Old is gold. This is an old saying. What makes old gold? How we will sell old as gold? How we use goodness in old times in our modern life. These are the questions I come across while watching the movie.
To begin with, Mehbooba is a film which meet most of the requirements for an average plus films of 70s, 80s or even 90s. We have been missing these kind of movies in recent times. With the invasion of new talents and new commercial values these genre of movies came to a natural death. With Mehbooba, Afzal Khan is trying to revitilize the genre but without concentrating on the content but on presentation.
Karan (Ajay Devgan) dreams of a girl for last 8 years to whom he has never seen and even draw many pictures of her. One day she arrives surprisingly into his reach he was all determined to chase her. Payal (Manisha Koirola) have a past which prevent her from accepting Karan’s offer of love. Sharwan (Sanjay Dutt) is a very big business magnet with only one weakness, woman. He think each and every woman is a commodity and can be purchased by paying the right price. Sharwan, impressed by Varsha’s (Manisha Koirola) dance performance decided to employ her with his hidden intentions. When Varsha’s friend (Suman Ranganathan) warn about Sharwan’s intentions with proof Varsha was determined and give a lesson to Sharwan. Humiliated in public, Sharwan is out to take his revenge. He offered marriage and she fall into the trap. Story shifted to India, a house of royal style. Now watch it to know more.
There is nothing new in the story. The story is been told and retold several time. The writers failed to attribute any thing attractive to the old story. However, they were successful in brining some nail biting moments. Just reminding movie goers that thought those old days didn’t had the style of these years there had cinematic moments. Story/Screen play could have been much better.
Direction is good and very good in most of the part but very faulty in some cases. Execution of the climax scenes to top on the list. A bit more care was required for a movie which is made in big canvas. However, the technical side of the movie and visual effects were well addressed and the director manage to hook the audience to the screen at least in part scenes. Scenes till entry of Sanjay Dutt was quite slow and not so interesting.
Ajay Devgan was very good. Sanjay Dutt Good and Manisha Koirola ok. Ajay Devgan & Sanjay Dutt looks much younger. Manisha should have done a bit more better. Other cast didn’t had much to do.
The Cinematography of the movie is EXCELLENT. Top class. A very good visual experience.
Cinematography is superb. With Saroj Khan, Ganesh Acharya, Raju Khan and Baba Yadav, we don’t expect nothing less and they live up to their name and fame. The best in 2008.
I like the songs of the film to an extend, few for those meaningful words and few for its music.
Editing was ok, though it could have been better especially in the first half.
Karan’s character is perfect. However, character of Varsha was let down with an easy surrender even after humiliation. Sharwan’s unexplained re thoughts let it be down as well.
Overall the movie is made with good production values but with an old plot, with old cast and presented in an old style. The major plus point of the film is its Cinematography, Choreography, Leading actors Sanjay Dutt & Ajay Devgan. Add to it few good emotional scenes. Otherwise the movie got a good number of flows which keep to below the average mark even.
The movie may not do well in Metros, but it has potential to be a hit in other places.
My rating : 2.75 stars