Deewaanapan still continues.... Review on Deewaanapan

Puja Entertainment India Ltd.'s DEEWAANAPAN, produced by Vashu Bhagnani and scripted-directed by Ashu Trikha, has an oft-repeated storyline, but it's the storytelling that makes it distinct.

Kiran (Diya Mirza) and Suraj (Arjun Rampal) fall in love with each other. Everything seems to be hunky-dory till, one day, Suraj realizes that Kiran's father is extremely influential and powerful.

Ranvir Choudhary (Vinod Khanna) is worshipped by the city and has big plans for Kiran. Obviously, the plans have no place for the likes of a middle class youth and Ranvir seeks to destroy whatever obstructs the dreams for his darling daughter.

But Suraj has long crossed the barrier of rational analysis. The exuberance of his love pits him against Ranvir. Both men want to win.

An oft-repeated story - a rich girl and a middle class boy falling in love and the affluent father creating a quandary - has been witnessed incalculable times since the inception of Hindi cinema. The storyline is waferthin and the initial reels don't help in enriching the state of affairs.

The focal point in the first half is on romance, music and light scenes and the narrative moves on the trodden path. But the graph of the film modifies when Vinod Khanna makes a dramatic entry in the lives of the lovers. The sequences thereafter, although predictable, are well executed and keep the viewer's interest alive.

Considering the fact that the flick is director Ashu Trikha's maiden attempt at wielding the megaphone, he has handled a couple of sequences with aplomb. Notable among them being:

• Arjun's first day in the college and the basketball match that ensues;

  
  




• The confrontation scene between Vinod Khanna and Arjun at the interval point;

  
  




• The football match in the second half and

  
  




• The confrontation scene in the jail, between Om Puri, Vinod Khanna and Arjun.

  
  

But the impact tends to get diluted at times thanks to the songs that crop up at regular intervals. At least two songs - 'Kamli' and 'Hum Deewane Pyaar Ke' - can easily be deleted for they prove to be major obstacles in the smooth narration of the saga.

Adesh Shrivastava's musical score does boast of a couple of songs that hold popular appeal, mainly the title track and 'Bhangda Paale Goriyaan'. Another highpoint of the film are its skilfully executed action sequences (Abbas Ali). Cinematography (Suhas Gujrathi) is up to the mark. The stunning locales of New Zealand have been captured brilliantly on celluloid.

Arjun Rampal carries the film on his broad shoulders and comes up with a sincere performance that is consistent throughout. He is wonderful in action sequences and springs a pleasant surprise in the emotional moments by delivering the apposite expressions.

Diya Mirza shows vast improvement over her earlier performance. She is more confident this time and has been better photographed as well. Vinod Khanna is appropriate. Om Puri is, like always, highly competent. Smita Jaykar is good.

On the whole, DEEWAANAPAN is an entertaining love story that should find appeal mainly from the youth. If typical 'masala' flicks is what you are looking for, this one is for you!