Film Review: ''Yaadein''

SUBHASH GHAI'S ``Yaadein'', which opened amid high hopes and higher hype at cinema halls across the country this past week, is not quite the nostalgia trip it promised to be. Like reminiscing about the days gone by, it gives ephemeral delight, eternal disappointment.

Which is quite sad really considering that the film begins well enough. It comes riding on the dream vehicle of a big banner - Mukta Arts - big stars - Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor - and a big director. But it crashlands..

The story of a man in the autumn of his youth playing father- mother combine - Jackie Shroff - to three daughters enjoying the first shower of the spring of adulthood, ``Yaadein'' initially leaves the dew-fresh eyed moist, and those soaked in the colours of autumn, dry. This tale of the clash between the frailty of fading youth and the unpredictability of rising passion had enough strength to stand on its own feet. If only Ghai had built on this splendid premise for a film instead of trying to cash in on the box office appeal of Hrithik Roshan, ``Yaadein'' could have been memorable.

After starting off with the struggle of a young father absolutely at his wits' end in handling his growing daughters, ``Yaadein'' focusses on their relationships with the respective men in their lives. The first one has an arranged marriage. A simple, sober, successful affair. Married to tradition, at home with domestic chores. The second one is a rebel without a pause. Her cause is personal, the repercussions of her actions not so. She opts for marrying into the household rejected by her father. And then lives to regret at leisure.

And the third one? She too falls in love. And dares to declare it too. But this time there is a twist in the tale as the wisened- with-experience father uses the past as the guiding light for the future. No rebellion. No protests. But love, as they say, is not a destination, merely a journey. Enjoy the travel, forget the terminal.

While Jackie's character needs more work, Kareena and Hrithik have finely etched roles which give them enough scope for histrionics. In their own ways, both of them leave an imprint. Kareena Kapoor may not have a commanding figure but she has arresting eyes. Combine that with her now quivering, now calm lips and trembling fingers and you have a performer who would be acceptable as a secret fantasy to be shared with close friends among most members of the opposite gender.

Hrithik Roshan? Well, there are almost two of them. One, slim, almost weak. Pale. Not quite the man one has come to expect from someone who rode above mediocre films. The other, who comes into his own in the second half, is electrifying. A neat `V' for physique, eyes to drool over for the giggling campus crowd and biceps to emulate for their more rugged mates, he brings fire into his part of a rebel for love.

Cinema lovers, recommend this film to all those who have encroached upon your hospitality for too long. Encroaching upon your hospitality, did one say? Isn't Ghai guilty of doing the same at viewers' expense, who line up faithfully outside the cinema halls everytime his film is positioned for release? Sorry, but when you look back, ``Yaadein'' will only leave behind a note of anguish. Time to forget ``Yaadein'' and move on.

ZIYA US SALAM

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Section  : Entertainment
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