Joined: Mon Dec 03, 2001 5:53 pm
Posts: 14989
|
DIL HAI TUMHAARA
Too formulaic
Cast & Credits
Producer: Kumar S Taurani & Ramesh S Taurani
Director: Kundan Shah
Music: Nadeem-Shravan
Cast: Rekha, Preity Zinta, Mahima Chaudhary, Arjun Rampal, Jimmi Shergil, Alok Nath, Govind Namdeo & Anjan Srivastav
Nothing sells better than a good old family (melo)drama. May be that’s what dictated Kundan Shah’s choice of subject when he co-scripted Dil Hai Tumhaara with Raj Kumar Santoshi. But why must he resort to a cliche plot, remains unfathomable. He is a maker who has a reputation for sterling comedy (Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron and Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi. But seeing DHT one finds it hard to remember that it is the same Kundan Shah who raised so many laughs. More than a century later, Indian filmmakers still clutch on to the formulaic love triangles, sibling rivalry in love, prototype character roles and the utter absence of logic.
But first the brasstacks: Sarita (Rekha) and Shekhar (Sachin Khedekar) with their daughter Nimmi are a perfect postcard family. Their idyll is shattered when Sarita and Nimmi see Shekhar with another woman and child at an amusement park. Shekhar, Renu (the other woman played by Natasha Sinha) and their daughter Shalu meet with an accident. Renu dies and Shekhar makes a dying request to Sarita — to look after Shalu. Sarita moves to Palampur where she’s the Mayor and the girls grow up — Shalu (Preity Zinta) and Nimmi (Mahima Chowdhury). Sarita resents Shalu, and pointedly shrugs off any show of affection from her, reserving all of hers for Nimmi. Shalu gets up to all sorts of mischief only to grab Sarita’s attention. Predictably Shalu saves Sarita from losing face and the Mayor’s chair. That’s how she meets Dev (Arjun Ramphal), the scion of a wealthy industrialist Khanna (Alok Nath). Dev and Shalu have to fall in love, Shalu too loves Dev, while Samir (Jimmy Shergil) a ventriloquist is mad about Shalu. The later is fond of him as friend. Dev’s gift meant for Shalu is mistaken as being for Nimmi. Sarita and Khanna set up marriage plans. Shalu won’t allow Dev to come clear, and she would rather fake love for Samir rather than incur Sarita’s wrath and make Nimmi unhappy. Such sacrifice!
Why do filmmakers underestimate the intelligence of the audience? How come Nimmi thinks that Shalu is her sister, the latter was much younger but Nimmi was old enough at the time of accident to know that Shalu is an add-on. If Dev is US returned with a management degree, how come he acquired his pair of side kicks so fast? Why does Anjan Srivastav have to play comedy loud and over the top. The rare glimpse of the actor’s talent comes through when in a scene with Rekha he subtly pulls out his comb (a security blanket) when he could be found out for some impropriety. If Samir is such a talented ventriloquist why does he return to Palampur after his tour to Japan. For that matter what were the two Japanese tourists doing in Palampur? Scouting for apples or talent! Or why does Sariat even after 20 years have the guts to tell Shalu the truth about her kinship. Maybe that way Mittal (Govind Namdeo) could try to spin his slimy web.
Redemption comes in the form of some performances, topped by an elegant and restrained performance by Rekha. She shows her disdain towards Shalu, she instinctively reaches out to hug her when she saves the day, but withdraws it compulsively. Preity Zinta is increasingly showing her ease with comedy, the vivacious tomboy who slides down bannisters and is ever in trouble with her mother. But later in the film she shows her stripes for a dramatic turn, when she reveals all to Khanna, it is done without a trace of melodrama, the tears are shed, but well in control. Arjun Ramphal shows he’s not two left feet especially when it comes to dancing with Preity. Mahima Choudhury and Jimmy Shergil put in an able support. Finally, a Hindi film shows sisters bonding with each other — they share secrets, have pillow fights, but when they fight they make up soon after. Preity even wears Mahima’s clothes. The fresh locale of Himachal Pradesh is what stops the film from being an eyesore.
http://www.screenindia.com/20020913/frev.html
*** dvd is coming out on 16th SEPT!!
|
|
Login 
Register
FAQ
Search
o: