Kabir Khan’s “New York” looks at America after 9/11 through a Bollywood lens — and it’s less distorting than you might think. The story, which engages issues of ethnic profiling and terrorism, hinges on loyalty, love and friendship, a holy trinity of Hindi cinema.

Parts of the film play like a typical Bollywood romance. Before 9/11 a triangle forms — and is sealed in a song montage — at the leafy New York State University. Sam (John Abraham), who has been in the States since childhood, and Maya (Katrina Kaif), an American-born Indian, befriend Omar (Neil Nitin Mukesh), a newer arrival from Delhi. The athletic, all-American Sam wins Maya’s love. And then history intrudes.

Spoiler alert, from here on: After the terrorist attacks an innocent Sam gets in trouble with the F.B.I., which tosses him in a detention center, refuses his request for a lawyer and tortures him. (There’s a brief depiction of waterboarding.)

The ultrabuff Mr. Abraham, who has made a career of displaying his toned torso, here uses his body to show the privations that flesh is heir to. In a particularly powerful shot, a naked, shackled Sam is curled into a tiny boxlike cell that fills the movie frame.

While Mr. Khan’s depictions of American life occasionally seem silly and the plot has some crater-size holes, “New York” is continually fascinating. It benefits from the performance of Irrfan Khan, who adds layers of complexity to his character, a Muslim F.B.I. agent who recruits Omar to spy on Sam.

Indian films often deal with the problems faced by a Muslim minority. Transposed to the American context, those problems continue to resonate.

NEW YORK

Opened on Friday nationwide.

Directed by Kabir Khan; written by Sandeep Shrivastava; director of photography, Aseem Mishra; edited by Rameshwar S. Bhagat; music by Pritam; production designer, Norman Dodge; produced by Aditya Chopra; released by Yash Raj Films. In Hindi, with English subtitles. Running time: 2 hours 30 minutes. This film is not rated.

WITH: John Abraham (Sam), Irrfan Khan (Roshan), Katrina Kaif (Maya) and Neil Nitin Mukesh (Omar).

hanghai International Film Festival concluded this weekend. The highlight was the closing ceremony on 21st June 2009 where in Bollywood's sultry actress Priyanka Chopra was presented with The Jin Jue Award. The stylish Priyanka's career is on high as this is the tenth award that she has gathered in the past six months.

"Jin Jue" Award is the festival's highest honour and this is the first time that it has been presented to an Indian for their outstanding achievement in the Hindi Cinema!

The award is a very prestigious International award and reflects a traditional Chinese culture.

The talented Priyanka Chopra feels really honored and emotional to recieve such a big honor and is very pleased to present India to the rest of the world! She finds such awards very encouraging and is pleased to be recognized for her hard work.

We extend a warm hand of congratulations to the actress who has been applauded by the audience and critics for her fine performances throughout the year. Kudos to Indian Cinema which is now reaching new heights!

If things were'nt heating up already, the latest twist in the Piryanka Chopra-Aishwarya Rai-IIFA tale is the new revelation my Jaya Bachchan.

Recently, Ashutosh Gowariker had raised questions over the choice of Best Actress award being given to Priyanka Chopra for 'Fashion' instead of Aishwarya Rai for 'Jodhaa Akbar' on the IIFA stage.

Jaya Bachchan has spoken out in the media that it was her opinion to raise the question of 'Why Aishwarya has not received any award?' on the IIFA stage and had prompted Ashutosh Gowariker to bring open their unhappiness.

Interestingly, Jaya Bachchan has not seen the movie 'Fashion' and hence has no clue about Priyanka's performance in the movie.

We wonder how she was able to reach the conclusion that her bahu was better in the performance tha Piggy Chops without revieweing it herself??

Or was it just a case of sasu-ma supporting bahu darling and not a critic judgement? Either way, we find this behaviour highly immature and biased.

Sultry siren Priyanka Chopra has been on an award roll this year.

Piggy Chops has won the 'Best Actress in a Lead Role' award at all the leading award functions this year. Her career is at its peak with the audience and critics applauding her work in 'Fashion'.

However, Oscar nominated movie Lagaan's director Ashutosh Gowariker has other favorites.

Recently, on the IIFA stage Ashu said that he thought Aishwarya Rai deserved the Best Actress award for his film 'Jodha Akbar' more than Priyanka did for 'Fashion'. To make things worse, he added that Jaya Bachchan agreed with his sentiments.

After that, our dear Piggy Chops got really upset and was not at all pleased with the director, with whom she is currently working on the project 'What's your Rashee?'.

According to rumor mills, Ashu and Priyanka have now patched up as they are really fond of each other and there is no enmity between them.

In fact, Gowariker in an attempt to make up for his comments, has offered Priyanka 12 songs in his upcoming film 'What's your Rashee?'. Although, inside sources reveal that the 12 songs were already in the plan and Ashu has in no way gone out of his way to apologize to Priyanka.

Well perhaps the saying is true after all.....'There are no permanent enemies or friends in the industry'.