bewafaa

Director: Dharmesh Darshan
Starring: Anil Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Sushmita Sen, Manoj Bajpai, Kareena Kapoor, Shamita Shetty, Kabir Bedi, Nafisa Ali.
Music: Nadeem-Shravan

Will 'Bewafaa' do the same what 'Raja Hindustani' did for Karisma Kapoor? That has been the question on every one's lip, who went to watch 'Bewafaa' released today. It was Kareena only who claimed that 'Bewafaa' is not run- of- the- mill film and it will do what 'Raja Hindustani' did for her elder sister Kareena nine years back.

'Raja Hindustani' also proved to be a turning point in its director Dharmesh Darshan's career. Dharmesh's last tryst with emotional drama was 'Dhadkan' and since then he has been lying low in filmmaking.

Producer Boney Kapoor gave another opportunity to Dharmesh this time to prove his mettle and also arranged a multistarrer cast. The film has Akshay Kumar, Anil Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Nafisa Ali, Kabir Bedi, Sushmita Sen, Manoj Bajpai and Shamita Shetty doing lead roles with an added attraction of an item number by Priyanka Chopra.

'Bewafaa' is one step ahead in Hindi social films in dealing with extramarital affairs and takes on from where films of Jeetendra like 'Ek Hi Bhool' and still earlier 'Mang Bharo Sajna' and others left the scene. The formula has always worked wonders for filmmakers in Bollywood, but the recent spurt of 'Saas Bahu' serials on small screen has taken a very heavy toll on films of this genre.

So, where does 'Bewafaa' stand? Those who have seen 'Nadia Ke Paar' and 'Hum Aapke Hain Kaun' may find some similarities in the basic story plot in 'Bewafaa', as it is also a tale of younger sister getting married to the husband of elder sister.

The wedding did not happen in earlier two films but in 'Bewafaa' the plot moves on this basis only. Sushmita Sen plays the role of elder sister Aarti. Her younger sister Anjali (Kareena Kapoor) is in love with an aspiring musician Raja (Akshay Kumar). But, despite having been brought up in foreign soil, Anjali finds it hard to reveal her love story to her parents (Kabir Bedi and Nafisa Ali).

Aarti knows it and promises that she will talk on Anjali's behalf to their parents. But before Aarti could tell this even to her husband Aditya Sahai (Anil Kapoor), she dies giving birth to twins.

Now, situations demand that Anjali should marry Aditya and being an obedient daughter she does so and migrates to Delhi with Aditya. Aditya is a big business tycoon who hardly gets time for Anjali and his kids.

On the other hand, Anjali does everything to keep the home intact and looks after the kids like a real mother. Every thing seems to be going normal on the face but Anjali cannot forget her first love Raja. And, when the fate brings Raja to Delhi as a successful musician, the love from past rekindles. The need of time has it that Anjali indulges in extramarital affair with Raja.

'Bewafaa' deals with the status of a motherless child and also with the issues that stem from marriage by compulsion and the extramarital affair. It raises some valid questions on the relationships and duties.

But, at the end of the day the question remains the same, is Indian society ready for such experiments? Experiments have always been welcome among Hindi film viewers; the latest example being Madhur Bhandarkar's 'Page 3' that is doing very good business and also Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Black' that has been watched.

'Bewafaa' could have been a turning point in the career of Kareena if the subject was treated more intensely. To do an Anjali's role is not a cakewalk for any actress. Kareena Kapoor has put in a lot of labor to do justice. She does look attractive as a wife cheating on her husband but as a dedicated mother she fails to emote properly.

So, Kareena is not fit for such a diversified role. While Karisma very aptly moulded her image from a bubbly girl to an intense lady, Kareena will have to work a lot and sweat more. Sushmita Sen does a better job than Kareena in 'Bewafaa'.

Sush does justice to a role that required maturity and integrity. Among male actors, Anil Kapoor tries to surpass Casanova Akshay Kumar but this Khiladi is hard to lose. Both the actors have put in their best to make the film a great adventure.

Manoj Bajpai should listen to the danger bell ringing for him, and if he keeps on doing such roles, he will soon be out of Bollywood. Shamita leaves the impact in short but sweet (not really!) role.

Director Dharmesh Darshan has failed to deliver in this star-studded film despite having music directors like Nadeem Shravan and cinematographer W. B. Rao. The reason is a weak script and poor imagination.

Robin Bhatt has failed to maintain the pace of the film mainly in the latter half. On the whole,
'Bewafaa' does not have a bright future at box office and will have to heavily rely on the women audience.

But they do watch all this in 'Saas Bahu' operas at home and with better treatment.