Film Review: Yeh Raaste Hain Pyar Ke

``YEH RAASTE Hain Pyar Ke'' is a much-traversed road - been there, seen that kind of film which fails to enthuse first-time viewers and leaves the abiding fans of Madhuri a disappointed lot. Deepak Shivadasani's offering, which opened at cinema halls across Delhi this past week, is a convoluted love story. It stars an aging Madhuri, now many years removed from the first shower of Cupid's blessings, and Ajay Devgan, who has not had a hit for a few seasons now. Wasted between double Devgan and frazzled Madhuri is Preity Zinta, all her vibrance, vivacity coming to nothing. And Sunny Deol in the much-hyped special appearance which is as ordinary as it can get.

It is the nth story of lookalikes which has been in currency ever since Bollywood discovered the double trouble formula. In the bargain, the viewers are shortchanged. One of the heroes here - predictably - is a conman who changes cars every second week and threatens to change his companion midway too. The other one - Rohit - is a scion of a rich family who has crores in his bank balance and absolutely nothing in the balance of life. When it comes to years left in life, he has run his cash and succumbs to stray bullets before he gets to enjoy conjugal bliss. However, Vicky's - conman - uncanny resemblance to the dead man secures for him access to the businessman's home and the love of the lookalike's widow. Initially a stranger in the family, he gradually gets the respect due to the son. And develops responsibility towards the girl who takes him for husband. Neha - Madhuri - thinks that her man who died in a road accident is alive. Meanwhile, Sakshi - played by Preity Zinta - thinks that her man is dead, even though he is alive.

That is as endearing as ``Yeh Raaste Hain Pyar Ke'' gets. As for Madhuri, well, the passing years have left their imprint on her once-famed midriff. The lapsing summers have kissed her around the fingers. And caressed her visage. But her eyes are still her own - bewitching, bewildering. One moment innocent, the next moment those of a temptress. But when she tries to do a `Beta' kind of number here, her body refuses to keep pace with her eyes, her gestures are not in consonance with her frame.

And Devgan? Well, the best part of this film is that though Devgan is in a double role, the first one dies a premature death, giving the viewers some respite. If in Madhuri's case the passage of years has left an imprint on her body, in his case, they have left him untouched. He is still a novice in matters of emoting.

Cinegoers will do well to steer clear of the roads leading to ``Yeh Raaste Hain Pyar Ke''. It has enough pitfalls of its own.

ZIYA US SALAM

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