Pyaar Mein Twist: Good stuff

Indrani Roy Mitra | September 02, 2005 18:47 IST


I remember bunking a coaching class when Sagar was released decades ago. It was, as an enlightened friend pointed out, laden with 'adult scenes'. I was in school at the time, and more than intrigued. After all, 'adult scenes' weren't easily accessible.

I don't remember the scenes in question. What I do remember is being taken by the quiet charm of Rishi Kapoor and the sensuous appeal of Dimple Kapadia's every move. Considering I have also seen Bobby, then, the thought of not watching the duo team up after all these years simply didn't exist.

Which is why I bought my ticket for Pyaar Mein Twist.

Dimple a.k.a. Sheetal Arya is a superwoman. She can manage her family, business and children effortlessly. She is a great mom, a super mom-in-law, and a classy businesswoman. Is there anything she can't handle? Yes. One morning, she bumps into industrialist Rishi Kapoor a.k.a. Yash Khurana and Cupid decides to play truant. Though the first meeting doesn't end amicably, the two keep meeting each other until enmity turns into friendship, bordering on affection. This is when the real drama begins.

'Love at this age?' scream the duo's children. How can two old people get so close to each other? The sole voice of support comes from Farida Jalal, Dimple's sister-in-law, who questions the right of the young alone to fall in love.

Taking a cue from Bobby, Dimple and Rishi feel the need to understand each other better and 'elope', much to the chagrin of their families. As Rishi sings and dances to Khullam Khulla Pyaar Karenge (from Khel, which starred him and wife Neetu Singh) at a party near their hideout, it immediately takes me -- and many in the audience -- on a trip down memory lane. So far, so good. As the couple come closer, their absence helps ruffled family feathers smoothen. The film moves towards its obvious denouement.

Predictable, eh? I tell myself. And yet, I can't get over it. Pyaar Mein Twist manages to create moments that stay in my mind. There's enjoyment at an elderly couple's camaraderie, the way Dimple keeps admiring Rishi's buttons, the way he gropes for words that express his love, the time he drops off to sleep just as he attempts to make his advances. The twist in the tale lies in these fragments.

As far as acting is concerned, Rishi scores way over Dimple as the latter seems to struggle to get her act together. Her voice also sounds too husky for comfort. Rishi, meanwhile, proves that age has withered neither his charisma, nor his abilities. Getting into technicalities here is pointless. This is a simple story, simply told. There is not much scope for either the cinematographer or music director.

Critically speaking, Pyaar Mein Twist would have looked sleeker without a few glitches. For instance, Sameer Dattani â€" playing Dimple's daughter Soha Ali Khan's boyfriend -- should have taken acting classes before facing the camera. He wears an expressionless face right through. Soha has little to do apart from looking good and shedding a few tears, while veteran Satish Shah looks as fat and sweet as ever. Farida Jalal steals the show with her spontaneous charm.

Pyaar Mein Twist may not appeal to teenagers. For those on the wrong side of 40, however, it will touch a few chords. As for me, it was a tryst with long forgotten childhood stars. And that's always a good thing.



Want to see this movie? Check out Rediff Movie Tickets!

Share your comments

Pyaar Mein Twist





By Taran Adarsh, September 2, 2005 - 15:05 IST

The immensely likeable Hollywood flick YOURS, MINE AND OURS [1968; Lucille Ball, Henry Fonda] has inspired a number of film-makers across the globe to invent and reinvent the concept of mature romances/love stories.

It would be erroneous to state that BAGHBAN signaled the trend of mature romances in Bollywood. It did give an impetus to the trend and the courage to storytellers to base their stories around a 50 + man and woman. But the fact remains that the Hollywood flick [YOURS, MINE AND OURS] was the source of inspiration for Basu Chatterjee when he made KHATTA MEETHA [Ashok Kumar, Pearl Padamsee, Rakesh Roshan, Bindiya Goswami] way back in the 1970s.

Director Hriday Shetty also borrows the essence from YOURS, MINE AND OURS and narrates the story of two lonely adults who meet at a stage in life when they need a partner more for compatibility than anything else. The walk at the sunset of their lives has to be a memorable experience for them…

While most film-makers opt for an easy way out by attempting movies with a bunch of teenagers, it's nothing short of a challenge to attempt a mature love story. That in itself gives the film a shining edge over films of this genre. And when you team the BOBBY and SAAGAR pair [Rishi Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia] in pivotal roles, it only increases your curiosity in the project.

