Jai Hind

Producer & Director : Manoj Kumar
*ing: Kunal Goswami, Manisha Koirala, Rishi Kapoor, Raveena Tandon, Shilpa Shirodkar
Music: Laxmikant Pyarelal

Released on : April 23, 1999

Reviewed by: Anjali Abrol
dilwaliji@indolink.com

out of 
A die-hard Manoj Kumar fan, I was eagerly anticipating his latest venture, Jai Hind. I bought my front-row V.I.P. seats at the theater in which it would be playing for the next three months (second to Kuch Kuch Hota Hai) and listened to the soundtrack to my heart's content. I plastered my Manoj Kumar Fan Club Page with movie trailors and shots from the film, and the response was overwhelming. This time, Shahrukh baby was second to Manoj.

Or so Manoj wishes.

I am going to try to make this as painless as possible, due to the three-hour agony I just endured and the pity I feel upon myself and my audience.

Basically, Kunal Goswami (Vijay) and Rishi Kapoor (Gulrosh) are friends, Kunal loves Manisha (Sheetal), a doctor, Shilpa Shirodkar, village girl whos father is Panditji refugee Prem Chopra, loves Kunal, Mohnish Behl loves Manisha, Gulrosh and Raveena Tandon love each other, Manisha's grandfather, Pran, is against Manya and Kunal's love because both Pran and Amrish Puri, Kunal's grandfather, were in the military together, and Mugambo (Amrish) sold military secrets to the enemy for money. Confusing? Hate my one long sentence? Imagine watching the movie....it's worse.

Next sentence-enter morons. Terrorist villian Valishah wants to break up Kunal and Rishi's friendship, so he kills Rishi's sister Noor (who we never see and are left to confusion), blames Kunal, hence, Rishi turns against Kunal and becomes a terrorist (and a funny one, at that), wants Shilpa Shirodkar and hence, does everything possible to take her away (take her take her!).

The end. That's enough. If I let on any more, it will ruin the suspense, and I will forever hang my head in shame and resign as Manoj Kumar's Fan Club President. A big clue is that that the title, so galantly thought up, has basically nothing to do with the non-existent story.

Acting? Zilch. I am very surprised that Raveena or Manya would accept such horrific roles. It is quite a comedy, actually...the acting is quite like a satire... unfortunately, that was not the intention. No one gave a moment's effort into acting, and it's blatantly evident.

Story? None. Zilch. Ithne purane zamane ki hai, even my parents found it unbearable. Wayyy too melodramatic, ridiculous (watch Shilpa stand on metal spikes, it's really quite funny), and downright bakwaas. I would rather watch (gulp) a Mithun movie than this. Sheesh....scary.

Songs, clothes, makeup, dances. Songs were nothing to listen to....not even worth a tape, though the music itself (forget the ridiculous lyrics) wasn't too bad in comparison to the movie. (I fastforeward the songs, though...forgive me). Clothes were outdated and pretty sad. Makeup was okay at times, though Kunal could have laid off a bit on the blush. Dances? Wait...I don't recall seeing a choreographer in the credits...oh, right, Manoj baby, busting those moves. Obviously.

Positive points. Uhmmm uhhmmmm the title. The title itself was quite nice. Jai Hind! Gives the patriotic feel, especially when many of us NRIs and ABCDs live so far away from our motherland. Jai Hind!

As far as the patriotic feeling from the movie? Haha, try again. Oh, wait, Manoj, forget I said that...
Verdict? 0.25 for effort, and 0.75 for the title.