Love blooms. And how !. Review on Maine Pyar Kiya

?A girl and a boy can never be friends. They have to be lovers.? Says Jeevan (Mohnish Behl) in ?Maine Pyar kiya? to the ?friends? - a sobbing Suman and a defiant Prem in a crowded room, where a party has just gone all wrong with Jeevan and Prem dueling for the fair lady.

I suppose that was the climaxof the movie ? some sort of a turning point. Just when I was about to jump up and enter the screen to argue with Mohnish about his flawed theory, I realized that it?s no use anyway. The hero and the heroine had gone and just proved him right.

It was sad. Really sad. They looked so cute as pals, playing tennis and riding on motorcycles, talking and laughing, singing ?Aaya mausam dosti ka?.They both looked too young and fresh to be burdened with typical ?Bollywoodized pyar vyaar?.

Somehow bringing the ?love? angle just made them look uncomfortable, mouthing ?I love you? as if someone put a gun on their heads and singing ?Dil deewana? with forced grins on their faces.

But then, this is a Bollywood love story. And a Rajshri Productions too.

Love blooms. In a joint family setup.

So bring out the palatial homes, lots of servants, antakshari songs and a riot of colors.Let loose an amazingly intelligent pigeonwho seems to cannily detect the barometer of the love of the leading couple. Roll out some velvet carpets on which ladies wearing bright, colorful outfits will dance in perfect coordination. Set up long, majestic tablesaround which a large family sits and eats meals after meals. Hang huge glass chandelierson high ceilings to complete the picture..

Not that I am complaining. If I leave my logic and rationale (my favourite words) behind at home, then the three plus hours watching this movie is pure fun.And no wonder then, this movie was such a superhit.

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Story

The story ? You really want to know ? OK. Here goes. Rich-boy-meets-poor-girl-fall-in-love-faces-opposition-fights-back-love-triumphs
-the-end. If you have understood that, then you have been fed on Bollywood diet since you were a baby, just like me.

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Performances

Salman Khan: He is comical, though of course, not intentionally. He is trying to look like the ultimate hunk with intense eyes who falls in love with the first maiden he sets his eyes on after alighting from his airplane. He call her his ?friend? for weeks and then suddenly proposes to her the moment his friendship is questioned by his like-minded pals. His dancing is supposed to be cool but again, in my opinion, it?s amazingly hilarious. This was the movie where he discovered that going shirtless pays and since then, he chooses to take it off whenever it suits him.

Bhagyashree :She looked very pretty and delicate. But why, o why does she have to speak like that ? I know she was desperately trying to be this so-cute, so sweet, such a darling little Miss but her act is so terribly in your face that you may feel slightly sick with all that angelic, saint-like goodness. And why does she have to fall in Salman?s feet when everything else fails her ?!! Diabetics, take note, just stay far, far away from the sweeter than sugar Bhagyashree. Her acting is not really bad but I guess, her characterization simply did her in.

Alok Nath :He did not have a rather lengthy role but whatever little he had to do, he made sure that he almost killed you with his typical I-am-a self-respecting-father-of-a -daughter. What?s it about this man ? He makes me squirm uncomfortably whenever he smiles, speaks, laughs, cries, frowns, whatever. He is Mr.goody-goody personified who has found his niche in Rajshri?s productions as the sacrificing, understanding father figure.

Reema Lagoo :Frankly, she is the best thing about this movie. As Prem?s mother she exudes warmth and love and yet, she is not the typical Nirupa Roy type of long suffering, martyr-like mom. She looks matronly but very pretty. Her quiet understanding and silent support for the young lovers was very touching.

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Music

The music was very melodious and all the songs were superhits. ?Dil deewana?, ?Mere rang mein? and ?Aate Jaate? topped the charts but my favourite will always be ?Aaya mausam dosti ka?.

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Do I recommend this movie ? Sure. But only selectively.

If you are still in love with the idea of ?love?

If you love the Bollywood formula.

If you want to ape Salman?s dance steps just to make your friends laugh.

If you feel that girls should be Ms.Goody two shoes who should let men take all decisions.

If you love smart pigeons and dumb humans.

If you like watching designer homes, beautiful carpets and a cackle of chattering females dancing to Antakshari.