If you missed it, go buy a VCD quick and see it. Because, these kind of movies are very rarely made in Bollywood, which is increasingly depending on love stories of some or the other kind to make the box-office bells ring. Few examples: Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, Mohabbatein, and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.
The funny thing about these movies is the way in which the love is shown developing between the lead pairs. It follows the conventional way, what we have been seeing for the past 50 years. Either it’s the poor vs. rich or ‘jhagda karke pyar’ types. Since there is nothing new in it, the critics (like me) slammed it left right and centre. Amidst all this chaos, we get a breath of fresh air, thanks to the efforts of Satish Kaushik and the script writer.
This is undoubtedly one of the most controversial movies made in 2000. It has come under lot of criticism from the critics. But that doesn’t mean it’s a bad movie. It’s a VERY GOOD movie if you can digest the message and the happenings and with the STRIKING dialogues and heart felt performances, it shouldn’t be that difficult. Take it from me, the dialogues pack a real punch like the Nana Patekar starrer ‘Krantiveer’. Critics say it was regressive but hey, look who’s playing spoiled sport. Come on, accept it, these kind of movies are more sensible than a 100 love stories.
That exactly is the irony. Even this is a love story of sorts but it does not hinge on the very basics like religion, poverty, etc but much more social issues like rape and its consequences. So as we know, Aishwarya Rai plays the rape victim, Anil Kapoor plays the saviour and Mukesh Rishi as well as Puru Rajkumar grind their teeth as villains.
The story has a ‘feel good’ factor, which glues us to our seat till the end. It is not about fantasies or imaginary love stories, but of real life. Aishwarya Rai, after witnessing the gruesome beating up and near death of a teacher by Mukesh Rishi, gathers courage and reports this to the nearest Police Station. But thanks to the efforts of his bro, played by Puru Rajkumar, he is freed. After leaving from office on a rainy night, she is raped, and consequently rejected by her parents. Thrown out of the house, she lands up at her friends place, only to be humiliated by the residents. Anil Kapoor, also a member of the same colony, comes to her rescue. He takes care of her.
The next half and hour we see how he battles with the social evils and tries to save her from any further humiliation. Also, it is revealed that Anil is adopting two children who belong to his father (illegal relations with his PA) and is very kind to them.
She meets her childhood friend who is going to get married. When they reach there, shock strikes Aish as she sees Puru sitting in the Mandap. Anil, on being informed, gets up and bashes poor guy till his big bro intervenes, who also gets smashed in the process.
SECOND HALF: So far so good(Except the comedy which is very crude). Now, the relation between Anil and Aish gets more intimate with him proposing and she disposing, then thinking about him, and so on. Suddenly, out of no where, Sonali POPS UP on the screen, and it is said, she is a childhood friend of his. Oh so coochie coo!!! After this point, the masala content increases and the story becomes triangular love story with some ‘naach-gaana’ and the usual heartbreaks. Sonali is rejected by Anil, Aish rejects Anil. The story wraps up as you all know, with Anil and Aish walking into the sunset.
The main assets which have helped Satish Kaushik in delivering a polished product are: Kabir Lal who captures the Grand Canyon and rest of USA marvellously, Sanjeev Darshan who have given some heart warming and ear friendly music, Jainendra Jain with his punchy dialogues, and ABOVE ALL, ANIL KAPOOR who delivers the performance of a lifetime. Simply Superb!!