Andhra Pradesh

Not a bad dream

Film: London Dreams

Cast: Ajay Devgan, Salman Khan, Asin

Direction: Vipul Shah

Ambitions have long been coming in the way of friendship. Here again aspiration strikes at trust. Known for his emotional dramas, which tend to escape from plausibility, Vipul Shah sticks to his style. Here he dishes out a desi version of “Amadeus”, which talked of the legendary rivalry between Mozart and Salieri. Unlike the original, here, the protagonists are childhood friends. Their journey begins from rural Punjab. Arjun (Ajay Devgan) aspires to be mai ka lal jaikishan (Michael Jackson) and perform at the Wembley where his grandfather choked once. Living up to his name, he is deeply focussed, even if it means going underground in London, playing flute at street corners or holding his emotions for his lady love (Asin). He feels god removes all the impediments, which includes his disapproving father, from his way. He is wrong. He is only destined to get his lessons in humility. In contrast, Mannu (Salman Khan) is a boy who refuses to grow because it involves too much trouble. But the boy is truly gifted, it is another matter that he doesn’t realise it and wastes himself at local shaadi band. Tailor-made for Salman! At one point he says apni to type hi alag hai. We can’t agree more. Salman is a master at playing over the top and here, as a compulsive womaniser, Vipul has provided him enough situations and gift of the gab to have a ball. His queer ways to get even with the British will keep the galleries chanting his name.

Things take a turn when Arjun brings Mannu to London to join his band. The gifted gets more applause than the hard working and it sows the seed of jealousy in Arjun. He wants every clap for himself. And if thunder is not enough, Munna, unknowingly, steals his love as well.

Ajay provides the right contrast to Salman. Music requires a score that can stop you in the step. Alas! The talented trio of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy has failed to conjure up that kind of magic. Asin’s character is half-baked.

Overall, it’s not a bad dream to realise during the drought of quality stuff.

ANUJ KUMAR

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