Sai and Shujath talk Cinema

Interested in an old fashioned regressive melodrama? Then look no further. Ravi Chopra - who came back into the limelight 4 years back out of the blue with his sleeper hit Baghban treads similar territory - in terms of choosing a theme long lost in the eighties; but that’s where he seems to have gone wrong primarily. Before the release of the movie, this was projected as some groundbreaking film about widow rehabilitation - which probably would have worked only if it were targeted for rural audiences. I really don’t think a general moviegoer’s interest was aroused with such kind of publicity.

The promos revealed most of the plot but nevertheless here it is. Avinash (Salman Khan) falls in love with Milli (Rani Mukherji) and after a brief courtship they get married. They have a kid later and life looks great when a tragedy happens and Avinash is killed in an accident. As everyone is shattered, Avinash’s father Balraj (Amitabh Bachchan) takes it upon himself to fulfill his son’s purported last wish - which is to get Milli married to her “bachpan ka dost” Rajat (John Abraham). How he accomplishes this against all odds forms the rest of the movie. This one could have worked with some better writing but the crew seems to have left no stone unturned when it comes to inserting cringeworthy moments and dialogues. There are so many places where things become unintentionally funny.

Amitabh carries the entire film on his shoulders and it is only because of him that this film falls just short of being totally crap. Salman brings life into the first half of the movie and his camaraderie with Bachchan is great. Frankly, I am tired of seeing Rani in those weepy and sulky roles again and again…she seriously needs to do some lighter roles to avoid being typecast. Hema Malini doesn’t have much to do except look good. John Abraham for some reason looks so depressed that you sometimes doubt if it was Rani who actually lost her husband. Om Puri is highly irritating with his “Parampara” stuff.

Music by Aadesh Shrivastava is a mixed bag. “Kehta hai Baabul” sung by Amitabh is the pick of the lot. Baabul almost makes it to the list of “so bad, it’s good” films which actually makes it watchable to an extent. You might also be able to sit through it if you like Amitabh or Salman….in any other case please stay far away from this one.