Humko Tumse Pyaar Hai Review {2/5} & Review Rating
You actually saunter into the screening of HUMKO TUMSE PYAAR HAI with zilch expectations. With a not too viable star cast on one hand and the long period it took to hit the screens on the other, HUMKO TUMSE PYAAR HAI lacks the magnetic drive to attract moviegoers, you feel.
But, sometimes, certain films take you by complete surprise. HUMKO TUMSE PYAAR HAI is one of them. Also, thankfully, the delay in its making doesn't reflect on the final product.
Let's face it, HUMKO TUMSE PYAAR HAI is no classic. Nor does it swim against the tide. It's no foolproof entertainer either. Yet, the goings-on compel you to train your eyes at the screen, especially towards the second hour.
HUMKO TUMSE PYAAR HAI is a vintage love story. It has that old-world charm that worked in the 1970s and 1980s. You can guess what's in store next, but the execution of the material [Bunty Soorma, Vikram Bhatt] is absorbing most of the times, with certain dramatic moments making you forget the deficiencies.
To sum up, HUMKO TUMSE PYAAR HAI isn't path-breaking in any way, but it delivers what you expect from a love story. Only thing -- this is important -- the viewer of today isn't gung ho about conventional subjects. That could prove a major deterrent!
HUMKO TUMSE PYAAR HAI begins in a village in Rajasthan, where a blind girl called Durga [Amisha Patel] lives with her mother [Suhasini Mulay]. Despite Durga being blind, she makes beautiful clay statues, a skill she learnt from her late father. Durga meets Rohit [Arjun Rampal], who is impressed by Durga's art and beauty and they fall in love.
A village goon named Rana [Parmeet Sethi] takes advantage of Durga's handicap and attempts to rape her. Luckily, the mother comes to her rescue. Rana learns of Rohit and decides to eliminate him. But the mother shields Rohit and dies in the process. Rana is arrested.
Rohit takes Durga to an eye hospital, where Dr. R.K. Prasad [Kanwaljeet] operates upon her eyes. The operation proves a success, but before the bandage is taken off from Durga's eyes, Rana and his cronies try to kill Rohit and in the ensuing fight, both Rana and Rohit die.
When Durga learns about Rohit's death, she tries to commit suicide, but is saved by Dr. Prasad. Durga relates her story to Dr. Prasad, who now considers her to be his daughter. Dr. Prasad and Durga move to Switzerland for a change. Durga meets Raj [Bobby Deol], a business tycoon, and in their first meeting itself, Raj falls in love with Durga. Raj tries to get close to Durga, but she gets irritated by his behavior.
Raj takes Durga to his house and shows her Rohit's photographs. He tells her that even he is suffering the loss of his best friend. Dr. Prasad convinces Durga that Raj is the right guy for her and that he wants to see her married. Durga agrees to marry Raj and the family [Anang Desai, Beena, Vivek Shauq] prepares for the wedding.
During the engagement ceremony, Raj gets a phone call informing him that his childhood friend, Rohit, is still alive. Raj brings Rohit home and introduces him to Durga. Rohit is stunned to see Durga there, but Durga does not recognize him as she has never seen him.
Been there, done that -- the maxim suits HUMKO TUMSE PYAAR HAI like a glove. The story [Bunty Soorma] has an old-world charm. Right from SANGAM to SAAJAN to HUMKO TUMSE PYAAR HAI, Hindi cinema has witnessed similar stories in the past [two guys in love with the same girl]. If the basic premise is a handicap, the development of the story [screenplay: Ashok Roy] and direction are interesting, at times.
The story takes off in a routine manner: Boy meets girl, its love at first sight for the guy, there are obstacles [villain: Parmeet Sethi], they overcome that as well, everything is hunky dory... and then catastrophe strikes.
If the first hour of HUMKO TUMSE PYAAR HAI is strictly okay, it's the latter half that works to the advantage of the film. With Bobby making an entry at the intermission point, the second hour is devoted to the three characters facing a storm in their lives.
A number of sequences catch your attention. Amisha's feelings for Bobby have been depicted convincingly. The re-emergence of Arjun during the engagement ceremony is a highpoint. The sequence thereafter, when Amisha hears Arjun's voice, is again well tackled.
But the climax acts as a complete spoilt sport. Just when you were actually enjoying the ride, you realize that the vehicle just ran out of gas at this juncture. One question that comes to your mind is, why this cliched ending? Of course, you want the lady to choose her lover, but it could've been done in a far more refreshing manner. Besides, the narrative tends to slow down a bit in the latter reels.
Considering that HUMKO TUMSE PYAAR HAI started off as someone's vision [Bunty Soorma] and has been given the eventual shape by another storyteller [Vikram Bhatt], the film doesn't look patchy at all. Music [Anand Raaj Anand] is easy on the ears. The title track, 'Chori Se Dil Ko' and 'Dhola Aayo Re' are better compositions nevertheless. Cinematography [Nirmal Jani] is appealing. The Swiss locales as well as the lavish look that the film boasts of give the film a visually striking look. Dialogues [Javed Siddiqui] are mediocre.
Bobby Deol is only getting better as an actor. He manages to register an impact in a film that belongs to Amisha and Arjun primarily. Arjun is awkward at places [initial portions], but gets into the rhythm subsequently. The emotional sequences in the second half clearly indicate that he's come a long way. Amisha ought to control her voice when she screams [it gets screechy]. However, her performance varies from average to decent. Kanwaljeet is efficient. Suhasini Mulay and Parmeet Sethi are adequate. Achint Kaur doesn't get any scope. Ditto for Vivek Shauq, Beena and Anang Desai.
On the whole, HUMKO TUMSE PYAAR HAI is a decent entertainer, but there are two major factors that go against it: Lack of hype and a not too happening star cast. At the box-office, a strong word of mouth from ladies should help to an extent. Business in the Hindi belt should also be better.
