First it was Mani Ratnam who dropped a ‘Raavan’ in the minds of innocent moviegoers and dampened all the reputation he has earned over the years. Now another respected filmmaker Nagesh Kukonnor has proved his potential to direct films that is very likely to kill all Aashayein from him, present and future, with his latest offering ‘Aashayein’.

Aashayein gives John Abraham loads of scope to emote and he manages a bit here and a bit there. But looks like the actors, writer/director, Nagesh Kukunoor and thus the audience lose it as the movie slogs along to the end. The metaphors are thrown at your face and explained in excruciating detail. And yet you don't know why the director/writer did what they did.

In my relatively short stint as a film critic, I’ve grown a thick skin for old classics being mutilated by incompetent or arrogant filmmakers. And though it hurts when you’re witness to such blasphemy, you learn to take it in your stride as an occupational hazard. However, seeing two films that you’ve held close to your heart for years being butchered together is too much for even thick skinned specimens like me to take.