Woh Lamhe

Article Updated 29 September, 2006 11:36:57 PM IST

Woh Lamhe

Mahesh Bhatt got tired of telling his life stories on screen. So he switched over to fiction. But with 'Woh Lamhe', he's told stories about his life. He has no hang-ups in admitting that it's been inspired by his relationship with the deadly Parveen Babi. Don't know if this is a serious attempt to sell his film or its truly based on facts, but one wouldn't know what transpired between the couple behind closed doors.

Famous actress Sana Azim (Kangana Ranaut) slashes her wrists in a bath tub in a hotel room. Film-maker Aditya Grewal (Shiny Ahuja) is devastated on hearing this. He's been searching for her as she had mysteriously disappeared from his life three years ago. He was intensely involved with her. She surfaces again just for a few moments. As Aditya waits outside the ICU, the story of their relationship is told in a flash back.

A struggler, initially Aditya wants to use Sana for her stardom and dump her. Without even realizing it, he falls in love with her. She suffers from acute schizophrenia. When he realizes that the only way to save her from total ruin is to take her away from Bollywood and the hospital. He takes her away to Goa. Those are the special moments lived together. But one day, suddenly, she disappears, leaving him with unanswered questions.

For a director who's just two-films old, this film seems to be an accomplishment for Mohit Suri. The film has been made with a lot of conviction. But there are some flaws. The male protagonist, Shiney Ahuja, looks more like a film star than a director while the other hero or villain, Nikhil (Shaad Randhawa), whichever way you want to look at him, is quite ugly to be a popular film star.

The slow pacing of the film is sure to irritate the viewers. We also don't know where Sana disappeared for three years. That could have been interesting.

Now for some outstanding scenes. The sequence at the party when Sana takes off her panties and throws it at Aditya is awesome! Her rape by Nikhil thereafter is good. But we don't understand why it's looked at as rape as the two are in a live-in relationship. The birthday sequence in the second half of the film is superb too. Sana hallucinating in the middle of a song shoot as well as on her birthday is brilliant.

Performances- Kangana has a more complex role than the one she portrayed in her debut film, 'Gangster', and she really sinks her teeth into this character. She is simply superb. Shiney Ahuja is only growing as an actor. He's given yet another brilliant performance. It's these two actors on whom the film rests. Shaad Randhawa is a villain to watch out for. Masume is good as Rani. Her look and makeup is just right. Purab Kohli is competent.

The dialogues are apt. Pritam's music, especially 'Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai', is simply 'wow'! It's already a rage. Good cinematography. A highly emotional film, it should be lapped up by the older generation, especially Parveen Babi fans.

It's a film that's sure to pick up by word of mouth.

*** (Three Stars)

*poor; **average; ***good; ****very good; *****excellent

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