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By Taran Adarsh, October 24, 2003 - 15:34 IST
Right Image Films P. Ltd.'s RAJA BHAIYA is crucial for both, director Raman Kumar and actor Govinda. The project not only means a lot to a director making a comeback after almost a decade, but also to an actor whose acting career isn't going great guns.
But, unfortunately, neither is the director's comeback memorable, nor does the actor's precariously hanging career find solid ground.
Raja [Govinda] is a small-town guy who has taken an oath to remain a brahmachari, thanks to a guru. On the other hand, Pratibha [Aarti Chhabria] is a happy-go-lucky youngster, who, as per the will, will become the rightful owner of the property when she turns 21.
Unfortunately, just on her birthday, she meets with an accident while driving. She survives the crash, but goes blank about her past. This amnesiac Pratibha is brought home by Raja's mother.
Raja tries all tricks in the books to get rid of her, but fails. Things take a turn when his mother announces his marriage to Pratibha. Unable to turn down her word, he unwillingly marries her.
But the initial squabble between Raja and Pratibha is put to rest when she saves his mother from fire. Raja falls for her innocence and love blossoms. However, their love story meets an abrupt end when her uncles surface and take her back to Mumbai.
Raja pursues her and lands in the city of dreams. He tries the remaining tricks in his book to get her back. But after Pratibha's amnesiac phase is over, she can't remember who Raja is, not to mention what relationship they share.
But like other phases, even this one doesn't last long as a magical slap by Raja helps her regain all she should remember, finally bringing the film to a happy end.
Finding faults with RAJA BHAIYA is as easy as spotting a thick black spot across a white background.
Right from the illogical turn of events, a drab screenplay [Rajiv Kaul, Praful Parekh] to tacky characterisation, the film gives reasons aplenty to make a hasty exit.
What's worse is, unlike other Govinda films, this one falls flat even on the comedy aspect. Also, the makers' attempt at trying hard to squeeze in as much as possible takes it further down the slope.
Director Raman Kumar is completely at sea in his comeback. May be the long gap has taken its toll. One needs to remind him that over the years the taste and preference of the audiences have changed.
Dialogues [Imtiaz Patel], which should have been the highlight of films belonging to this genre, are repetitive. Music [Nadeem-Shravan] is strictly okay. 'Tu Jo Has-Has Ke' is the only track that stands out.
Talking of performances, Govinda falls flat. He tries hard to infuse life in his role, but there's nothing original about it. Aarti Chhabria is tolerable, but her retarded antics irritate.
The supporting cast looks straight out of a play where the mikes have gone awry. Tiku Talsania, Rakesh Bedi, Sadashiv Amrapurkar, Ajit Vachhani and Anang Desai are loud and irritating.
On the whole, RAJA BHAIYA has everything going against it, most importantly its script. At the box-office, it has no chances whatsoever.
 
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