"A film which names itself after this immortal tune better have amazing songs," I forewarned myself. Not
to worry, Jatin Lalit deliver a score which is as beautiful as it is melodious, as romantic as it is nostalgic,
as simple as it is... In four words, you will love it.
"O Jaana Na Jaana" and "O Jaana Yeh Maana" has Kumar Sanu and Lata treading a very Ram-Laxman
cum sixties' style. Sanu and Lata do have trouble with the yoddling interludes, but it is a cute, infectious
tune. You will have a tough time getting it out of your mind.
"Madhosh Dil Ki Dhadkan", has the same singers, crooning a typical swoon in June duet by Jatin Lalit.
You will like it, but watch out for Lata's ineptness at scaling the high notes. (Age is beginning to take it's
toll on this legend.)
Lata is more at home with the youthful effervesence of "Is Dil Mein Kya Hai", thanks to Udit Narayan.
The notes are more within her singing range, and the music is both jazzy and spunky. It is my favourite
tune from the album due to Udit's powerful vocals.
Commercial Indian cinema's reliance on music as an integral part of a movie, considerably complicates
the film-making process. With films like Hum Aapke Hain Koun, the song's visuals are better than the
songs themselves; Gupt's songs were far better than the videos; only films like Khamoshi, Lamhe and
Rangeela have videos which equal their songs' beauty. Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai will fall in either the
second or final category.
Cast: Salman Khan, Kajol, Dharmendra,
Arbaaz Khan and Anjala Zaveri.
Director: Sohail Khan.
From the title itself- a direct lift from the
legendary song in Mughal-e-Azam it’s clear
that nothing about this film is original. A
rehash of an old tale where a rich, protected
girl from a traditional Khandaan falls in love
without filial approval, Pyaar Kiya to Darna
Kya abounds with clichés. Muskan (Kajol ) is
the niece of a generally genial Chacha Thakur
(Dharmendra). Arrogance may have bypassed
the father, but his son Vishal (Arbbaz Khan)
oozes high-handedness. As a result, he rules
Muskan’s life with an iron rod. But since he
also loves her more than life itself, he finds it
hard to refuse her permission to go study in a
city college- specially on Raksha Bandhan.
And on the first day of college itself, she
meets the man of her dreams: Suraj (Salman
Khan), who is also, rather conveniently, the
sole heir of a millionaire. But before the flush
of first love has even faded, Vishal gets into a
fight with Suraj. And that’s the end of their
romantic interlude. In a storm of fury, he
whisks Muskan away to the family home. The
rest of the film is about how Suraj weasels his
way into Chacha Thakur’s heart and how
Vishal’s hatred for Suraj is defeated by
Muskan’s love for her beau. A khan brother’s
production, Salman’s great talent-his tanned
torso- has been showcased extremely well in
this film as he almost never wears a shirt.
Kamaal Khan’s song ‘O,O Janne Jaan’ is
foot-tapping and if the rest of the music is as
good, the film should do well. The X factor
however is Sohail. His directorial debut,
Auzaar was a disaster. Let’s hope this time
round, he’s learnt a few lessons.
SAAT RANG KE SAPNE
CAST : Juhi Chawla, Arvind Swamy, Anupam
Kher, Farida Jalal.
DIRECTION : Priyadarshan.
Priyadarshan’s latest film Saat Rang Ke
Sapne is finally being released by ABCL - after
a delay of several months. A romantic story,
picturised against the breathtaking locales of
Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Jaipur and Pollachi, the
director sticks to his trademark
cinematography and plot. The film is a remake
of Priyan’s Malayalam super hit Tenmavin
Kombattu.
The story begins with the idyllic family life of
Bhanupratap (Anupam), his sister Yashoda
(Farida) and their employee Mahipal (Arvind) -
who is treated like a brother by them. This
hunky-dory state of affairs is only limited to
the house. The village chief Rampyari,
Yashoda’s sister-in-law, hates Bhanupratap &
Co due to purani dushmani.
Mahipal and Bhanupratap run into a dancer
Jalima (Juhi) and her uncle (Satish Shah) -
and Bhanu promptly falls in love with her,
thinking her feelings are reciprocated. But after
a fight with some local goons, she ends up
with Mahipal. Now, don’t think the faithful
retainer has ditched his master. Mahipal
thinks that Bhanu was with them all along.
Anyway, to exploit the lush locales, Mahipal
and Jalima get lost in a jungle, and after a few
songs and squabbles, they fall in love. When
they find their way to Yashoda’s house, they
decide to pretend to be sworn enemies.
At the same time, Bhanu tells Yasoda he
loves Jalima. But Jalima tells her she loves
Mahipal. Whereby Yasoda tells Mahipal to
sacrifice his love. But his cup of woes runneth
over when Bhanupratap - after information from
a cunning servant Paungal (Govind Namdeo) -
throws Mahipal out of the house, accusing him
of impregnating another servant Bhauri (Mink).
Mahipal has his day soon when he saves
Bhanu from Jalima’s cruel brother-in-law
(Mukesh Rishi). But Paungal tells the villagers
that Mahipal has killed Bhanu. Meanwhile,
Mahipal and Jalima patch up thanks to Bhanu
but now the villagers are baying for their blood.
After melody, merry-making and melodrama
the chaos is cleared.
