| Set in the picturesque valley of Spiti in Himachal Pradesh, Paap (meaning sin) explores the inner most desires of Kaaya (Udita Goswami). Kaaya has been brought up under the watchful eye of her strict father. Both have dedicated their lives to the teachings of the nearby Buddhist monastery headed by Rimpoche. To attain a higher level of spirituality in the next birth, Kaaya is told to refrain from the simple pleasures of human desires. But Kaaya does just that by spending her time writing love poems for that special man who will sweep her off her feet. The film gathers momentum when Rimpoche gets a vision about his master's reincarnation in New Delhi in the form of a six-year-old boy. It is now up to Kaaya to bring the child, Llahmo (Madan) back to the monastery. But the journey back home proves tougher than Kaaya imagined. Llahmo becomes the key witness to a murder being committed - we see a resemblance to Hollywood's film Witness. So they come into contact with police officer Shiven (John Abraham). But as the case gets complicated, Shiven decides to take them back to Spiti for their own safety. In the process, he gets severely injured but they manage to reach their destination in one piece. Kaaya and the village elders force him to stay until he recovers. As days go by, the presence of Shivan brings out some intimate feelings in Kayaa, much to the dismay of her father, who has already etched out a path of spirituality for her. Which path she takes forms the crux of this thriller. The concept of spirituality in Paap, makes this film stand out from the current releases. Can someone explain why Kaaya's dreams seem erotic if she is supposed to be so innocent? Well I live this to your discretion.
Having said this, Pooja Bhatt deserves praise for tackling a difficult subject for her first film as director. The movie keeps you engross throughout. There is never a dull moment. In Paap we see the colourful locales of Spiti captured beautifully by Mr Mahaley, the cinematographer. The musical score by Anu Malik blends well with the story. The song Mann Ki Lagan is the best of the lot. Model turned actress Udita Goswami makes her debut with great ease although her polished looks does not match the character of a village girl. We can turn a blind eye to such a small flaw. As for John Abraham, he has really matured with every release. Great acting and great physique too - keeps the girls happy I supposed! But the one who catches your attention is young Madan Bhiku as Llahmo. He is a natural in front of the camera. A range of emotions can be seen in his eyes. On the whole Paap is different from the regular Bollywood pot boilers. Its different, it's daring but, definitely not sinful. So wait for this one to release at UCI Telford in Shropshire. Reviewed by Manish Gajjar, BBC Shropshire’s Mr Bollywood. | 
