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By Joginder Tuteja, January 20, 2009 - 12:26 IST
MOVIE DETAILS
Cast: Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Zayed Khan, Boman Irani & Mithun Chakravorty (in special appearance)
Director: Subhash Ghai
Producer: Subhash Ghai
Music: A.R. Rahman
Lyrics: Gulzar
THE FILM
What does one say about a film where the best scene in an over two hour long drama is the one which features an actor who just appears in a special appearance? 'Men are indeed men' could indeed be what Mithun Chakravorty may well be declaring to the world for his terrific 5 minute long act in Yuvvraaj. As a lawyer (whose office could well be set in Buckingham Palace or White House) who announces fortunes (or the lack of them) on a mile long table that could perhaps accommodate 150 odd people, he is terrific in that one scene where others are truly clueless (by chance or by design, we don't know) about the treatment they are being meted out.
So while Zayed Khan grimaces with mere 5 crores coming to his kitty (from 15000 crore odd left by his dead dad, a Jawed 'portrait' Sheikh), Salman Khan is perhaps searching for Katrina Kaif down the corridor and looking totally lost (again, by chance or by design, we don't know). The third brother who actually gets the entire 'zaayadad' (around 14700 odd crores) is not even on the scene because he is busy playing around with a kiddo called Bala who is the lone agreeing partner to his Indian classical music! So you know, this is what Yuvvraaj brings to its audience, an angry brother, a scheming brother and an innocent brother.
Interesting ground work one may say, right? Wrong! Because instead of any groundwork, all one sees is a lot of wall-work. A painting on the wall that could well be worth scheming brother's 'kamai' of 5 years [Boman Irani getting straight back into Chor Machaye Shor and Pyaar Jhukta Nahin days while mouthing this dialogue]. Some more paintings on the wall that give scheming brother's 'hone waali biwi's' frame look even prettier as she plays a cello. And some more paintings on the wall with added set decor that give a chance to angry brother relax for a while and dance to 'Shano Shano' which is a cross between 'Fanaa' [Yuva] and 'Pappu' [JTYJN] but not half as successful. And then the last of the paintings with innocent brother coming up with a grand finale even as a broken face with a sad expression [Raj Kapoor inspiration?] hangs behind him!
Nope, just nothing moves for Yuvraaj even as the cinematographer and the set designer and the choreographers do all they could to take the audience into an imaginary world. Thankfully, they were not Saawariya driven otherwise this Yuvvraaj could well have been the prince of an Uzbekistan country! And when something is required to move, i.e. as simple as a car, the frames move instead. Yes, you read it right. 80% of the car scenes have been shot on a studio with a screen behind the cars playing the visuals on. Ghai spoofing his own Ek Haseena Thi sequence here?
Wait, there is more. For most of the first half of the film, any two major actors are apparently not even on the same set. So when Salman interacts with a Ms. Chashmish [Aushima Sawhmey - she was last seen in 'Superstar' and suddenly became Anil Kapoor's love in the concluding moments of Yuvvraaj], you know that their shots have been taken separately. Same holds good for quite a few other scenes in the film as well featuring Salman, Katrina, Boman et al. The worst though is reserved for an all important 'meeting for the first time' scene between Salman and Anil. Heck, even this doesn't seem to be shot with both the actors together. Each of them seem to have given their talkie shots first and then reaction shots, all independently of course, and then it came to Editor saab who sat down to sew them all together. Aaah, pain!
So you know, this is the Yuvvraaj we are talking about which just doesn't have any redeeming aspect to it, give or take the technical finesse it carries and to an extent Anil Kapoor who gets little to do but pulls off whatever he is asked to. Salman Khan looks haggard and seemingly forced to leave his Barista coffee and walk on to the sets while Zayed doesn't seem to have moved on from his Chura Liye Hai Tumne days. Katrina, who at least has been made to look good by her directors, is sadly not too much a part of the plot while Boman must certainly have downed a few drinks before his every scene of his because he himself seems unsure and uncertain (or perhaps helpless) of why and what is he supposed to do.
When the promotion of Yuvvraaj started, a few more letters were added to the title here and there. Well, one thing is for sure, even a million more 'v' and 'a' wouldn't have helped it to survive at the box office!
PACKAGING
The DVD comes in an ordinary paper packing with the DVD being thrust onto a plastic base!
DURATION
The film's duration is 138 minutes
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Making of the Film
- Interviews
This segment in the DVD actually makes for an interesting watch because of the kind of lines mouthed by some of the actors. If one reads between the lines, it only gives out the essence of what the 'real Yuvvraaj' is all about. Picture these:
Katrina Kaif - Sometimes I didn't know what I had to do and why. But then knowing Subhash Ghai, I felt that he would certainly know his job.
Anil Kapoor - When Subhash Ghai came to me with the film, he didn't tell me much. He just spoke something about the movie while I was dying to wait for the script.
Salman Khan - Anil Kapoor is very dedicated. He worked even with cuts on his hands. In his place, I would have just walked out and reported on sets may be after 4 days.
Zayed Khan - Take the music of 'Taal' and multiply it by hundred. That's the music of Yuvvraaj [Hmmm...Ok?!]
....and many more!
TECHNICAL DETAILS
- The film does not come in 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen Presentation. In layman terms, the film comes in a regular format (with thick top and bottom stripes) which is associated with VCD format.
- Subtitles in English
- Dolby Digital 5.1 and Stereo
PRICE
Rs. 299/=
CONCLUSION
In the 'Making of the Film' section, Subhash Ghai's opening declaration is - 'I have never looked back to see my past work'. Well, an earnest request - 'Please do so Sir!'
 
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