Na Tum Jaano Na Hum

Article Updated 08 December, 2002 04:01:34 PM IST

Na Tum Jaano Na Hum

To see or not to see... that's exactly how one feels while facing the silver screen in the dark room for this much ado about nothing Hrithik starrer. Gripped between a multitude of creative elements, Director Arun Sablok seems to be cooking a hodgy-podgy snack that lacks both, crispiness and taste.

Born under the assuring background of a typically traditional yet modern Indian family, Pantaloon's Na Tum Jano Na Hum lacks lustre and promise. The film begins with grey tainted frames of Esha's (Deol) real life childhood. A rare phenomenon, yet very gripping. Esha is a bubbling teenager who's just returned to her grand parents' home after finishing college from Simla, India. After the usual rounds of nostalgia, one gets a taste of the real dish in the making. Esha is a cutey-cutey girl who eats, sleeps and lives in her dreamland. Dreaming seems to be her favourite hobby and as the story unfolds, one realises that the dream has indeed taken its toll. The love factor of the film unfolds when Esha's cousins start discussing about their adoloscent crushes. But our heroine does not speak to boys and has never had a crush on anybody in flesh and blood. But yes, talk about one who doesn't speak yet can be heard, one who doesn't touch yet whose presence can be felt, one who doesn't exist yet can be seen and loved... and Esha has a long narrative to unfold.

Cut to the FM Radio station where Bingo (Omung Kumar) is hosting a show called 'Sunte sunte hi love ho jaaye'. As can be predicted Esha requests a song (Kya Yehi Pyar Hai) and dedicates it her Mr. Right whom she's yet to meet. Enter... Rahul (Hrithik Roshan) who also happens to be glued to 107.1 FM. He calls up the radio station and dedicates a song with a special request to meet the girl who dedicated the special song. Well, even though Esha doesn't turn up for the meeting, she initiates a so-called pen-pal ship. Henceforth, both our lovebirds are seen exchanging letters. Since they want to keep their relationship pure and unbiased, they opt for the Post Box system. Neither do they know each other's name and address, nor do they wish to speak or meet up.

Rahul is an ace photographer and Esha is the heiress to a grand store... obviously Pantaloons. Esha wants to do special promotions for the store and subsequently comes in contact with Rahul. Rahul accepts the offer and comes to Dehradhun for this special shoot. No prizes for guessing that he becomes a family member from this point.

Providing for the thrilling aspect of the film is Akshay (Saif Ali Khan) who plays yet another of the oft beaten track of a proud Casanova.

Until the interval, one can see a mixture of sweet-nothings occasionally served with added spices. By this time, both our leading stars seem to have fallen head over heels in love with each other, yet continue to be satisfied with their respective post boxes. The turning point springs up when Esha realizes that Rahul has not just been her friend all the while, but is also on a personal visit... to check her out for a proposed marriage between Esha and childhood friend Akshay. Their friendship breakup and a host of confusions follow. Saif suddenly becomes Mr. Nice guy and has madly fallen for this hill station maiden.

Fortunately, their respective elders are in the know-how of each other and matters reach the wedding day. The current scenario... Akshay truly loves Esha, Esha truly loves Rahul and Rahul truly loves Esha. Akshay wants to marry Esha; but Esha will make up her mind only after meeting her pen pal (still nameless). This and much more chaos follows until matters are amicably resolved in the end. Rahul suddenly abandons his childhood friend and family to join his real parents in Canada and Akshay is seen on the verge of wedding Esha. Cut to 4 years later where Akshay and family are on a trip to Canada. As expected he bumps into Rahul and the secret love story springs up. Rahul realizes that Akshay is married to Tanya (Ashima Bhalla), while Esha is still waiting for her dream boy. He immediately flies to India for the much awaited happy ending.

On the greener side, one can look out for some meager comedy during the first half, but that's about it. And yes, can somebody tell the director that we are living in the age of the Internet... Post Boxes are things that even Napoleon will overlook.

Technically, there's nothing exciting about Pantaloon's maiden presentation. Direction by Arjun Sablok is poorly slack. He badly needs to break free from the inspirations and styles of the people he has assisted in the past. He can surely dole out a better menu if he trusts his own directorial abilities. Rajesh Roshan's much hyped-up score is greatly disappointing although Hariharan has done a neat job as usual. He needs to desperately free himself of the KNPH hangover and begin composing what he actually can. Anand Bakshi's lyrics are passé.

Performance wise, Hrithik is the sole shining star. Esha has much to learn and Saif is more than clichéd. Rati Agnihotri and Maushmi Chatterjee have been greatly wasted. Alok Nath as Esha's grandpa and Anang Desai as Akshay's papa have done as required by the script. Well, a story and a script are things one must not even have at the back of the head before watching this drag devil. Overall... another sordid disappointer, accept for Hrithik Roshan.

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