Review : Woh Lamhe

[amazon_link id=”B000K6FU5E” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ][/amazon_link]Rating : Above average (3.6/5)
Genre : Romance
Year : 2006
Running time : 2 hours 10 minutes
Director : Mohit Suri
Cast : Shiney Ahuja, Kangna Ranaut, Purab Kohli, Shaad
Randhawa, Sandeep Sikand

WOH LAMHE : A wistful love story

I have watched 2 films of Kangna Ranaut – Gangster and this one, both sad story-lines where Kangana has a character steeped in depression or some other condition which cause her to shed many tears. While I still believe that the lady has no screen presence, she can act. I do wish he’d take roles of a different genre though – like happy, running-around-the-tree singing songs type of characters, and then her acting abilities (to do different roles) could be judged better. Although, note here that I’m assuming that she’d be offered those kinds of roles by people other than the Bhatt camp. I can see her as the heroine’s sister in a major production – I just can’t see her as the heroine.

Kangana suits the role in “Who Lamhe” – sadness-wise, and by that I mean that she looks pretty melancholy. Hers is a thin face, not very beautiful, but not plain either – small eyes, non-pouty lips – the opposite of luscious. Not a face for a happy-go-lucky romp of a film – which it’s not really, so she comes across believably. Who Lamhe is loosely based on the story of Parveen Babi, and Babi to my mind was one of the most beautiful and glamorous actresses to grace the Indian silver screen. Kangana falls short on the glamour bits, but being the current Bhatt camp muse, does what the director tells her and does it decently enough. This is a symbiotic relationship, because I’m sure the Bhatts must be over-joyed that they’ve found a heroine who’s passable in looks and dramatic talent, and will shed clothes on demand.

Parveen Babi died alone and young after ending her filmi career, a wreck of a woman, and with not an ounce of her famous beauty. I remember seeing her pictures in Stardust when she accused Amitabh Bacchhan of bringing about her downfall, and even said that he had influence with the President of the United States. Her photo shows a not-slim woman, with puffy skin, and frizzy hair – I wouldn’t have recognized her had I seen her on the street. Seeing the film, and recognizing that Babi was mentally ill, fills me with pity for her character in the film.

Sana Azim (Kangana in the film) is a famous movie actress, prone to hissy fits when insecure, and imagines people who do not exist in real life. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, she’s also surrounded by people who are after her money – her conniving mother and her abusive boyfriend Nikhil (Shaad Randhawa). She meets struggling director Aditya Garewal (Ahuja) and is drawn to him. Aditya who initially uses her also, to gain free publicity, begins to fall in love with her, and is the only one who genuinely cares for her in her schizophrenic state. Aditya who has abandoned his mentally sick father to a sanatorium, and is weighed down by guilt at his death, decides to redeem himself by freeing Sanaa from the clutches of her greedy family and friends. However, the path to his selfless love, is a rocky road . . .

Shiney Ahuja is a very good actor, and although I’ve liked him in other films (Hazaaron Khwaishen Aisi, Karam), in this one, he does the best job ever. I feel him torn between his happy, uninvolved existence and the mess that is Sana’s life. And I feel bad for him and Sana, and the twisted sense that their love makes in a money-grubbing world, so I must give credit to the director for depicting a touching love story. Tragic love story, yes, but still a love story. Kangna, as I’ve said above is apt for the moody-broody roles. Shaad Randhawa as her boyfriend is OK, while Purab Kohli does well as Aditya’s friend and business partner. The actress playing Sana’s Mom is very believable too. Sandeep Sikand who has a small role as Sana’s make-up man “Hamida” appears briefly but is noticed. And Masumeh who plays Rani, Sana’s “imagined” alter-ego, looks gorgeous and appropriately psychotic – very well done. Also of mention is the actress who plays “Salomi” Aditya’s doctor friend who takes the hapless couple in, when they have no-one to turn too.

I didn’t particularly notice the songs, except the very catchy “Kya mujhe pyar hai ?” sung beautifully by KayKay. The background music’s OK I guess. The direction is good, but you must prepare yourself for a lazy pace. Suri takes his time giving the right touches to his story, and that I think makes it more believable. So, it’s a good film. Just know that it’s depressing and melancholy and not exactly bursting with joie-de-vivre.