It is a film with a missing heart, writes Muhammad Kamran Shamshad.

Vipul Amrutlal Shah, the stylish director, as seen earlier, has the ability to make changes even in replica versions. His two films, Ankhein and Waqt, are both based on Gujarati plays where he manages to segregate both in terms of style and method. While former was thriller, the latter was melodramatic with all the ingredients of Bollywood clichés.
His third successful film was Namastey London, which was again a  crude patriotic movie. All his movies have has his favourite Akshay Kumar in the lead.
This time the director has cast Bollywood heartthrob Salman Khan and angry young man Ajay Devgn. It is their second movie after Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (99), which proved to be an outstanding movie for both the artists.
‘London dreams’ is about the two childhood friends, Arjun (Ajay) and  Manu (Salman) from Bhatinda, Punjab. Arjun’s only dream in life is to be a great pop-star and sing at Wembley Stadium, London, where his grandfather could not sing in front of almost 90,000 people. For this  dream he would do whatever possible. Manu (Salman), on the other hand is a womaniser. It is tailor made role for Salman Khan where he even personifies his real life with reel: “oy, mujhe pata hai main he mere  type ka hoon aur koi bhi nahi hai”. A man with immense talent with no ambitions other than to be with women, he has mortgaged everything.
Arjun forces Manu to come to London to join his band (London Dreams) where he later falls in love with Priya, played by Asin, who is one of the members of the band. Arjun practices hard for his stardom and to make his dreams come true. He falls to the charms of Asin but he looks in disbelieve as  Manu not only earns fame but steals his girlfriend right in front of  his nose, making Arjun envious. Then it is usual story where you know
one has to sacrifice for the other. And all is well that ends well. Quite filmy!.
The film has many things in its favour—the chemistry between Salman and Ajay, an emotional story, a new look Ajay Devgan with short hair and goggles. Salman looks good, along with the locations and the treatment.
The big disappointment of the film is its music. The music directors of Dil Chhata Hai and Kal Ho Naho, Shankar Ehsaan Loy have come up with below par music. The music doesn’t go well for any concert particularly when it is played in Wembley Stadium. Same is the case with the lyrics of Prasoon Joshi, who can forget Prasoon’s  lyrics in ‘Tare Zameen Par’ or Rang De Basnti. His lyrics lack the words of emotional touch and look banal.
The film has cliché shots of meeting and parting- hi, hello and bye scenes. There is love at first sight. There is dosti. There is  dushmani. The film will have an average time at box office, however, Salman Khan’s role would be appreciated and will ward off the ghosts of the disastrous ‘Mr and Mrs Khanna’.

(Muhammad Kamran Shamshad is B. Com 2nd year at Islamia College. Feedback at skamranmuhammad@gmail.com)

Lastupdate on : Sun, 8 Nov 2009 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 8 Nov 2009 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 9 Nov 2009 00:00:00 IST