Producer: AVM Films
Director: Rajeev Menon
*ing : Kajol, Arvind Swamy, Prabhu Deva, S.P. Balasubramaniam
Music : A R Rahman
Reviewed by: Ali Ikram
ali@indolink.com
Rating : 
(out of 
)
Sapnay is a very valiant effort for first time director Rajeev Menon. The film has a very interesting story and several great sequences that make the film watchable overall. Be warned however, that unfortunately the film loses some of its impact because of the difficult to comprehend dubbing in many scenes.
Sapnay is the story of a motherless girl (Kajol), who is brought up in a convent and raised by nuns. When it is time for this girl to graduate, she shocks her rich father by declaring her intentions of becoming a nun, and leaving behind the material world. Her upset father takes her home after Mother Superior tells Kajol to reflect about her decision. At the same time, Mother Superior's nephew (Arvind) has fallen in love with Kajol and uses the help of a barber (Prabu Deva) with powerful convincing abilities to make Kajol reciprocate his feelings. The film winds up as a love triangle with the one of the heroes making the ultimate sacrifice by the end of the film. (I'll give you a hint; Kajol goes the 'Rangeela' and 'Raja Hindustani' way.)
Of course, it is Kajol who shines in this film with another effortless performance. Arvind Swamy and Prabu Deva is also pretty good in their roles, but face it, no one is going to see this film in Hindi for these southern actors. (I don't know of anyone who went to see 'Bombay' for Arvind either.)
The songs are simply mind-blowing and very well done. Ironically, the songs despite being the easiest part of the film to hear, are the only sequences that have been reshot in 'Hindi'. Strange, no.
As I said earlier, the film has its great moments, like the blind man in a carnival sequence, but a lot it marred by the shoddy dubbing work. What is the point of a great scene, if it seems like the actors are speaking Swahili. (Of course, the dialogue is no great shakes either.) The pace also slackens in parts of the film, and the climax is pure "Bollywood ishtyle".
The film deserves a viewing because of three simple reasons. The story, Kajol's acting and the songs.
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