There are some trends that never change but there are others that fail to remain the same for ever. Erotic thrillers fall in such a genre that sees huge upsurge, especially after the spectacular success of 'Murder' and 'Jism'. However, the buzz is that such films have lost their steam; their concept has failed with strings of flops. 'Aggar', a film directed by Anant Mahadevan, falls in this genre where the concept of extra-marital affair, lust, passion and deceit has been revisited in different plots and characters.

Producers - Narendra Bajaj and Shyam Bajaj - have passion for erotic thrillers that has been evident in their 'Aksar' and 'The Train'. This bitter flavor continues in 'Aggar'. Ironically, this is Anant Mahadevan's second directorial film about lust, passion and deceit with slightly different plot and actors. The director has recently experienced colossal disaster in 'Victoria No. 203'. Besides, all his last endeavors have proved losing prepositions.

After recreating sultry sleazy buzz with chartbusting tracks in 'Aksar', Anant Mahadevan tries to recreate different tales out of plots of films like Hollywood's 'Psycho' and 'Double Jeopardy' and Bollywood's 'Darr' and 'Darrar' but with dismal results. 'Aggar' runs on many sub-plots and confused characterizations.

The overall impulse of a typical erotic thriller is completely missing. The script-writer (S. Farhan) has delivered a different storyline with some tangy twists and turns but the acting department, music and below average direction has made it an ordinary show.

Erotic thrillers rest upon the intimidating plots, hot-chemistry and desirable performances from lead actors. Unfortunately, this film disappoints on all these fronts. So, the result is disappointing and below par. The soft faced actors like Shreyas Talpade and Tushar Kapoor prove too incompetent and complete miscast in their respective roles. Both actors look underaged compared to their characters and are no match to Udita Goswami's sensual binge in the film.

Udita Goswami's fading charm hasn't got enough oomph and meets with below average music. The second disappointing factor lies in the cold-chemistry and poorly enacted sequences between Tushar and Udita in the hot locations of Bangkok.

Films like 'Murder' and 'Jism' succeeded as the desired chemistry and oomph factor in these films worked wonders with the film's plot and resulted in their box office success.

'Aggar' has misdirected plots, loose scenes and sequences where actors are reduced to guinea pigs at the hand of incompetent director. 'Aggar' is a daunting and mysterious story of a woman who feels guilty of falling prey to a wrong man. The film rests on the theme that distorting relationship can have deadly consequences and result into fatal incidents.

Janvi (Udita Goswami), a sensuously looking executive of an advertising agency, enjoys life full of luxuries and wealth. She is married to an equally successful Dr Aditya Merchant (Shreyas Talpade), a psychiatrist. But, their relationship often gets estranged due to their busy schedules. Aryan (Tushar Kapoor), an errant lover who survives a mental sanatorium, has a depressed past of betrayed relationship with his office mate (Sophie Chaudhry). Dr. Aditya shows benevolence towards Aryan and lets him leave sanatorium on good conduct.

Destiny takes tricky turns when Janvi becomes suspicious about Aditya's extra-marital affair with gorgeous looking interior decorator (Sadhika). Aryan is unintentionally confronted with Janvi's secretary (Nauheed Cyrusi) in a coffee shop.

This leads to his entry in Janvi's multi-billionaire company. Depressed Janvi finds solace in Aryan's company and this friendship culminates into a sensuous relationship. Janvi's life takes another turn when the identity of the other woman is revealed.

She is torn between her lovable husband and an obsessed lover and things start turn uglier for her. Aryan haunts him everywhere and this obsession leads to a final fight in the climax where the wicked intentions of Aditya are revealed to Janvi.

'Aggar' has a conventional thriller plot of man scheming plots to rob his wife for wealth and ends up with unpredictable climax with lots of loose endings. It has a plot where the wicked husband chooses his patient as guinea pig to evade his wealthy wife's prosperity and wealth. The development of characters in the first half is itself too unsatisfactory and misdirected. This clearly gives a weird impression of its finale. Obsessed lover (Tushar Kapoor) is betrayed by her office compatriot (Sophie Chaudhry) and the affair ending in her accidental death is inadequately depicted.

This is represented in such a bizarre way that it fails to build sympathy for him. The ploy where psychiatrist (Shreyas Talpade) evacuates him out of the sanatorium and gets him appointed in his wife's office is even more absurd. Director Anant Mahadevan has gone too far in taking cinematic liberties in developing extra-marital chemistry but the impact is completely missing.

The second half rests on the avenging lover (Tushar Kapoor) who feels betrayed after being abandoned. It translates the film into an obsessive love story but the spark of vengeful hot-blooded saga is absolutely missing.

Blame it on spineless direction or ineffective acting that fails to build the tempo for this cold erotic thriller. Scheming doctor (Shreyas Talpade) emotes out his devilish notions in front of his wife and finally gets beaten by her.

This is poor scripting! Tushar Kapoor's coming out alive of the swimming pool after being brutally injured and savoring Udita from Shreyas, is simply preposterous. Why does the medical fraternity allow Shreyas to let off Tushar from sanatorium? How do small misunderstandings between Udita and Shreyas culminate into lustful chemistry between her and Tushar? The loose ends and overlapping of sub-plots kill the decorum of a typical thriller and this is where 'Aggar' falls apart.

The expectations from 'Aggar' are almost belied and neither the face value nor its uninspiring music has created any buzz in the market. The basic difference between 'Aksar' and 'Aggar' is the absence of Emraan Hashmi coupled with Himesh Reshammiya's music. Himesh Reshammiya's hectic schedule paved way for new composer Mithoon in 'The Train' and it proved blessing for its chartbusting musical success. Unfortunately, 'Aggar's music by Mithoon has failed to be frothy or peppy to lure teenagers to the theatres.

Emraan Hashmi has been replaced by modest and struggling Tushar Kapoor while the second lead has gone to talented but unconventional looking Shreyas Talpade. 'Aggar' stands bleak chances of finding acceptance among multiplex audiences as the mood has completely shifted towards comical genre.

The repetitive and predictable plots of typical erotic thrillers have been revisited many times and now they taste like a stale meal in a wrecked vessel. Anant Mahadevan has again proved incompetent as director after his strings of flops plus this movie.

His transition from romantic love stories to erotic thrillers has been a losing affair. Cinematography (K. Rajkumar) is brilliant in capturing exotic beaches of Bangkok and giving the film an urbane look. Mithoon's music is uninspiring and none of the tracks except "Bin Tere" makes any impact on viewers. 'Aggar' is expected to go with low openings for its lackluster display and promotion. The bad news of declining collections is predicted in coming weeks. In nutshell, it's a cold thriller with unwelcoming results.