This fantasy would be effective if the writing was more organic and the emotions felt more authentic but Bhansali never gives us a chance to invest in these people. Combining euthanasia with song-and-dance is a tough, tough feat and despite his prodigious talent, Bhansali can’t pull it off. Since we don’t have a two and three-quarter rating, I’m going with three stars.

A film like Guzaarish isn’t made for the box office. It’s made for the gratification of the senses. And that it does, in ample measure.

GUZAARISH is not an abstract and ambiguous film. It’s a simply narrated film made with a lot of heart. Although it’s sensitive, it never gets dukhi. Sanjay Leela Bhansali has treated the grave issue of mercy killing with maturity. Although it’s about a suffering person who wants to end his life, its message is about celebrating life.

Despite the inconsistencies, the best part of the film is the relationship between Ethan and Sophia. Their interactions with each other, the fights, arguments and the banter touch the right chords. In terms of setting, the film is spectacular — the music and dialogues serve as perfect embellishments.

Guzaarish is an art museum. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is the perfectly chiseled curator and Hrithik Roshan an almost statue. And this once, it’s not his acting I’m complaining about, the script demands him to stay put. You are watching them etched in many exotic, exquisite paintings frame after frame. So, what if the very basis of the story is pointless and there are gaping holes which are difficult to digest.