A multi-faceted star is here

THE NEW Year hasn't begun well. An over made-up Rekha and a screeching Rajnikant leave you unmoved in ``Bulundi'' even though Anil Kapoor as always, gives a scintillating performance in the older role. As for Dharmesh Darshan's ``Mela,'' if this is what the director comes up with after the film takes five years to be made, what can one say? The question to be asked after viewing ``Mela'' is not, `How is the film but how are you?' Even ``Raja Hindustani'' was highly over-rated, but ``Mela'' is confusion confounded. In striving for pace, the film lacks soul and substance.

There are crude dialogues exchanged between Aamir Khan and Johnny Lever. Every character talks in a high pitch assuming the audience to be deaf. It is heartbreaking to see Twinkle Khanna put in so much effort in a film completely undeserving of her commitment.

The only believable character in the film is Tanvi Kher, making an impact in a two-scene role. What a pity that an actress of her calibre hasn't got her due.

Fortunately, Rakesh Roshan's exotically photographed ``Kaho Na Pyaar Hai'' launching son Hrithik Roshan and Ameesha Patel more than makes up for the disappointment. Inspired by Amitabh's hit of the '80s ``Kasme Vaade'', Hrithik excels in his double-role performance.

The star who has made his debut can do everything - fight, dance, emote, charm, flirt, and yes, make you laugh and cry! Supported ably by easy-on-the-eyes, Ameesha, the film belongs to the combined effort of a contemporary unit - the director, the dialogue writer for giving the young pair colloquial dialogues but most importantly Hrithik. He understands the medium and it reflects in the way he works on the two characters. Confident and with a presence that cannot be ignored, he has thinking eyes.

He is the wake up call for the Khans! Aamir, Shah Rukh and Salman better pull up their socks, Roshan is going to be here and rule!

***

IT WAS like a sepia photograph from a 25-year old album. The scene familiar and the mood infectious. Meghna, anchor of The Amul India Show and daughter of Raakhee and Gulzar, hands painted with mehndi right up to her elbows, is pre-occupied with domestic instructions, until the lensman hired for the occasion, literally pleads with her, `Can we have a photograph of the bride and groom together please?' Meghna is amused and obeys instantly, to be distracted yet again. Many summers ago, mother Raakhee on her wedding day was equally distracted.

Eldest in the family and responsible for the event, she gave instructions to younger siblings, even when walking to the mandap. So much so the pundit was confused as to who the bride was.

`Boskiana', the modest white bungalow which has been standing still for years on the buzzing Pali Hill Road, on the eve of the sangeet last week, is illuminated with a cluster of lights resembling a fairyland.

A bangle vendor is parked in the pathway, slipping red and gold glass bangles into interested women visitor's arms. Beside her, is a flowerman offering jasmine strings to the guests, which men tie on their wrists and women around their hair. Inside, the large living-room is divided by a stone partition for women keen on applying mehndi.

There is a long queue of teenagers painting tattoos on their arms and ankles.

Meghna is mature and pragmatic. Devoid of the bridal trappings and attired in a simple green salwar-suit, looking beautiful with the same hazel eyes as her mother's, she moves from one room to the other, carrying a tray of cold drinks for guests.

It's about 11 p.m. Music reverberates in the atmosphere. As I'm leaving, I notice Meghna pulling her parents to the floor. They are hesitant initially but after a while, they drop inhibitions and dance, soon joined by Meghna and Govind.

It's a moving moment and I decide it's the right time to make an exit, but not before adorning some more glass bangles and jasmine strings...

The following afternoon, in another corner of the suburb, Farhan, writer Javed Akhtar's son (soon making a debut as a director with Aamir Khan in his film) gets engaged to his girlfriend Audhun.

At a lunch hosted by Shabana Azmi, it is a warm get-together of new relatives and old friends, a novel way of Akhtar introducing the bride to the family.

BHAWANA SOMAAYA

Editor, `g' magazine

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