Article Updated 25 June, 2005 07:24:15 PM IST   Paheli By Prema K. ©2005 Bollyvista.com   It's nice to tackle an offbeat subject but after watching a film like 'Paheli' one feels like screaming loudly, 'please stick to the old Bollywood formula'. This is true, particularly in Shah Rukh Khan's case who needs to be cocooned in the Yash Chopra or Karan Johan packaging all the time. However, in all fairness to him I have to add that he has delivered a convincing performance. Don't know if he has grown as an actor or it's Amol Palekar's ingenuity as a director. But unfortunately the film lacks conviction. The story - Lachchi (Rani Mukerji) is married to Kisan (Shah Rukh Khan), who is only interested in making money. The day after the wedding night, Kisan leaves home for five long years on account of his business, leaving behind a tearful Lachchi. A ghost, who is in love with Lachchi, makes the most of her husband's absence. He takes on her husband's appearance and enters her home and life. He cannot hide the truth from her and reveals his true identity. Lachchi after an initial hesitation accepts him and loves him in return. It is their little secret and is rather cute. This has a fairy tale feel to it but can only be tolerated up to this point. At some stage the film attains senseless proportions. The lover-cum-husband ghost even makes Lachchi pregnant. How? Don't ask! Meanwhile Kisan starts feeling homesick after all these years and realizes the injustice he's done to his wife. He is missing her. Imagine his shock when he hears that his wife is pregnant back home! He rushes home and is met with cold stares from his family and the other villagers. He is mistaken to be a fraud. The climax is again very fairy tale like but lacks appeal. How do they figure out who's the real Kisan or is it ever revealed. I don't want to spoil your fun by spilling the beans, in case you decide to watch the film! To make matters worse, the pace of the first half of the film is very slow. There's nothing happening in the first one hour. Now for the performances. Shah Rukh is decent and does not ham as he is sometimes prone to. Rani delivers yet another super performance after 'Black' and 'Bunty Aur Babli'. Amitabh Bachchan is a disappointment in his one long scene. He hams galore. Suniel Shetty just has two scenes. He's strictly okay. Juhi Chawla does not get much scope but she is her pleasant self. Rajpal Yadav is fun in his two scenes. Anupam Kher is impressive. Muisc and songs are nothing to rave about. Ravi K. Chandran's cinematography is brilliant. But otherwise the film is sure to leave the viewer untouched. Can't say much about the business of the film. It may appeal to the South audience but overseas and metros it could prove to be a washout! * * (TWO STARS) *poor; **average; ***good; ****very good; *****excellent   close   Print this Article http://www.bollyvista.com   http://www.bollyvista.com/article/a/29/5119