise through the politics of our times.
In the 2009 film, John, Katrina and Neil exuded the scent of bonhomie. It’s in their secret-society smiles, more than the words.
Sameer (John), Maya (Katrina) and Omar (Neil Nitin Mukesh) knew life won’t be a campus filled with Christmasy delights for too long. Disaster struck soon enough. The progression of campus euphoria to the way the grim political reality of American post 9/11 hits our protagonists, and was achieved with a refreshing lack of fuss and flamboyance.
Katrina, indeed came into her own as an actress of substance in the film, and gave her best shot to the last half-hour as a wife of a terrorist trying to keep her moral equilibrium in sync with her husband’s sinking values.
