Karan Arjun   Producer: FilmKraft Presentations Director: Rakesh Roshan Starring: Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Mamta Kulkharini, Rakhee, Amrish Puri Music: Rajesh Roshan Lyrics: Indeevar Genre: Emotional Recommended Audience: General Reviewed by: Rakesh Budhu  - Rating: 7.0 / 10   Let us know what you think about this review Music Review

Karan Arjun provides entertainment with melodious music but is not a film for those who want meaningful cinema that provides thought provoking portraits. In the past, Bollywood would rarely provide products like a modern day Lagaan or Chandni Bar. There was a fear that they were pointless wastes of time and money. This was the fear that presumably prevented such excellent cinematiques from hitting cinemas, and the ideal that some directors and producers just didn’t have the veal to produce or make such films.

The Roshan banner was pretty successful in the masaladar thematic and Karan Arjun asserted this matter. Though the subject of reincarnation and revenge continued to be seen through out Bollywood before and after its release, its popular (and enviable, especially in Bollywood today) star cast and beautiful score are some of the assertions for viewing.

Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan have always proved successful together. Whether it be their short contributions in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai or Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega, when they are in a film together the fans just can’t get enough. So when they are the heart and soul as Karan and Arjun, born again as Ajay (Salman) and Vijay (Shah Rukh) one can easily understand why this film holds its entertaining qualities.

The rest of the formula is just the same. The father of the rich brothers´ has died, and their evil relative Thakur Durjan Singh (Amrish Puri) plans to obtain the wealth. Only solution, capitalize on their mother Durga (Rakhee)’s weakness and murder the sons. Durga spends the rest of her life at a Kali Temple praying for her sons to return in any which way possible. By faith, they do return as a strong man (Ajay) and a horse rider (Vijay). After the mandatory sequences of falling in love with Mamta Kulkharini and Kajol, the sons encounter each other and after a period of hesitancy accept that they are long lost brothers re-born. Hence the badla begins.

Before the film begins FilmKraft has displayed a disclaimer declaring that the basic premise for the film is based on faith and fate. Indeed it is. In fact this type of entertainment ruled during the year that Karan Arjun released. Other than that there’s nothing spectacular about the film.

The acting department is filled with normal performances. Shah Rukh and Salman share a great deal of chemistry as a male duo and that sets the screen alive. Their characters require little effort though in terms of raw acting. Kajol and Mamta are female actresses and are included for that simple fact. None of them distinguish their acts and their roles will be appreciated solely for their fans. Thankfully the major heroines reject most of these strictly for romance roles now a days. Though the Kajol-Shah Rukh duo has always proved successful, even through the test of time. Rakhee is appreciable in her mother role and Amrish Puri is his normal evil self.

Rajesh Roshan has always saved his best music for his brother and that continues till this day. The music of this film had a number of melodious hit numbers, like “Jhatti Ho Main”, Lata Mangeshkar’s “Ek Munda” and the Mamta cabaret number Gup Chup.

Though the film is not a spectacular piece of art, Roshan’s direction is well done for its genre. The mindless revenge sequences and action portions are well worked out and placed. The songs are not out of place and don’t interrupt the flow of the film. The apt length of the film is normal. He has also picturized the film technically well. The production values aren’t shoddy and are overall above average.

Karan Arjun is an enjoyable film for those looking for meaningless well-crafted entertainment. There are touching portions but in reality it’s the type of film where you leave reality behind and sit back and enjoy.