DEEWANGEE

Director: Anees Bazmee
Producer: Neha Arts
Music: Ismail Darbar
Lyrics: Nusrat Badr and Salim Bijnori
Starring: Ajay Devgan, Urmila Matondkar and Akshaye Khanna

PREDICTED RATING: 6/10

Deewangee must've certainly sent director, Anees Bazmee insane, what with the ongoing changes to the cast. The film was launched with Sanjay Dutt, Karisma Kapoor and Ajay Devgan as the three main leads, and Raveena Tandon in a supporting role. Due to certain problems Sanjay stepped back and Akshaye Khanna filled in. This rather appropriate adjustment comes to Anees Bazmee's advantage seeing as the role has negative shades, and we all know how great Akshaye was as the manipulative baddy in Humraaz.

Karisma didn't strictly walk out of the film, it seems she was dropped when she couldn't give the desired bulk dates straight away. Enter Urmila. If Karisma can fill Urmila's role in Dil to Pagal Hai, it only seems fair for Urmila to take on Karisma's role in Deewangee. More importantly, if what DTPH did for Karisma's career, Deewangee does for Urmila's; it will give her a whole new lease of life in an industry that has labeled her a sex symbol and not a serious actress. If they aren't enough changes to the cast, the equally talented Seema Biswas has also replaced Raveena.

The only common factor that has remained in the cast is the ever-dependable Ajay Devgan. Anees directed the dark and dusky actor in Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha and has opted to direct him once again. PTHHT, a remake of the Hollywood flick French Kiss, was an unexpected hit, and it seems Anees isn't about to shake off the Hollywood inspirations with Deewangee being loosely based on the Richard Gere starrer, Primal Fear.

Ajay Devgan plays a music director while Urmila takes on the role of a singer/dancer. When Ajay is framed for the murder of his employer, and is put on trial, Akshaye represents Ajay in court as his defense lawyer. As with most Two Heroes-One Heroine starrers this film is also a love triangle but promises to be a love story full of passion and obsession.

With the trailers for Deewangee looking suspiciously similar to Humraaz and Akshaye playing the baddy again, one wonders how the film will be received when it hits the silver screens on November 1st.

RELATED LINKS:
• Video Trailers

SCHEDULED RELEASE DATE: November 1st 2002

PREVIEWED BY RUPA NANDHA AND ROBEEL HAQ