Movie Review: Lamhe

Waqt, Deewar, Mashaal, Veer-Zaara, Kabhi Kabhie......These are some of my favourite movies. My expectations with "Lamhe" were very high. I was disappointed on two fronts.

1. The songs in this movie are not in the Yash Chopra bracket. I know two songs are melodious for sure. But that's it!

2. The duration of this film is inexcusable. I understand that the movie spans two generations but that's no excuse. For a story with just five characters (two of them Sridevi!) it can't be 186 minutes. This is not 'The Godfather' or ('The Godfather 2') where there are many characters and they all need to be introduced. Nor is it 'Lagaan' where an entire day of cricket is condensed into an hour.

However, if I were to put the above 'flaws' aside I can say I qite liked the film. I have a confession to make. I knew the story. In fact, my parents will tell me I have seen the movie a day after its release. I assure everyone though that I barring the intergenerational marriage I don't remember much of the film. However, that is what the film is about. I happened to be watching this movie with my wife and she didn't see this coming until the story took us there. Thus, my opinions are based as much on her reactions as my own.

The story is exceptional. Yes! I have to reservations in stating that. Viren falls for Pooja and not Pallavi. Pooja loves Viren not out of sympathy for his unreturned love from Pallavi. Finally, the concept of Viren marrying Pooja is ground breaking. Last year we had 'Nishabh' and 'Cheeni Kum' which were considered bold. Sixteen years before them this film presented a tender tale. The story is very contemporary. In that sense it is a true Yash Chopra story. All his movies can be a part of life in any era.

Sridevi may have won an award for her performance but for me the acting accolades should have gone to Anil Kapoor. In no movie he sticks out like a sore thumb. Here he gives one of his best and most controlled performance. I am used to seeing him doing at least some comedy in his movies but that is not so here.

Anupam Kher is fantastic.

RATING: 3/5 (One star reduced for the unnecessarily long runtime)