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Amitabh Bachchan is in the host's chair. Yet he is
the one who claims the prize. Of all the performances
in Suneel's Darshan's Ek Rishtaa
-- The Bond Of Love, this consummate actor walks away
with the accolades. Even Akshay Kumar, normally dubbed
a wooden actor, has elivered a reasonably commendable
performance.
Karisma, as usual, looks lovely. No one can doubt the
acting skills of Rakhee, Juhi Chawla or Mohnish Behl.
Sameer Reddy's cinematography is pleasing. Darshan himself,
it is obvious, has put in a lot of hard work. Yet...
The ingredients just don't blend. The end product leaves
you feeling dissatisfied.
And with a nagging query: Darshan had all the ingredients
for a successful film. So why does it seem like he has
a bomb, or at the most optimistic, an average grosser,
on his hands? The film's biggest strength is its eminently
saleable starcast. What undermines Ek Rishtaa is a shoddy,
thoughtless screenplay (Robin Bhatt, S M Ahale) that
fails to convert a story (by Suneel Darshan), which
showed potential, into a box office winner. Synopsis
Vijay Kapoor (Amitabh Bachchan) is an immensely successful,
kind, caring businessman.
He's earned his wealth the hard way, and believes there
is no substitute for experience. His world comprises
of his adoring family -- wife Pratima (Rakhee), three
daughters Preeti (Juhi Chawla), Priya (Simone Singh)
and Rani (Kanika Kohli) and son Ajay (Akshay Kumar).
Enter Rajesh Purohit (Mohnish Behl), a business graduate
looking for a job.
Eminently capable of impressing Vijay with his efficiency,
and Preeti with his skill at solving crossword puzzles.
Ajay, who is celebrating his specialisation in information
technology, returns in time for his sister's wedding
after, of course, having fallen head-over-heels in love
with Nisha (Karisma Kapoor). While Ajay is keen on starting
out on his own, Vijay believes he should first gather
the experience required to run a business. The son does
not agree with his father's methods. The two clash,
with each successive event serving to further the rift,
until Vijay orders his son to leave the house.
The successful businessman, though, is soon duped by
those he once trusted and is reduced to bankruptcy.
The prodigal son returns. Father and son combine forces
and fight to restore the family honour. This, at least,
is what the makers thought would make for a touching,
sensitive family drama. What really happened... A terrible
screenplay, uninspired editing (Sanjay Sankla) and an
overdose of characters put paid to Suneel Darshan's
dreams. Instead of a seamless production, the film jumps
jerkily from scene to scene.
This one takes the cake: Akshay, busy bashing up some
baddies, receives a call: "Main head matron bol rahi
hoon. Mubarak ho. Aap baap ban gaye hain. Aapko beta
hua hai." And the hero just walks out of the place!
Also jarring is the depiction of relationships -- or
lack thereof -- in a film that is supposedly all about
rishtas. You get the feeling that Amitabh just does
not have any faith in his son's business acumen. Instead,
he displays more faith in his son-in-law's abilities.
You don't get the feeling that the Kapoors are a close
knit family. Or that the four children care for each
other.
There is no depth to the relationship between Amitabh
and Rakhee nor between Akshay and Karisma. To top it
off, the songs are placed at the most unexpected moments:
Dil lagaane ki sazaa, for example, is a dream sequence
immediately after Akshay returns from seeing his sick
father. The music, too -- except for Mohabbat ne mohabbat
ko, Dil lagaane ki sazaa and, to a certain extent, Hum
kush huey -- is rather tepid. The Cast Vijay Kapoor:
What does one say about Amitabh Bachchan? A skilled
actor, he is good in the film but would have been brilliant
with a better script.
Ajay Kapoor: This is one of Akshay Kumar's better performances.
Makes you wish a good director would take the guy in
hand; he could actually deliver an applause-worthy performance.
Pratima Kapoor: Rakhee has been completely wasted in
this bit role. Nisha Thapar: Karisma looks great, but
there is precious little she can do to alleviate a badly
etched role. Preeti Kapoor: Juhi Chawla looks pretty,
pregnant and very bored. Rajesh Purohit: For someone
who has proved he can act, the role offers Mohnish Bahl
absolutely no challenges. Nagma: She appears in an item
number that will not do much for her non-existent Bollywood
career. Inspector: Though limited to a five-minute appearance,
Sharat Saxena provides some of the brighter moments
in the film. When are we going to see more of this actor?
Thapar: Alok Nath is wasted in this role. Laddoo Uncle:
Ditto Shakti Kapoor. Sunil: Ditto Sunil Shetty, in a
special appearance. The Look At best, a poor man's Yash
Chopra.
Suneel Darshan has tried to bring in the Yash Chopra
look and feel; but succeeds only in places. Highlights
The climax, where the frightened villain faces the cold
rage of an avenging Amitabh. While the audience will
definitely respond to the scene where he likens life
to a game of Snakes And Ladders, the ceetees will erupt
the minute he gives the ultimatum: "Tumhare paas waqt
sirf tab tak hai... Koi jaldi nahin hai. Itminan se
bataana. Take your time." The confrontation between
Amitabh and Akshay: One of the few well-written, reA R C H I V E S cenes in the film.
Sharat Saxena as the inspector. Akshay ragging Karisma
during the Juhi-Mohnish wedding scene: Brings a smile
to your face. Verdict Oh! I don't know. It's the kind
of film you might want to watch after your exams. Or
because there's nothing much to watch until Lagaan releases
some time next month. After all, the film does have
its moments. But be prepared for a beginning that drags
and moments that annoy. Even if you are the forgiving,
timepass, Hindi film watcher.
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