ARMAAN

Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Preity Zinta, Gracie Singh and Randhir Kapoor
Director: Honey Irani
Dialogue: Javed Akhtar
Cinematography: Ravi Verman
Music: Shankar - Eshaan -Loy
Lyrics: Javed Akhtar

PREDICTED RATING: 6.5/10

Another one of this year's most awaited Bollywood movies hits the big screen. Armaan marks the directing debut of Honey Irani, whose previous claim to fame was being an acclaimed scriptwriter. She's now become one of the industry's few female filmmakers and may well strike gold with her very first project. After all, she's assembled a truly talented cast and crew. The likes of Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Preity Zinta, Gracie Singh and Randhir Kapoor will be seen in front of the camera, whilst Shankar-Eshaan-Loy have composed the soundtrack and Javed Akhtar has provided the lyrics and taken care of dialogues.

Armaan as the title suggests is a film about individual hopes and dreams, and the extent to which a son goes to fulfill his father's dream. The story is set against the Backdrop of a hospital, owned by Dr. Sinha (Amitabh Bachchan), a Philanthropist, who refuses to grow either cynical or indifferent, despite having to struggle with the harsh reality of each and disease, daily. His dream remains to run a state-of-the-art hospital in which patients maybe given indiscriminate treatment. Akash (Anil Kapoor), his son is an equally devoted doctor, who remains duty-bound to both his profession and his father.

Enter Soniya Kapoor (Preity Zinta), a rich and arrogant young woman, who is used to getting things done her way. Beneath her veneer of defensive sensitivity however, is an individual who has shades of compassion. However, since Soniya believes that no one can ever truly love her for who she is, she decides that since Akash is the man for her, she can latch on to him by literally 'buying' his love, through a financial agreement. The agreement states that on marrying
Soniya, her father Gulshan will help finance the hospital project. Akash is thus faced with an emotional dilemma in which he is forced to choose between his love her fellow doctor, Neha (Gracie Singh) and his duty towards fulfilling his father's dream. The Story leads to an unusual climax, in which each of characters are forced to tread the fine line between extremes of duty, devotion and finally even emotional sanity. However, there is a resolution in which difficult choices must be made, keeping in mind everyone¹s best interests.

'Armaan' is a family drama that allows one to explore the intricacy of human relationships and exposes the vulnerability of individuals in those relationships and the choices made by them.

RELATED LINKS:
• Listen To Soundtrack
• Movie Stills
• Video Trailers

SCHEDULED RELEASE DATE: January 17th 2003

PREVIEWED BY ROBEEL HAQ (Text Provided by Eros International)