Producer : Allu Arvind
Director: David Dhawan
*ing: Govinda, Urmila Matondkar, Naghma, Kader Khan, Om Puri, Johnny Lever
Music: Aadesh Shrivastava

Released on : July 21, 2000

Reviewed by: Anjali Abrol
dilwaliji@indolink.com

out of 
After several hits and a few mistakes of late, the David Dhawan-Govinda comedy team is back to deliver a punch that is sure to keep the audiences laughing. Though not their best work, it is still worth watching. With very Dhawan-Govinda-like songs and glam doll Urmila to dance with, the movie manages to pass the 'entertaining comedy' test that so many recent movies have failed.

Yes, there is a plot (lifted from A Walk in the Clouds) to follow as such: Raju (Govinda) and Urmila (Urmila) are in New Zealand, where they happen to meet the typical 'one mishap after another' Govinda way, fall in love, and depart to return to India, planning to meet again very soon. On the way, Raju comes across Sharmila (Naghma), a heartbroken, suicidal pregnant woman who tells Raju of her evil lover (Inder Kumar of Baaghi defame) who kicked her to the curb. Being as smart as he is in all of his movies, he decides to play the role of her husband to save (her) face and they return to Sharmila's home. He meets her family, consisting of her nerve-wrecked grandfather, Vishwanath Pratap Singh (Kader Khan) and his son, Thakur Balraj Pratap Singh (Om Puri). who lives up to his thakur name. Soon after, Raju and Urmila meet, but in a very different setting that either anticipated, as Urmila is Sharmila's sister. She is shocked, he is shocked, she is hurt and angry, he is freaked, and the rest of the story unfolds...

Govinda did very well in his comedic role, as that is best suited for him and he as well as the entire industry knows that he is too good. Urmila did not have much of a role besides one of dancing and delivering a line here or there. Naghma did fairly well for her side role. Om Puri and Kadar Khan did well in making up the dysfunctional family and added to the comedy. Overall, the acting was well done.

Since this was a Govinda film, the clothing should be mentioned. Govinda's clothing, for once, was actually acceptable, in that others outside of the context of the movie may actually dare to wear similar clothing in public. In one song, Na Hira Na Moti I believe, it should be mentioned that the purple-blue attire (tight tight pants and such) is noteworthy as it was exceptionally atrocious. Urmila was basically a glam doll, all dressed up in (usually) good clothes and always made up. Naghma also looked nice (which, from me, that means she looked different than usual).

The songs were very movie-oriented and the dancing was good (for a Govinda film, how can it not be?). The shots of New Zealand were beautiful and exceptionally noteworthy. The plot and its execution? Despite the fact that the storyline was very 'unique', after all, it being a Dhawan flick...well, isn't that better than complaining that all Hindi movies are the same? The movie could have either carried the plot well or completely been destroyed (as so many movies suffer), but Kunwara was subtle and carried off well, with the right comedy punches. The movie did suffer from the typical 'masala cliche syndrome' a few times but not enough that would hinder the audience from enjoying the movie. And the audience did enjoy, since the movie theater was filled with laughter from the beginning right until the end....