Article Updated 11 September, 2005 01:12:49 PM IST   Salaam Namaste By Prema K. ©2005 Bollyvista.com   In case you are wondering what is 'Salaam Namaste', it is the name of the radio station that the female protagonist of the film, Preity Zinta (Ambar) works as a RJ in. She is pretty, peppy and vivacious and is also studying medicine. Salaam Namaste is where she was supposed to meet Nick (Nikhil Arora) played by Saif Ali Khan. Nick is a chef in an Indian restaurant in Melbourne. She interviews Indians living in Melbourne and Nick happens to be one of them. Nick by virtue of his over-sleeping habit does a no-show much to Ambar's anger. She has her revenge by saying a few nasty things about him on air. There is a hate relationship between the two but they have never met each other. He falls in love with her as soon as he sets his eyes on her not knowing she's the same Amby he hates so much. She too feels the chemistry between them little knowing it's the same Nick. Their identities are revealed soon and both are shocked. Nick doesn't waste any time in telling her that he loves her. Soon they begin living in as friends and become lovers soon although they are stark opposites of each other. The film tackles the subject of live-in relationships. But honestly, one felt that the relationship was sort of nipped in the bud with Preity's pregnancy and her decision to not abort the baby. This should have come a little later. It also seems unnatural that a young, ambitious and a very with-it girl like her would want to quickly settle into matrimony. While it's not a mushy romantic film, and thank God for that, it gives the impression that the initial phase of the relationship hasn't been given enough time to develop. There should have been more tender moments between the two. This is not to say that there aren't cute moments between the two. But more than the couple's love story, it's the other characters who add life to the film. Nick's closest buddy, Ron (Arshad Warsi) and Javed Jaffrey are superb. The latter gives the film its mass appeal. Saif and Arshad share a great screen chemistry. 'Salaam Namaste' is fresh, young, and peppy with a lot of light moments. But the second half of the film gets a little boring when it takes a serious turn with Preity's pregnancy and her decision to become an unwed mother. But the pace picks up again in the last 20 minutes or so. The title song is superb. 'Paune Barah Baje' and 'My Dil Goes Ooh...' too are great. Ahmed Khan's choreography is superb. But a pregnant Preity dancing in the 'Paune Barah' number is a little over the top! Brilliant cinematography. The film truly belongs to Saif Ali Khan. He is brilliant as the slightly laidback, carefree guy. He shines in both the emotional as well as light moments. This is the second time that Preity Zinta portrays an unwed mother on screen. She is good and has even smooched Saif on screen. But her bulging pregnant tummy is quite an ugly sight. It looks so unnatural and saggy! Jugal Hansraj is likeable. Abhishek Bachchan makes a comic entry in the end and the masses are sure to like him. Kunal Vijaykar as debonair, the Keralite owner of Salaam Namaste, is first-rate. The subject makes it a progressive film. So it's strictly an urban and city-centric film and should be a hit with the youth in particular. Its overseas prospects also seem very bright. *** (Three stars) *poor; **average; ***good; ****very good; *****excellent   close   Print this Article http://www.bollyvista.com   http://www.bollyvista.com/article/a/29/5523