(English version)
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| 'General' Kabir in hot new Bollywood hit! |
 ZAYED KHAN (Lucky - left), SHAH RUKH KHAN (Major Ram Prasad Sharma - right), AMRITA RAO (Sanjana - behind him) |
| Kabir's latest film
is being released worldwide on April 30, 2004. (April 29 in the Netherlands) Cinema audiences and critics are delighted! Speaking in an interview for his official website early April, Kabir had this to say about his role as General Amerjeet Bakshi, Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army: "I think it should be a good fun Bollywood film. And I'm personally happy with my role, it's a very positive role and a very pivotal role, brief as it is." "It's not so easy," Kabir says in the spectacular opening scene of the movie. Actually, it's the India-Pakistan peace process he is talking about, but it could just as well have been the three-hour-long plot of Main Hoon Na! So are you sitting comfortably? Right in the first exciting minutes we see Kabir as General Amerjeet Bakshi, Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, who promotes his Project Milaap (Unity) in a TV talk show. The project is meant to help peace between India and Pakistan through an exchange of prisoners between the two countries on August 15. But the show is rudely interrupted: Despite the extensive security measures taken by the General's friend, Major Sharma (an exciting support act by Naseerudin Shah), the top officer is captured by terrorists in the TV studio. In the ensuing shootout, Major Sharma saves Kabir/General Bakshi but is fatally injured, held in Kabir's arms. On his death bed, he makes a shattering confession to his son, elite commando Major Ram Prasad Sharma (Shah Rukh Khan) - he has another son, Ram's younger half-brother, who together with his mother left the Major 20 years ago. His dying wish is that the family will be reunited to scatter his ashes into the River Ganges. Apart from this private mission, Major Ram - a true action hero in the best 007 tradition - is told by General Bakshi to protect his estranged daughter Sanjana (the ravishing Amrita Rao). This has to be done under cover, since the girl has not spoken to her father for two years. Sanjana and the young rebel 'Lucky' Lakshman (Zayed Khan - watch this boy!) are the two most popular students at a college in Darjeeling, and Major Ram's anti-terrorist mission means he has to enrol there as a somewhat superannuated student. To make things even harder, our ultra-disciplined hero is told his estranged half-brother is also among the students! And who could this be but the popular student and 'uber-hippie' Lucky!!! Will Ram succeed in reuniting his family, will ruthless chief terrorist Raghavan (Suniel Shetty, the baddie in Kabir's mystery thriller Rudraksh) come to a sticky end, and will 'dad' Kabir ever see his daughter again??? Kabir's first appearance, and his longest and most important scene, are right at the beginning of the movie. As a highly decorated, splendidly beturbaned Indian army chief, he is all authority and power. With his unique dark voice he only has relatively few lines, and often he is sitting at a desk. But he also turns up at the border to shake hands with his Pakistani counterpart, and his voice can also be heard in the off several times. Once more, Kabir plays a father who is estranged from his daughter. The father/General role leaves him little room for expression. Kabir did not shoot any scenes on location in Darjeeling. So - did I like Main Hoon Na? I saw the three-hour blockbuster twice in 48 hours! A three-hour movie bonanza, packed with exciting action, college romantics, politics, wild dance scenes, great music. and wonderful sets - this is what entertainment is all about! - You have to see this! The cinema audience laughed, cried, commented loudly and applauded when they felt a scene was particularly good, creating a unique atmosphere that you will only experience with really successful movies. Built entirely around superstar Shah Rukh Khan (also known as SRK) the movie was produced by his wife Gauri. It is a feast for the eyes. Director Farah Khan is one of Bollywood's most successful choreographers: go and see Monsoon Wedding, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Asokha, Koi...Mil Gaya, and Kabir's Maine Dil Tujhko Diya! Her dance acts in Main Hoon Na are equally wonderful. It is quite clear, as SRK has confirmed, that the stars really enjoyed leaping and whirling about the screen. The main set, St. Paul's School in the Darjeeling hill station, was very well chosen. The cinematography is impressive. The saris worn by the chemistry teacher, SRK's love interest (the gorgeous Sushmita Sen), are worth dying for. Hugely popular star Shah Rukh Khan plays convincingly, using his expressive features to great effect, and flies spectacularly through many an action scene. Given his back problems, it can't have been easy. Anu Malik's music, a major hit since weeks, is full of catchy tunes. Kabir's wife, Nikki, told me the slow and sad version of the title song is her favourite Main Hoon Na number. And how right she is! The support roles are all wonderful characters, and are very well casted. They include constantly knitting Hindi teacher Mrs. Kakkad and her physics colleague, whose "wet" pronunciation is a running gag throughout the movie. I especially liked the way some of the characters were introduced, from the school director with a mean taste in ties and reading Harry Potter, to the old-maid Hindi teacher and the stunning new chemistry professor. It pays to wait for the end credits, which are innovative and a true tribute to the actors and the brilliant crew. For a large number of Main Hoon Na stills, a production diary (will be updated with even more information) and further details about this blockbuster movie, check Kabir-Bedi.com. I am also putting a detailed review of the songs online soon. |
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