Film Review: ''Pyaar, Ishq Aur Mohabbat''

IF ``YAADEIN'' was a godsend for insomniacs, Rajiv Rai's ``Pyaar, Ishq Aur Mohabbat'' which unfolded at theatres across the city this past week is a rude jolt from slumber.

This business of love is a faulty transaction from the first deal. And gradually stumbles from one bad deal to another, exposing the director's bankruptcy of ideas. Not only does it make a mockery of the most credible of human emotions - love - it also presents the viewers an increasingly difficult test of patience each passing minute. Greeted with a lukewarm response after its release was postponed by a couple of weeks due to non- availability of cinema halls thanks to the unabating enthusiasm for ``Gadar: Ek Prem Katha'' and ``Lagaan'', this is among the more tepid ventures of Rai, who has in the past given us films like ``Tridev'' and ``Mohra''. Unfortunately, his attempt to diversify from the known genre of musical suspense thrillers has gone `kaput' this time.

At first glance, the lavishly mounted film has it all: exotic locales - the film has been shot extensively in Scotland and Switzerland - elegant interiors, lovely roses, pure silk. Yet this film leaves the viewers panting for breath. Simply because it has a storyline which is more bumpy than the roads the cinema- goers will have to travel to reach the cinema hall near their place. It is the story of three men in love with a single woman. Starring Sunil Shetty, Aftab Shivdasani and debutant Arjun Rampal opposite Kirti Reddy, for whom it is a make-or-break film after her debut disaster ``Tera Jadu Chal Gaya'', the film's sole saving grace comes from the debutant hero who is much more at ease with the medium than many anticipated. The first role for this young model - that of Gaurav, a smooth operator who is a past master at games of manipulation and manoeuvre until his conscience catches up with him - gives him scope to display his true worth. And the long-faced, lithe Arjun manages to hit the bull's eye. The problem is he gets very little support. Viju Shah, who has in the past served Rai with distinction, goes through the motions with the air of a man who knows the fate before the last nail is driven home.

If this is what love does to creative beings, it is time they steered clear of this heady feeling and concentrated on making films sweet, simple, straight. Rai, take a break. The epistle of love this time is better left unread.

ZIYA US SALAM

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Section  : Entertainment
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