*ing: Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Preity Zinta and Anupam Kher
Directed by Shirish Kunder.
| For a debutant director, Shirish Kunder impresses with Jaanemann. Though the storyline revolves around the typical love triangle, it makes for a different and entertaining film because of its dramatic twists and turns, magical realism, visuals used as metaphors and great acting from all actors.The film opens in a space capsule with astronaut Agastya Rao (Akshay Kumar) telling the story of his friend Suhaan (Salman Khan) to another female astronaut – her identity is not disclosed until the end. Rewind back to the past and one sees the connection between the three protagonists. Suhaan (Salman Khan), Piya (Preity Zinta) and Agastya Rao (Akshay Kumar) were in college together. Both men loved her and she loved Suhaan. The two married while Agastya became an astronaut. The marriage went haywire and now Agastya through the help of Suhaan wants to win Piya over. Suhaan agrees to get Piya off his back (he doesn’t want to pay alimony to her). Soon he discovers a truth that changes his perspective on the whole situation. Thus begins the love triangle between the three protagonists. | |
| There are various reasons why Jaanemann works as a film. Firstly, it is the treatment given to the film. Usually to make a scene dramatic, most directors throw in a song. With exceptions to new directors on the Indian film front like Shaad Ali, Pradeep Sarkar alongside Karan Johar and Mani Ratnam, this idea usually breaks the momentum of the films. But in Jaanemann, one sees a variation in storytelling. In many scenes, one sees the background change; the dialogues go on but instead one sees colours, lights and ambience changing in seconds. It’s surreal, which is a new concept in Bollywood. |
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| Then of course, there is the acting. Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar have previously worked together in the rom-com Mujhse Shaadi Karoge and both of them worked like a house on fire. It was a cheesy, slapstick comical film. This time around, the two make a great team, once again. Akshay Kumar as the geeky, tongue-tied, awkward astronaut is hilarious. Despite being so educated, when it comes to Piya, he is a complete idiot. It must be said that from a dishum-dhamaka action hero, Akshay Kumar, in the last few years, has come a long way as an actor. Working with comic man, Priyadarshan and Paresh Rawal (Hera Pheri, Garam Masala), Akshay has learned the tricks of comedy. As a result, he is brilliant in the film.Salman on the other hand plays his contrasting image. Chilled out, suave and stylish, Salman remains understated in the film. This is not in-your-face Salman and over the top drama. Here, he is your average guy on the block. After the second half, his character gradually matures. From a bum who is a laid back actor waiting for something to happen, he starts taking control of his life. This character seems a lot like Salman off the set. Sexy and mischievous, yet sensitive. And it works. Most of the emotional scenes are Salman’s highpoints.
Finally, there is Preity Zinta. Her Piya has echoes of her Shalini in Dil Chahta Hai and her Naina in Kal Ho Naa Ho. Like in both those excellent films, in Jaanemann Preity tones down her vivaciousness to sobriety. Preity is the girl next door in the film; smart, pretty, brainy and simply a character a common viewer can relate to. Her character has a lot of emotional diversity. Preity emulates all emotions with perfect finesse. The chemistry between Salman and Preity works on every level. They’ve done many films before Jaanemann but this one stands tall in front of all others. Akshay and Preity have also worked together in the past but it is this film that will be remembered. The only loop in the film is the songs. It’s not the choreography or even the addition but the music itself that takes away from the film. With exception to ‘Humko Maloom Hai’ that blends well in the film, the rest of the music by Anu Malik is dull. The film could also have been slightly tight. Perhaps, thirty minutes minus would’ve had that impact. Other than that, Jaanemann is an entertaining, commercial Bolly flick that uses the classic love triangle to its advantages. If you’re looking for groundbreaking cinema, than Jaanemann is not your cup of tea. But if you want to see a lighthearted Indian flick, this is a sure shot winner. –Maheen Sabeeh. *YUCK**WHATEVER ***GOOD ****SUPER *****AWESOME |
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