Bewafaa

To be honest I have not been a fan of Dharmesh Darshans films. He has an knack of remaking classic films and making an absolute hash of it. Raja Hindustani was a remake of 60's classic Jab Jab Phool Kile, Mela was a remake of Sholay and now we have Bewaffa, which is a remake of Gumrah. There is not really a script to speak of just a chain of sequences. Not even the performances are noteworthy, the person that sticks out is Manoj Bajpai who overacts through all of his scenes.

The only redeeming factor is the music by Darshan loyalist, Nadeem Shravan. My favourites are either the title song or Yaad. I am now dreading to see what classic he makes an hash of next, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai(Oh no) Amar Akbar Anthony (Oh good no). Avoid at all costs.

I cannot believe I wasted my money on this horrible film. A ghastly storyline, none of the characters have any depth - in fact I did not feel a shred of empathy for any of the characters. Kareena Kapoor, who I usually like, spent the entire film with her eyes wide open looking shocked (and was otherwise utterly expressionless). This I blame (as well as everything else) on truly bad directing. They drone on and on about Indian culture and renouncing of the self for the good of others - but none of it seemed genuine. The main characters sleepwalked through the performance, and I do not understand how talented actors like Anil Kapoor could have agreed to "acting" in this. The side characters of Manoj Bajpai and Shamita Shetty only serve to annoy. I am still reeling in horror at the fact that I wasted my time in this utterly pointless manner. Save yourselves, don't even stray close.

Bewafa is a typical love triangle movie with a script that has been seen 100s of times. The movie starts with Kareena waking up from bed after a sleep with so much make up on. Perhaps, she woke up 1 hour ago,added make up, lied on the bed and woke up again. She is in love with Akshay Kumar, who loves her dearly. Her Sister Sushmita marries Anil, has a child and dies. Nobody forced or even suggested Kareena to marry her brother in law, but she immediately did. She never bothered to tell Akshay, she just quickly decided to get married. Years later, the movie focuses on the married couple, who are always distant from each other. Does it take years to get to know one another, here it does. Akshay suddenly returns, and the question is will she become unfaithful. Kareena Kapoor delivers yet another disastrous performance, I would slap her up if i see her. Akshay Kumar is generally a good actor, but why he chose to star in this. Anil Kapoor has given us great performances in the past, not anymore. Sushmita Sen is hardly there, and with a blink she is gone. Manoj Bajpai and Shamita Shetty are ever so annoying and so unrealistic. Manoj has given us Powerful performances in the past, in this film he was pathetic. A complete disaster coming from a good director, BOREDOM.

Dharmesh Darshan is well known for his ability to handle films with sensitive subjects. So after Haan Maine Bhi Pyar Kiya comes yet another woman-centric film from his kitty. Bewafaa is about Anjali (Kareena Kapoor) who lives in Montreal, Canada. Daughter of an Indian father (Kabir Bedi) and a Canadian mother (Nafisa Ali), Anjali is leading a happy-go-lucky life. She has a boyfriend too-aspiring singer Raja (Akshay Kumar). Of course, her parents do not know about him. Anjali speaks about her boyfriend only to her sister Aarti (Sushmita Sen) who has flown to Canada because she is expecting her child. Aarti assures Anjali that she will convince her parents about Indian Raja once they become nana-nani.

Here comes the twist. Aarti dies leaving two twins. Anjali now has to make a choice. Either to tell her parents about Indian Raja or marry her sister's husband and take responsibility of the motherless twins. Predictably, Anjali opts for the latter. She migrates to Delhi. Aditya (Anil Kapoor) is busy as a bee and does not have time for Anjali or the kids. It is only after a confrontation with Anjali that Aditya realizes about him being unfair to her.

At the airport Aditya tells his manager that after his trip from Germany, he plans to go on a world tour with his wife and daughters. And that he would return a changed man. Aditya leaves. And enters Anjali's ex-lover Indian Raja. Anjali tries to avoid him initially. But soon lands up having a rolling affair with him. Aditya returns. Anajli by now all prepared to elope with Raja. She fears that Aditya would come to know about her affair with Indian Raja. What's more there are Aditya's friends Dil (Manoj Bajpai) and Pallavi (Shamita Shetty) who tease Anjali about her extramarital affair.

Finally when the truth is out and Aditya gives Anjali the option to be with Indian Raja. Does she opt to be with Indian Raja? No. What follows is predictable Hindi film climax.

'Hum Aapke Hain Bewafaa Dhadkan'

Bewafaa Dir- Dharmesh Darshan Cast- Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor, Sushmita Sen, Manoj Bajpai, Shamita Shetty and Anil Kapoor. Written by- Robin Bhatt, Dharmesh Darshan and Raj Sinha. Rating- **

There is this game where you watch a movie, go back home and think of different alternate endings to it. After the many versions, if the actual ending still seems more interesting then you've lost. Dharmesh Darshan probably played this game after watching Sooraj Barjatya's 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun…' and his very own 'Dhadkan'. Mr. Darshan must've thought- what if Madhuri Dixit had actually married Mohnish Behl in the former and Sunil Shetty had returned in the latter to find Shilpa Shetty willing to leave hubby Akki? Now develop these plots, and what you get is a fair idea of Darshan's 'Bewafaa'. Sadly, even though Mr. Darshan must've considered his endings more interesting, he still is the loser!

Welcome then to the shakalaka baby family in Montreal, Canada. We have papa Kabir Bedi, firang(?) mummy Nafisa Ali, badi beti Sushmita Sen and chotti beti Kareena Kapoor. Sen is Aarti, married to Aditya(Anil Kapoor)- a businessman(we're not quite sure what business he does?) who has little time for his family and probably mistakes his wife for a personal assistant! Aarti dies, leaving behind two twin daughters. You guessed it right! Within a reel, chotti beti Anjali(Kareena) is married off to Aditya and sent packing to New Delhi. Living in a loveless marriage, her life is provided a pacemaker with the return of her former love, hold your breath, Indian Raja?!?(Akshay Kumar)- a popular popstar. Old flames are lit again and the lovers decide to elope. But there's a spooky couple(Manoj Bajpai & Shamita Shetty) to cope! Oh nope!! The audience is left with no hope!!! Follow a predictable storyline then to a tiring climax where everything is restored. The audience is bored. Yeh dil manage no more!!!

The whole movie is riddled with songs that emerge out of nowhere like land mines in a war zone! Mind you- the songs are good to listen, they are just not used properly. The first half drags along with only the beautiful sights of Montreal keeping you interested. The second half promises a similar fate but things are made lively with the entrance of Dil(Manoj Bajpai) and Pallavi(Shamita Shetty). Bordering on the line of vulgarity, Manoj Bajpai delivers a hammy performance but there is a guilty pleasure in watching his antics. A tip Mr. Darshan- publicize Bajpai's character. Kareena is passable(sorry Bebo, 'Bewafaa' won't do for you what 'Raja Hindustani' did for Lolo) while Sush is seriously challenging the position of Simi Garewal as Miss Grace. It is common knowledge that Akshay Kumar has a cocky attitude which can be used to his advantage when cast in roles similar to the ones he essayed in 'Khakee', 'Aankhen' and 'Mujhse Shaadi Karogi'. But here as a lover boy, he is at his stolid best! That leaves us with Anil Kapoor. This man is like wine- he's only getting better with age. In a thankless role, he acts his part with dignity. Only for him and a fairly decent second-half, 'Bewafaa' is not as bad as it sounds!

• Abhishek Bandekar

Rating- **

* Poor ** Average *** Good **** Very Good ***** Excellent

25th February, 2005