Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hai

Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hai -- Say...This Is Love*

MAIN CAST:
Hrithik Roshan -- Rohit/Raj
Amisha Patel -- Sonia
Anupam Kher -- Mr. Saxeena

BRIEF PLOT OVERVIEW:
Sonia is a chatty and spoiled, but sweet, rich girl who falls head over heels for Rohit, a poor wannabe musician. It seems like everything is hunky-dory when Rohit returns her feelings, but Mr. Saxeena's illegal dealings threaten to ruin his daughter's idyllic love affair.

FILM -- 2.5/5
I know I should've ran screaming when I heard "Hrithik Roshan and Amisha Patel's film debut" and "double role," but something about this film made me stick around. Maybe it's just my love of Hrithik as a dancer or maybe I wanted to see Amisha looking less manly than usual, but I did plonk down the money for Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hai, and I did watch it one particularly dreary Tuesday afternoon. Let me be honest here: it cheered me up and it entertained me. The script is pretty run-of-the-mill and the action scenes are, of course, godawful, but the candy-coated costumes and energetic choreography help make for it. You can find small pockets of charm hidden throughout the film, despite the rather shoddy editing and often awkward camera angles, and while things like Rohit and Sonia's love seem to pop out of nowhere, other plot twists are slightly less predictable. Cheese and cliche masala elements abound in this film, and yet it manages to keep your attention and can even provide a few warm-hearted chuckles. However, be forewarned that--as one might expect from films of this era--there's a distinct thread of neo-conservatism running through the story.

CHARACTERS -- 3/5
Believe it or not, this is not Hrithik Roshan's worst performance. Despite the fact that KNPH was his first film and he had a tendency to be just plain apalling in his earlier films, Hrithik is actually very charismatic here. (It doesn't hurt that he looks disturbingly gorgeous and his dancing is as fluid as ever.) His acting is much more natural and believable when he plays Rohit, while his chemistry with Amisha Patel is stronger when he plays Raj, but it's an overall decent performance. Amisha Patel, to her credit, manages to actually ACT in this movie. I believed her pain when she first caught sight of Raj, and I thought she was adorable in her obnoxiousness when she gabbed away at Rohit in their raft. She also looks good in this movie; she's no ravishing beauty, but she's at least feminine and pretty here, and she looks a little like Bhumika Chawla. Johnny Level makes an appearance, but it's only for one scene. (An especially disgusting scene, but still, a short one.) I have a deep fondness for Anupam Kher and Farida Jalal, so I enjoyed most of the supporting cast.

SOUNDTRACK -- 4/5
KNPH's soundtrack is pretty popular, and for the most part, I get why. I think the title track is rather overrated, but it's still a fun, upbeat tune. "Na Tum Jaano Na Hum" initially struck me as being way too adult contemporary for my tastes, then stuck with me after a few more plays. "Pyaar Ki Kashi Mein" manages to stand out with its island beat and a beautiful flute refrain. "Chand Sitare" bored me, but it's the most popular song off of the soundtrack, and most people really like this saccharine love ballad. "Dil Ne Dil Ko Pukara" is almost frantic in its attepmts to impress you. My favorite song is "Ek Pal Ka Jeena," a sleek, thumping club tune that features some great dancing by Hrithik Roshan (who is wearing fishnets and leather, I might add!). If you have a special edition of the film, you'll also get the track "Janeman Janeman," which is danceable in its own right. The lyrics in the film are pretty corny, I'll admit it, but the exceptional vocals from artists like Asha Bhosle and Lucky Ali make up for it.

OVERALL -- 3/5
Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hai is nothing special. Yes, it was Amisha Patel and Hrithik Roshan's debut film, and its soundtrack helped skyrocket Lucky Ali to playback singer stardom. But KHPH doesn't do anything previous masala films haven't already done; really, most Bollywood viewers are jaded from love at first sight and random villains tossed about to make the hero look better by comparison. Still, I can't deny that I was entertained from start to finish, beyond a few slow moments, and there are several scenes that I know I'll come back to again and again. If you're looking for a safe timepass with a passable soundtrack and good-looking leads, Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hai is a good choice.

TOTAL SCORE -- 12.5/20 (okay)


* Is it just me, or is the DVD cover image of Hrithik Roshan's thumb under Amisha Patel's strap--as if he's preparing to pull said strap down--surprisingly sexual for a Bollywood film?