PYAAR MEIN TWIST works primarily due to two factors mainly: [i] The pairing of Rishi-Dimple and [ii] A story you can identify with easily. After the forgettable PLAN, Hriday Shetty bounces back with a film that doesn't insult your intelligence, a film that actually leaves you with a positive feeling at the end of the show.

PYAAR MEIN TWIST tells the story of two individuals -- not remotely associated with one other -- who decide to spend the rest of their lives together and how their grown up kids find the entire situation offensive and disgusting.

She was a super mom-in-law, a super bhabhi, a super businesswoman. She could manage her family. She could manage her business. Till she met Yash Khurana [Rishi Kapoor] and then she could not manage her heart.

He was the best dad, the best boss, the best friend, the best tycoon. He could control destinies, he could control industries. Till he met Sheetal Arya [Dimple Kapadia] and then he had no control over his heart.

Their families could not understand, they were worried, they were angry. But for Sheetal and Yash, age was no bar…

Besides a seldom-attempted story, PYAAR MEIN TWIST interests you because it makes a sincere attempt to look at those who may've crossed their prime as far as age is concerned, but continue to be young at heart.

The narrative works primarily because the focus is on the elders [Rishi, Dimple], while the youngsters [Soha Ali Khan, Vikas Bhalla, Samir Dattani], even though they're a part of the film, are relegated to the backseat. It's not the usual boy meets girl saga, but about two mature individuals finding a soulmate at a latter stage in life.

But the film is not without its share of loose ends. The love story of Samir-Soha follows the routine path; they are used as mere props. Also, the first 35 minutes abound in songs, though there was really no need for them. The 'Do Dil' song, although very short in length, can easily be deleted. Also, the film can do with trimming in the second half.

But there are a number of well penned and executed scenes that camouflage the deficiencies --
The scene on the beach, when the ACP addresses Dimple as Bhabhiji.

The restaurant scene soon after the above-mentioned incident.

The confrontation at Dimple's home, when her family gets to know of the friendship between Rishi-Dimple.

Vikas Bhalla confronting his father Rishi soon after the intermission.

Farida Jalal explaining the facts of life to Rishi, Dimple.

Hriday Shetty shows improvement over his debut film PLAN. He has handled a mature story with utmost maturity and that's the beauty of the film. The outcome is heartwarming, radiating positivity all through. The culmination to the story is also appropriate.

The screenplay [Sushmaa] is very progressive and charters a new territory. It doesn't say that the life of a parent ought to end when the child's life begins. It tackles a real-life issue without beating around the bush. Drawing parallels with Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles' marriage in one of the scenes, the film conveys the message loud and clear. The dialogues, also penned by Sushmaa, are gems. Music [Jatin-Lalit] is passable. Only 'Pal Tham Gaya Hai', repeated several times in the film, is one track that stands out. 'Khullam Khulla Pyar Karenge', from Rishi's earlier film, comes at the right time. Cinematography is consistent.

Both Rishi and Dimple take the film to dizzy heights. The two actors get equal footage and deliver sparkling performances. Rishi is in complete form, while Dimple not only looks gorgeous, but acts very well too. Soha and Sammir are mere gap fillers. Vikas Bhalla does well in the outburst sequence.

Farida Jalal is another actor who stands out. She excels. Deepshikha is effective. Satish Shah, Kishori Shahane, Dolly Minhas and Delnaz Paul are adequate.

On the whole, PYAAR MEIN TWIST is a cute film that charters a seldomly-treaded path vis-à-vis its story. At the box-office, it holds appeal for families mainly, although several new openers on the same date will result in the business getting divided.

Man, I was pretty excited when I heard that I'd get to see Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia hit the silver screen together again, after all these years. And, wow: they'd be in a "mature" love story, rather than one wherein they'd have to just go through "the motions," as though they were twenty years younger. Then...I saw the film. It's just terrible. Honestly, next to "Jo Bole So Nihaal," it's one of the worst films of 2005. A hamming, "anglicizing every damn line" Rishi Kapoor, a "hip-hopped" remix of one of his yester-year hit songs, and some of the most trite lines made this an almost-unbearable venture. Not one scene seemed believable, and the only real "watchable" aspect, was the chemistry between Rishi and Dimple (though, had "Bobby" never happened, this, too, might have been nonexistent [as much of the "chemistry" is just in our minds, due to "Bobby"]).

*Also, why wasn't the title of the film written in Devanagari (and, perhaps, Urdu), and instead written only in English? Is this a "Sahara One" thing? I noticed the same thing in "Sarkar."

Me too, but no shakes!! if you ask me?