'Mehbooba' is an old wine in a new bottle in more than one way. The title isn't new for the Bollywood audience. Not in the distant past, there was a popular song under this name and was found on he lips of most of the people in the Hindi belt. Though the filmmaker has invested a good sum of money in shooting various picturesque locations in four different countries and also on hiring big stars and famous technicians, it hasn't succeeded in reaching the multiplex audience.
Neither the theme of the plot or nor the characterization has come up to the today's standard. The movie might have clicked fairly well some two decades ago, but not today. In fact, 'Mehbooba' is a mixture of several Hindi movies released in the past. Yes, we can cite a few movies like 'Saajan', 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' and 'Hum Aapke Hain Kaun'. But, it has miserably failed in hitting today's audience that is well versed with lot of new subjects concerning the people and their struggle in the today's context.
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If the movie stays at theaters it would be due to the creditable music by none less than Ismail Darbar though he hasn't charmed the listeners as in the past. Still, his music would certainly prove a hit and be on the audience's lips. Some of us will watch it because of the comeback of once queen Bee of Bollywood Manisha Koirala. Good that she has returned but alas, she is far from her glorious past in look and performance. She needs a lot of hard work to compete with today's young girls in the fiercely competitive market.
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As said earlier, the story is far from modern inasmuch as it's old wine in new bottle. Shravan played by Sanjay Dutt is too fond of everything beautiful, including women, and desires to obtain it at whatever cost. He desires to possess Varsha played by Manisha Koirala in spite of the latter's contrary wish but succeeds finally in marrying with her by misleading his innocent father. Soon, Varsha gets a shock of her life when Shravan tells her that he wedded her only to bed with her.
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Watch the twist in the movie's story. She leaves New York for Budapest where she is known as Payal and meets Karan played by Ajay Devgan . Though the latter loves Payal and dreams of her only is none else than the younger brother of Shravan who has ditched her. Isn't it an old Bollywood stuff? What will follow is no more a suspense and can be guessed by any movie watcher without scratching his or her head. However, our director Afzal Khan goes forward for no rhyme or reason but to augment the movies close to three hours.
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Today's audience wants continuity in the story with suspense left for it to keenly watch in the next reels. Like the old stuff, both the brothers fall in love with the same girl and bet with each other that "meriwali mehbooba will be more beautiful than "teriwali mehbooba"! This is not acceptable in today's context. After all, women aren't decorative pieces to be compared. To say that the two brothers liked the same toy during their childhood doesn't justify the link .
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Again, everyone knows that one of the boys will; sacrifice for the other and turn Devdas in his life by indulging in melancholic drinking, and attacking of piano. This is no way to prolong a movie and thus boring the audience. One shouldn't take them for granted. Anyone leaving a movie half way will give a wrong message to those waiting for the next show.The movie may attract some audience towards its item number on the lines of a mujra. Ismail Darbar's music coupled with Ashok Mehta's cinematography and Javed Siddiqui's dialogues have been excellent, indeed.
