Main Hoon Na

Main Hoon Na -- I Am Here

MAIN CAST

Shahrukh Khan -- Ram

Zayed Khan -- Lucky

Amrita Rao -- Sanju

Sunil Shetty -- Raghavan

Sushmita Sen -- Miss Chandni

BRIEF PLOT OVERVIEW:

Major Ram is a little disgruntled with his new assignment: he has to protect Sanju, the daughter of a higher-up, from the terrorist Raghavan. Ram decides he likes the assignment a little more when he catches sight of Miss Chandni, the beautiful new chemistry teacher, and is given a chance to find his long-lost half brother.

FILM -- 4/5

My major disappointment with Main Hoon Na's design is the picturizing. It's not bad, so don't get the wrong impression, but it often lacks the bright costumes and gorgeous scenery that really make me love picturized songs, and almost every music break is set on a dusty school campus with kids in blue jeans and neutral-colored t-shirts. The Sanju/Lucky crush sequence is a rare exception. Some of the plot twists are predictable, others are real surprises, so the story manages to keep the viewer's interest without jumping all over the place. The script gets an extra boost from the cast members, all of whom put their hearts and souls in to bringing the characters to life. I really loved the comedic aspects of the film, and I can safely say that MHN features some of the funniest scenes in Bollywood. In terms of the action scenes, the special effects are strong. They're still not awe-inspiring, but India's FX teams have finally caught up with western studios', and there are hints of The Matrix sprinkled throughout. Strong choreography a la Farah Khan and spiffy costuming round things off for a well-balanced modern masala movie.

CHARACTERS -- 4/5

Amrita Rao is super-cute and spunky, and there are times where she reminds me of a very young Kajol blended with Preity Zinta. It's a shame that Zayed Khan hasn't had much success in the industry post-MHN, because I think he has a lot of potential and could go far with some guidance; his scenes with Shahrukh Khan are especially noteworthy. Unfortunately, he sucks when he's on sreen solo. Sunil Shetty makes a deliciously evil villain, Rakhi Sawant plays the campus skank with almost too much ease, and even Sushmita Sen--who I usually don't care for--performs marvelously. The latter shines doubly during the "bedroom scene" after Ram's real identity is revealed. Other than that scene, I don't think Sushmita and Shahrukh have a lot of on-screen chemistry, but most of the folks at BollyWHAT absolutely love the jodi, so maybe I'm missing something. As for the special appearances: please tell me I am not the only person who died happy when Bindu walked through that gate! And Tabu--one of my two favorite Bollywood actresses--pops up, too, which earns the flick major bonus points. Lastly, Bomani Irani deserves a nod for his perfect delivery of some of the funniest dialogue in modern Bollywood.

MUSIC -- 4.5/5

Is it a perfect soundtrack, on par with Rangeela or Dil Se? Lord, no. But every song is at least decent, and some of them are so friggin' awesome that I just have to give MHN's soundtrack a 4.5/5. That being said, I was a bit disappointed by the soundtrack; the movie itself is so beloved that I thought the music would be mindblowing, but there's a lot of track blending until you've given the soundtrack three or four listens. The title track is a stand-out, with beautiful singing and equally lovely lyrics describing Ram's love for his younger brother and Sanju's love for her best friend. "Tumhe Jo Maine Dekha" has neat picturization, including a cute scene with Sushmita and Shahrukh on a rope swing together, but it's forgettable outside of the film. "Tumse Milke Dilka Jo Haal" and "Gori Gori" are great for dancing, but "Ye Fizaein" flounders. "Chale Jaise Hawaien" grows on you and features passionate vocals by K.K.

OVERALL -- 4.5/5

I only give perfect scores to movies that hold my attention in every way, shape, and form from start to finish, and Main Hoon Na is almost one of those movies. You don't need Oscar-worthy material to create an enjoyable movie. MHN blends an action-adventure-terrorist plot with comedy and romance, has an incredible cast, boasts great choreography, and despite its minor flaws (AKA Zayed Khan), it is easily one of the most entertaining flicks I've ever seen. If the soundtrack had been more impressive and if a few very small changes had been made, Main Hoon Na definitely would have earned an "almost perfect" score.

TOTAL SCORE -- 17/20 (great)