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MAIN PREM KI DIWANI HOON **
Dir: Sooraj R Barjatya
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan
Lord, it’s another Wail-entine’s Day. Hundreds of couples are at a bash, playing games masterminded by two cacophonous hosts.
There’s also a weird competition, in which the guy who gets his girlfriend’s name tattooed on his arm is chosen best boyfriend. Is that what’s called the mark of a man?
It’s a very silly and prolonged scene. And sadly, Sooraj R Barjatya’s Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon is filled with scenes like that.
In describing the relationship between Sanjana (Kareena) and two guys named Prem (Hrithik and Abhishek), the director stretches things far enough to make you uneasy.
In fact, the first half has so many pointless moments that it would make sense to actually walk into the hall after the interval.
Spontaneous: Kareena as Sanjana
Even otherwise, the tale isn’t new. Quite clearly, it’s a modern take-off on Rajshri’s Chitchor, with many doses straight from the Yash Chopra love triangle factory.
The addition of very typical Barjatya characters like the servants, the family dog and a talking parrot make the feel oh-so predictable.
The setting is a town named Sunder Nagar, where Sanjana spends time singing about how she’s a ‘Papa Ki Paree’.
Papa (Pankaj Kapur) is a publisher who loves wearing caps marked ‘Dad’, and snubbing his wife (Himani Shivpuri) by addressing her ‘Bas, Susheela’.
Sanjana’s US-settled sister Roopa informs her that a guy named Prem will land in India and spend time with them.
Prem (Hrithik) flies in by Air Sahara (what!!), talks till you need to shut your ears and in no time, makes pals with everyone in the house, including parrot and dog.
Prem and Sanjana are poles apart. He likes river rafting, horse-riding, skiing and underwater diving, and she loves dancing and poetry. But they slowly fall in love and she is even willing to learn a lesson or three in adventure sports.
Things are hunky-dory for the two, till Roopa sends an e-mail saying that Prem had to postpone his visit, and would visit India a few days later.
Prem No 2 (Abhishek) turns out to be Prem No 1’s boss. Needless to say, he also falls for Sanjana.
And he is a fan of the same poet and, like her, doesn’t drink tea. What follows is so predictable that you’re not left with any surprises whatsoever.
The film’s biggest drawback is that the story or characters don’t stir you at any moment.
One is also stunned at how Barjatya, one of the best directors of the 90s, couldn’t take the risk of providing something new. Honestly, if these big names in filmmaking don’t give us fresher stories, who will?
Yes, on the technical side, Rajan Kinagi’s cinematography is first-rate, particularly in the outdoor locales.
Music director Anu Malik has a couple of good tunes, though singer Chithra shrieks at times. Choreographer Jay Borade impresses on some numbers.
Of the cast, Johnny Lever (Abhishek’s secretary) tries to be funny, but isn’t. Pankaj Kapur and Himani Shivpuri are natural.
Hrithik looks good - but tends to go overboard with his enthusiasm, especially in the first half. Kareena is spontaneous and Abhishek is convincing.
But on the whole, there’s little to make you go diwana or diwani.
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