'Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na'

Starring : Sohail Khan, Paresh Rawal, Genelia D'Souza, Imran Khan, Naseeruddin Shah, Arbaaz Khan
Director : Abbas Tyrewala

There is something about Imran Khan that makes him very endearing. He has the demeanor of a shy guy with a rare combination of the sharp and meek, the clever and vulnerable. He has an unpretentious, honest face, clear eyes and a voice that is confident and also inhibited. To a T, he suits the role of a Rajput who can’t even kill a fly, forget about punching someone or seeing the inside of a jail.

There is something about Genelia D'Souza , the way she smiles and the way she scowls. She has a fine blend of femininity and tomboyishness. She doesn’t have the face of a stunner, but it’s a face you can watch for hours without getting bored. To a T she suits the role of a girl who would love someone without knowing it, a girl who would pick fights with other boys but can’t tell what’s in her heart to the person most close.

Be it Ratna Pathak Shah as the admonishing mother of the protagonist, or Naseerudin Shah as the sword-wielding dead Rajput father who speaks to his wife (Ratna) from a photograph. Or be it Paresh Rawal as the cop who deals with criminals and imparts justice with his baton and bumboo rather than putting load on the judiciary. Or be it Arbaaz Khan and Sohail Khan, superbly cast as two macho Rajputs, who ride horses in city and pick up fights in discotheques.

All these actors are very appropriately cast in a story that has loads of youthful exuberance, hilarity, love, friendship, romance and heartbreak.

‘Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na’ is about a bunch of friends. Jai aka Ratz (Imran Khan) and Aditi aka Meawoo (Genelia) are so close that people close to them think they are in love. Only Jai and Aditi themselves are unaware of any such feelings towards each other.

Rotlu, the brooder, has a crush on Aditi. And Bombs, the tubelight, silently longs for Jai. Jiggy and Shaleen are totally chilled out. Together the sextet makes a gang of singing, dancing, joking and joshing buddies.

Things change when Jai falls for Meghna (Manjari Phadnis). Aditi feels Jai getting distant from her and this disturbs her. Then, Aditi too finds her Mr. Right in Sushant, a broad-shouldered ‘man’ with a roving eye. Now, Jai feels he is losing Aditi. How Jai and Aditi get out of their romantic mess and discover their heart’s true desire is what ‘Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na’ is about.

On paper, the movie might look like any other love story with some beaten-to-death clichés like the hero mounting on a horse and riding to an airport in the climax to stop his ladylove from leaving for the US. But believe you me; it has never been presented in such as novel way – with a delectable dash of humour – as in ‘Jaane Tu’.

Hats off to Abbas Tyrewala for keeping the story so simple and populating it with characters (including horses) that chip in their bit to the movement of the plot. As it turns out by the film’s end, not a single character is dispensable to the story.

Each one has a part to play, including the fuddy-duddy, dead daddy (Naseeruddin Shah) of the protagonist who speaks from a photo frame. In fact, my favorite scene from the film is when Jai comes home bruised after his first active fight and his dad almost bursts with muffled joy of his son at last showing some Rajput trait. Without saying a word, Naseer conveys it all with his expressions.

Paresh Rawal comes in a few scenes and leaves you floored. Ratna Pathak Shah is good. The young actors playing the bunch of friends are natural. It’s hard to notice any acting in their performance. Arbaaz and Sohail are absolutely adorable as the rustic cowboys eager to pick up fights. Not to forget A R Rahman ’s music that blends seamlessly into the narrative whether it’s played in background or in foreground.
In the end, ‘Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na’ can be aptly summed up in a few lines from the song ‘Nazrein Churana’. The lines go: “dil ki yahi khataa hai, dil ko nahin pataa hai, ki dil chahta hai kya.”

‘Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na’ released on July 4th, 2008

'Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic'

All cinematic blasphemies can be forgiven when you see a delightful, heart-winning tale filled with fun; frolic, fantasy and some tear-jerking drama unfold on the screen. That’s what Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic is. So even if you think for a moment that director Kunal Kohli has blasphemed when ..........more

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'Haal-E-Dil'

Introducing three newcomers, ‘Haal-e-Dil’ promises to be a heart-winning romantic movie. The film is primarily the launchpad of Amita Pathak, the doted daughter of producer Kumar Mangat. It also introduces two debutants – Adhyayan (Shekhar Suman’s son) and Nakuul Mehta ..........more

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'Mere Baap Pehle Aap'

A 55-year-old widower with two sons and a daughter-in-law seeks a suitable female to marry in this rollicky comedy by Priyadarshan. This younger son of Janardhan Rane shares a unique relationship with his father. Usually, he is his father’s best friend. But whenever he tries to discipline his father..........more

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'Sarkar Raj'

Looks like Ram Gopal Varma's 'one of a kind' cinematic sensibilities have flown out of the window. 'Sarkar Raj' is laden with star power and some good characterizations, yet it's not impressive enough.'Sarkar' was a landmark film of the year 2005. But the sequel can hardly be considered an apt follow-up. Maybe making the sequel wasn't a very great idea after all ...........more

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'Woodstock Villa' - 'Stay Away'

Producer Sanjay Gupta’s fixation with style over substance seems to have rubbed off on the otherwise talented Hansal Mehta who shows an over infatuation for stylish shot-composition and jarring background music to such degrees that it gives you headache by the end of ‘Woodstock Villa’. The entire film looks like an extended, elongated, stretched-out music video...........more

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------