The Dream Girl is back, along with her girl having the actual dreams. Yes, Hema Malini is back on the director's seat after a long sabbatical, and this time she can proudly say - "it's just for my daughter". After a failed career in Bollywood, mother Hema Malini has herself taken up the responsibility of reviving Esha Deol's career and working on all her 'past mistakes' with this comeback film. Will this mother-daughter duo be able to create any magic on-screen? Well, Hema Malini should have concentrated on her mistakes as a director while filming rather than her daughters.
 
Little Tanya, brought up in the secure and contented environment of a loving family, decides to chart an unpredictable course all with the intention of location her biological parents. She leaves the cocoon of luxury and comfort and embarks on a turbulent journey to seek her roots. Tanya chases her near impractical dreams and what follows is an array of dramatic and dangerous escapades into the wilds of Turkey, the deserts of Rajasthan and the carnival crazy Goa.
 
In today's times, one has definitely heard of directors re-making other directors' classic films, the best example being Ram Gopal Verma's Aag (remake of classic Sholay). Hema Malini has chosen to take a step ahead; she has remade her very own film. If one would remember Hema Malini's last directorial venture Dil Aashna Hai, starring Divya Bharti and Shah Rukh Khan, it's nearly a replica of the same story. Only this time she's looking for her father. The film is also on the lines of the popular Hollywood film 'Mamma Mia'. Maybe it would also be an apt title for this film, considering it's all about Esha's 'Mamma'! Well, the problem is simple. The script is jaded (even more jaded than Dharmendra's look). The film is torturously slow. And hence, the film is in plain words - uninteresting! The film's pace does pick up slightly in its second half, but then - who cares?! Also, having Dharmendra and Hema Malini both with Esha Deol in the same film – I'm sure the suspense of the 'unknown mother father' can even be cracked by a toddler. If not an interesting build-up, then at least an interesting climax or revelation could have helped the film.
 
Hema Malini fails to impress behind the camera. Maybe an understanding of changed times and the difference of film tastes compared to the viewers of the 1990's would have helped. Tell Me O Khudda is an old-fashioned product which doesn't fit in the current times. Moving on to performances, Esha Deol has definitely improved compared to her previous films. However, it still doesn't seem enough. She's over-the-top most of the times, especially in the emotional sequences. If you don't feel for an actress while she's sobbing out on screen, then something is definitely wrong. Coming to the three veterans - Vinod Khanna, Rishi Kapoor and Dharmendra, all actors are too experienced to be subject to any comments for their performances. Vinod Khanna has some amazing presence. Full justice hasn't been done to Rishi Kapoor's talent. While, Dharmendra looks extremely jaded and tired. One feels bad for Arjan Bajwa, considering his screen time is as much as a comedy artist would have in a film. One wonders after Fashion, what compelled him to take this up.
 
Overall, Tell Me O Khudda is a product which might have worked 20 years back. It's seems more like a family reunion arranged by Hema Malini to get her husband and daughter along with her on screen. Frankly, I was expecting Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol to come up from somewhere in the end making a complete picture. But thankfully, that doesn't happen. Khudda saved us! To conclude, all I can say is – 'Mamma Mia, yeh tune kya kiya…'

 

Rating: * 1/2 (One and a half star)

Author: Rishitu Amarnani