| Women
directors always brag about how their films are socially relevant
or how their female protagonists are the real stars.
Farah
Khan obviously does not belong to that genre of female directors.
Main
Hoon Na is an all out male dominated flick, peppered with every
clich茅 known to mainstream cinema.
And
despite that, the end result is a mindless roller coaster of zany
entertainment.
Shah
Rukh Khan plays Major Ram Prasad, an undercover army man who ends
up in a college based in Darjeeling.
He
is there to protect his boss's daughter (played by Rao), lest a
dreaded terrorist Raghvan (Shetty), who gets his hands on her in
an attempt to thwart Mission Milaap.
However, Ram also has a hidden agenda for visiting the college.
His
half brother, Laxman (Zayed Khan) 'studies' at the same college
and lives locally with his mother (Kher) - who had left her husband
(Naseerudin Shah) as a result of his infidelity.
The
result of which was Ram for those who haven't yet seen the movie.
Add
to this bhelpuri of sub-plots, a spitting teacher (Satish
Shah), a forgetful principal (Irani) and a wannabe 'Hinglish' teacher
(Bindu).
There
is also a chemistry teacher, Chandni Chopra (Sen in an all too brief
role) who sets Ram's pulse racing.
So
what you end up with is the perfect ingredient for a typical Manmohan
Desai style pot boiler offering three hours of shameless fun.
Main
Hoon Na is by no means a thought provoking film. And the best
part is it doesn't pretend to be either.
It
is Farah Khan's tribute to the 70's style of filmmaking, comprising
of a silly but fun comedy track, lost and found siblings, dutiful
sons, hammy villains, adult and teenage romances and racy music.
Farah
Khan gives us every aspect of escapist cinema in three hours and
frankly speaking, does quite a good job of it.
Not
once does the film get boring, and by today's standards that is
quite an achievement.
Technically,
the film is sound with some excellent action sequences and brilliant
end credits (inspired by Bombay Dreams).
But
the Matrix like effects should have been toned down as they're
getting quite repetitive.
Anu
Malik's music is good, not brilliant but matches the mood of the
film and their choreography obviously is spot on, seeing that Farah
Khan herself is a renowned choreographer.
Performance
wise, it is off course Shah Rukh Khan's film and revolves around
him.
Don't
get me wrong he is good but in his narcissistic attempt to try and
pull off the dude, the lover, the dutiful son, and every character
possible, he forgot that he really isn't convincing as an action
hero.
Still
this is one of his better and restrained performances.
Zayed
Khan is passable - I suspect the original choice Hrithik would have
done a far better job but Zayed's not bad and definitely better
than his debut in Chura Liya Hai Tumne.
Sunil
Shetty pulls off his villainous act well and gives one of the film's
better performances.
Amrita
Rao is cute and seems to be improving with each film. Sushmita Sen
has the smaller role and is required mainly for oomph value
and boy does she score on that front!
Never
has she looked so jaw droppingly gorgeous (full marks to Manish
Malhotra) - and I doubt if she ever will. Shame there isn't more
of her in the film.
Kiron
Kher is good in her role too. Of the supporting cast, Boman Irani
has a small role but is hilarious. Ditto Satish Shah and Bindu.
Kabir Bedi and Naseerudin Shah deliver the goods.
On
the whole Main Hoon Na is unabashedly entertaining and has
done very well at the box office.
Enjoy
it for what it is but don't expect it to be memorable - it's just
a good, enjoyable popcorn flick and a great way to kill a few hours.
Jay
Mamtora
Guest Reviewer
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