Review of Janneman

I had seen the movie long back but i couldnt post this review before so here goes...

Janneman review:

Today I saw the latest release by director Shirish Kunder ‘Janneman’. That his films are different was evident to me from the very first time I saw his movie ‘Kya Kehna’. After all who in their right mind would have choosen a subject of a young college going unmarried pregnant girl then!?

That his unusual subject was well received then is a credit both to the write, director and actors. This time though Kunder has gone past his earlier creation in terms of the style of content presentation. Both unheard of and unseen in the past, this ‘new’ style has enhanced the look of the film.

The movie beginning in a space shuttle with the character Agastya’s (played by Akshay Khanna) current love & his flashback about his ex-love was a nice innovative introduction. Suhan Kapoor’s (Salman Khan) dream ‘Filmfare’ appearance was another nice idea.

Anupam Kher playing the role of Suhan’s uncle in the form of a dwarf was reminiscent of Kamal Hasan in the movie ‘Appu Raja’. What didn’t cut ice was his reappearance in New York as a restaurateur and this time in normal size just to re-emphasize that ‘every person has 7 people looking just like them’! Which is a nice theme otherwise Agastya’s fledging second romance would fall flat. The director didn’t need to cast Kher in this role needlessly.

Coming back to the story. Suhan is shown as a struggling actor and his life’s story is his failed attempts at being a superstar and his failed marriage. Suhan and his uncle/lawyer are looking to bail him out since his ex-wife Piya (Preity Zinta) has asked for a one time settlement of Rs.50 lakhs for his failure to pay her monthly alimony. Out of work Suhan is looking for an ‘angel’ to help him out.

Enter ‘angel’ Akshay (Agastya), a U.S.A. returned N.A.S.A. scientist who happens to be Piya’s college mate. Madly in love with her since the beginning but unable to confess his love to her, the nerd has lost her to Suhan only to return back 7 years later to find out she is divorced. Not knowing he is in her ex-husband’s house our nerd confesses his heart out to Suhan plus uncle. Lawyer uncle’s mind fast at work finds a way to spare his nephew his alimony settlement by the simple expedient of remarrying her off.

So Suhan volunteers to help Agastya get his ex-wife Piya all this while conveniently hiding his status. Enter New York, the current favourite location of all big name & big banner Indian directors and production houses. These guys make New York look more beautiful then any Hollywood guy would. Brooklyn Bridge is as ever always present.

Thanks to Suhan, Agastya is transformed into Suhan part 2. But he is only a pretender since he cannot do one thing without his guidance. Renting an apartment opposite to her home these two manage to take their mission forward. Meeting, chatting and catching up with Piya, Agastya who has engrained Suhan’s mannerisms impresses her. Soon she and Agastya get close all this while her ex-husband is gleefully drawing up further plans to get them closer. Finally when he does succeed in his mission, he finds out courtesy of Agastya’s telescope and the communication aid between himself & Agastya that his ex-wife has a little baby girl aptly name Suhani. Shocked to know about the existence of his own child, he now wants to get them both back. Only the problem now his own creation Agastya. So the rest of the movie falls into his efforts to make himself capable and eventually a sacrifice.

Akshay has acted remarkably well the role of a nerd complete with his weird laughter. Salman has done usual juggle act with a little bit of comedy, laughter, and tears all thrown in. Preity is her ownself thankfully atleast as the college going kid with the beaded hair et all. Although I thing she must now stop doing the young mother roles as was also the case in her previous movie KANK (Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna). This is one actress who must never allow herself to be typecast, doesn’t quite fit her personality.

If this is anybody’s film more it’s the writer and the director who have collectively given a new take to the term ‘flashback’ presentation. One thing that is quite disheartening to see in the current crop of Bollywood movies that runs common even through this film is the ‘sacrifice’ bit. And this has been a trend for some years now. One love, enter two people, then one makes a sacrifice. It’s done too many times now. We want to see some people who don’t make sacrifices and are still happy for a change.