DIL NE JISSE APNA KAHA (2004)
Producers: Mukesh Talreja and Sunil Manchanda
Director: Atull Agnihotri
Cast: Salman Khan, Preity Zinta, Bhoomika Chawla, Rati Agnihotri, Renuka Shahane, Helen Khan and Riya Sen
RS RATING: 5/10
So here he is, Atul Agnihotri with his first-ever big screen directorial venture, and what a ‘treat’ he has in-store for you guys…
Hold it. First explain who is Atull Agnihotri?
A failed actor, brother to 80’s heroine Rati Agnihotri, and brother-in-law to Salman Khan.
Was he not the one trying to make a film with Aishwarya Rai, Arjun Rampal and Salman Khan?
Yes! But that project never got off the ground.
Who are the main characters?
Well… we have a high-flying advertising executive Rishabh (Salman Khan), a glamorous medical doctor Pari (Preity Zinta), and a beautiful girl with a heart defect Dhaani (Bhoomika Chawla).
Oh! Is it another ‘Chori Chori Chupke Chupke’?
No, this time Salman and Preity are already hitched. I mean Rishabh and Pari are happily married.
Are they happy in marriage?
Yes, very much so. When one desires something, the other gifts it. Like when Pari wants a dream house, and then Rishabh goes out and buys one for her.
What does he get in return?
In return she gets pregnant (by him of-course!) and will soon gift him a child.
Being to very busy individuals, do they start to drift apart, and does at that time Bhoomika make an entrance?
Actually no! Rishabh, and the two-month pregnant Pari, sashay away at beaches and discotheques – happily in love. And furthermore they find time to dance to tunes composed by Himesh Reshaamiya and A. R. Rahman.
If only we all could have the same life as theirs.
If only…
So where does Bhoomika fit in?
Dhaani has been diagnosed with heart failure, that means without a heart transplant she will not survive. The poor girl has had a tragic life, with her mother dying while she was an infant, and her father running away at the first sign of responsibility. Her grandmother (Helen) has raised her up and attended to all her needs. The senior doctor at the hospital (Rati Agnihotri), and Pari both work valiantly to find a heart for this poor girl.
Sniff! Sniff! Does she die?
No Dhaani doesn’t die, Pari does.
How comes…?
Pari is on her way to the hospital when she notices that Rishabh has left a file behind. She decides to take this file to him, and for some god-forsaken reason chats with him on the mobile phone at the same time. An accident occurs and both Pari and the unborn child pass away to the other realm.
Hold it! Hold it! What happens to the heart?
Oh the heart, well before Pari dies, her last wish is for heart to be transplanted into Dhaani’s chest.
And how does Rishabh take all this in?
He, with the aid of his sister (Renuka Shahane), does the ‘Imran Khan’ thing.
He takes up Cricket?
No, he finds out that Pari’s dream was to build a hospital where there is no class barrier. All classes are treated equally. He starts work on this. His life gets a new impetus...
And what about Dhaani?
She makes a full Dhaani recovery. And one day while out walking, walks past Rishabh and her heart misses a beat... Even Rishabh feels a little strange... The rest of the story is not too difficult to guess.
What about the performances?
Salman Khan is a natural when it comes to comedy with words. He has great timing as well.
Comedy! I thought this was an emotional drama?
Watch the film and you will find out. But he is also good in emotional scenes and is the only person who lifts the film.
And what about Preity and Bhoomika?
Preity is very good, but she doesn't last long, thanks to the killer script. Bhoomika Chawla is cute and carries on from her Tere Naam performance. The only difference being that she is chasing Salman Khan in the film unlike the earlier one.
Does Atull manage to deliver a first-class directorial debut?
No, he is definitely no Ashutosh Gowarikar. He makes a decent debut but has packed the film with family... The film has his brother-in-law Salman Khan, Salman's step-mom Helen Khan, his own sister Rati Agnihotri among others. The problem is that some people have been miscast. Never mind if this can still be called a 'family film' - film starring Atull's family. In fact his wife Alvira's name has also been mentioned in the credits of the film. One did expect a much better debut from Atull, considering that he has worked a lot on the subject. The dialogues sometimes are wonderful, but sometimes they pass off as mere PJs. The camera, choreography and couture could have been a lot better than what it has finally turned out to be.
Does Atull manage to recreate the chemistry between the ‘Tere Naam’ jodi of Salman Khan and Bhoomika Chawla?
To a certain extent, he does!
Does the inclusion of ‘female star of the moment’ Preity Zinta give this film an extra edge?
Yes it does, but that edge gets smoothed out when she dies.
Any final points?
Yes a few…
1: Never mix business with pleasure through nepotism.
2: Don't speak on the mobile while driving.
3: Think before you give out your heart to someone
4: PJs are cool, but ones like Tumhara dil roaming hai aur tumhare rome rome mein basa hai are silly. They don't work
5: Give Salman a good role and he delivers. Just let him be himself. Maybe only he can salvage this film as well.
Reviewed by: Qamar Zaman
.gif){kind=small}