The WHAT?
WHAT IS JAANEMAN?
What is Jaaneman? With more than 50 reviews on MS on this movie, do I need to repeat?? But, fine, for the sake of completing this review, let me put it briefly. Jaaneman is the story about a divorced couple – Suhaan and Piya!!
The start of the movie is good. The camera zooms out from lunar craters and into a space capsule in which Agastya Rao (Akshay Kumar) tells the story of his good friend Suhaan (Salman Khan) to his astronaut companion, a blonde female whose face is not shown until the end. Then starts the flashback.
The next scene shows Suhan receiving a court notice from Piya to pay up 50 Lac as he has not paid alimony to her since they separated. So, he along with his uncle, a dwarfed Anupam kher decide to make Agastya (who lands there right on time, don’t ask me how!!) marry Piya so as to escape paying the money. Now Agastya was actually an old college mate of Piya and has a crrrrrrush on her since those days which does not diminish with time!!! He is a nerd, an intelligent geek, who has problems even communicating let alone dating a girl not to forget that he isnt exactly good looking either!!! So, when Suhan offers to help him get his dreamwoman, he happily agrees, not knowing Suhan is the hubby, but he ofcourse knows that Piya is a divorcee. So, off they fly to where-else-but-New York. The remaining movie is all about … hmmm should I say, should I not? Well, OK to sum up in one line. Its all about Suhan trying to make Piya fall in love with Agastya, the somewhat success in that and the revelations of Suhan!!! (hey don’t expect too much!! It’s a Hindi movie, folks!)
Some of the hilarious scenes include the one where Akshay makes his entry with literally a halo around his head. There is the one where during college days, Agastya is besotted with Piya and infact helps her get out of the class to meet Suhan. Then there is the one where Suhan, in a wierdest robinhood dress, is standing outside the shop and literally dictates the dialogues to Agastya.
The WHERE?
WHERE IS JAAN-E-MAN?
Jaaneman is probably there in your heart ( as your fiancee) or maybe in your house (as your spouse) or in your wallet ( as a passport size snap) or maybe some pet of yours... that was a bad joke!!! ;)
Janeman is there in many theatres that you see around you in India. The statistics says that it is not exactly a hit. But then sometimes box office is a bad judge of movies :)
As to where the movie was shot, well most of the times it was some artistically done sets. Sallu’s home looks dreamy!!
Then the movie takes you on a trip to New York as well. You can have all-the-angle-looks at the famous Times Square. A lot of scenes shooted there. The director wants to impose it on us I guess :)
The WHO?
WHO-IS-WHO OF JAAN-E-MAN?
Shirish Kunder is making his debut as a director. He has done the editing, dialogue, story and screenplay as well And for those of you who know Farah, our choreographer-cum-director-cum-Indian-Idol-judge, well he happens to be her hubby dear. My personal opinion is that he has done a neat job. He actually showed flashback after flashback and then flashback inside flashbacks while we the audience did not flinch!!! He has been very innovative and different in many of the scenes. Check it out yourself.
Sajid Nadiadwala has produced the movie. I think he comes up with good entertainers.
Anu Malik has done the musical scores and he scores well!!! The songs are certainly singable and likeable.
Farah has probably given this one her best shot. The way the trio of Shirish-Anu-Farah show a whole flashback in one song and with a dose of humour is commendable. I liked the way the musicians make the entry in the song "jaane ke jane na". How? You got to see that. I wont break the suspense.
Salman-Akshay chemistry is good. In Mujhse Shadi Karoge, Salman was the meek shy besotted lover whom Akshay bullies no end. Here its the opposite and both have done a fantastic job. Sallu bhai shows he still has the comical charm in him although he has attained bags under his eyes!! Akku is fantastic as the innocent astronaut. He has evolved over the time as an entertainer and now has attained that flare for timing which is so essential for comedies.
Preitu has become fat and this movie is certainly not one of her best ones.
Anupam Kher is fine as a dwarf (ofcourse he is nowhere near Kamal in Appu Raja). He does give us some scenes to laugh but we have seen him perform better. Soni Razdan wasted as Preity’s mom.
The WHEN?
WHEN TO WATCH THE MOVIE?
Good question!!! Hmmmm probably when you are not serious enough and when you dont go about finding fault with anything and everything... cos if you go with a critical attitude, you will find some faults here and there.. This movie is not exactly logical. But then sometimes we should rest our brain instead of taxing it too much.
The WHY?
WHY JAANEMAN?
Because after DON, I think this one makes up for entertainment. Umrao-Jaan cannot be termed as entertainer!! Its the kind of movie where you go, you see and you come! :)
As to WHY NOT JAANEMAN?
Jaaneman is a typical masala movie and certainly not for someone who has taste for only classics or the serious movies. But for those who want a full-too time pass, go for it.