MOVIE REVIEW April 2005
MOVIE REVIEW
Bewafaa
Starring: Anil Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor, Sushmita Sen
Director: Dharmesh Darshan
Music Directors: Nadeem-Shravan
Bewafaa had everything going for it ? a great star cast, a lavish budget, a potentially dramatic storyline (never mind if it is inspired by BR Chopra's bold 1960s'drama Gumrah) but director Dharmesh Darshan just throws it all away. For those not familiar with the Sunil Dutt, Mala Sinha-starrer, the film is about the dilemma of a woman who must marry her widowed brother-in-law for the sake of the children even though she loves another man. The saving grace of the film is Sushmita didi Sen but alas, she is there for too short a time. Yes yes, Bewafaa has shades of Hum Aapke Hain Kaun too!
The film opens in Canada where Anjali (Kareena) lives with her foreigner mother and Indian father. Pregnant sister (Aarti) Sushmita comes home, meets Anjali's secret lover Raja (Akshay Kumar), a struggling musician, and advises the couple to wait before telling mom and dad. Then she dies during the delivery leaving twins behind. Anjali just vanishes without telling her boyfriend anything, marries her brother-in-law Aditya (Anil Kapoor) and shifts to New Delhi. Things hot up when Raja comes to the Capital for a show. He's a struggler no more, but a singing star. And Anjali plunges headlong into an affair, yet remains torn and morose throughout. The climax almost promises a twist as Raja gets defiant but sorry, that lasts for only a couple of moments.
The basic problem with Bewafaa lis in the script and the leading lady's shallow characterisation. Anjali doesn't love Aditya, but won't leave him. She loves Raja, but doesn't really care how he feels, or what he goes through. In the end, to justify her position, she sobs out a 'mother can't leave her kids' finale.
Kareena looks listless and speaks in undertones. Bebo, we don't want to see you in roles beyond your age, at least not yet. Akshay is good enough. Manoj Bajpai as Aditya's friend goes completely over the top. He hams to the hilt! Shamita Shetty's role has negative shades and she carries it off well.
Music by Nadeem-Shravan is pleasant enough, the title track being its high point.
Old fashioned lore, Bewafaa is a bore!
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