Producer : Sajid Nadiadwala
Director: Raj Kanwar
*ing: Salman Khan, Preity Zinta, Rani Mukherji, Paresh Rawal, Neeraj Vohra, Shakti Kapoor, and Kamini Kaushal. Special Appearances by Shah Rukh Khan and Sana Saeed
Music: Anu Malik

Released on : August 04, 2000

Reviewed by: Narbir Gosal
narbir@indolink.com

out of 
From the team that brought us Jeet, Salman Khan, Sajid Nadidwala, and Raj Kanwar, we now have a sweet romance called Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega. The film stars macho hero Salman Khan with the soon to be mega superstar actresses Preity Zinta and Rani Mukherji. Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega has been inspired by the Hollywood flick While You Were Sleeping starring Sandra Bullock and Bill Pulman. Never the less this is one of the more enjoyable films of this year.

Raj (Salman) a poor orphan comes to Mumbai from Goa with dreams of becoming a super star singer. But for poor Raj that dream doesn't come true so easily. He stays in Mumbai with his good friend Abbha (Neeraj Vohra) who dresses like an overgrown toddler and lives in a house that looks like it jumped out of a cartoon into reality. During one particular evening Raj and Abbha witness a car accident and our brave hero rescues the injured victim, Pooja (Rani). Pooja has just been married. Raj takes her to the hospital, and soon enough Pooja's whole family arrives, and they mistake Raj for Romy, Pooja's husband. Pooja herself is rendered comatose, and can't tell anyone that Raj is or isn't her husband. Pooja's wealthy family never approved of Romy and Pooja as a couple, they had never met him either, so in a sense Raj is safe. Raj plays along to get closer to his dream, you see being the damad of a rich family will get him places. Anyhow Raj also meets Jhanvi (Preity), who is Pooja's best friend (more like a sister), who has returned from America upon hearing of the accident. Slowly Raj begins to fall in love with Jhanvi, but what can he do, everybody thinks he is Romy, all except for Jhanvi's father Baba (Paresh Rawal), who is also the accountant to the family. The rest of the story consists of Pooja's recovery from coma and her love for Raj, Raj pursuing his dream while keeping his identity a secret, and Raj and Jhanvi's love story.

Performances by the whole starcast are very good. Salman shows that given a a good director to mold him, he can act. This performace gives him a chance to show his range. He actually does a good job in the emotional sequences which he seldom does (I think Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam was the only film where he got to do that). He is at ease in the comic sequences. Overall, this is an extremley good performance. The real stars of the film are the two heroines, who share such a good chemistry, that it compliments their acting. This is probably due to the fact that they are good friends in reality as well. Both are given equal footage but Preity has more scope to act. She does an extremley good job, she is funny in the comedy scenes, and you really sympathize with her in sad scenes. She, like Salman, goes through a range of emotions in the film. Overall you will definitley fall in love with her in the film, she has done an excellent job (but that is not a surprise). Rani doesn't do much in the first half, because she is comatose. In the second half she does a splendid job especially in the climax. Her role may not be huge, but she is definitely the star of the second half. Her character is well etched and she does an extremley good job. The rest of the supporting cast does a good job as well. Neeraj Vohra and Shakti Kapoor provide some comic relief. Paresh Rawal does a commendable job as well. A real pleasant surprise is to see yesteryear heroine Kamini Kaushal who looks young, even at this age.

Raj Kanwar's direction is good for the most part, the beginning is a bit slow, but as the film moves along the story gets better. The climax is very well excecuted. W.B. Rao, the cinematographer, has done an amazing filming job of the various locations. The film is extremly well shot. The locations chosen for the title song are on par with the Alaska outdoor for the Pukar song. The song is so well shot it literally will take your breath away. The other songs are also enjoyable to watch. Art direction is by Sharmistra Roy who has won several awards in the past, however her art direction for this film isn't too great. The colors are childish and garish and although most of the sets are nice, some of them are atrocious. Remember the school in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Well splash more colors on and you get the tacky house that Neeraj Vorhra lives in. A special mention has to be made of Rani and Preity's makeup and costumes. Salman and Neeraj's costumes often evoked laughter, but Preity and Rani looked mind blowing in the film. Rani simply looks superb in the title song, and both actresses are stunning in the fusion party scene! Their beauty is accentuated on the big screen.

Overall the film is hit material, it has everything, laughs, drama, song and dance, and action. The titles of the film are innovative, very well done, something new for the people who are tired of just seeing the plain old credits roll. Even the credits in the end are well done, with shots of bloopers from the shooting. And the surprise appearance of Shah Rukh and his daughter from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, evoked an applause from the audience. This is one of those movies which needs to be watched on the big screen, it does have repeat value, and may be destined to be a hit, only time will tell. But as far as this critic is concerned, Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega se pyar ho jayega.