Main Hoon Na [DVD] [2004]

Shah Rukh Khan plays Major Ram Prasad, an undercover army man who ends up in a college in Darjeeling to protect his boss's daughter (played by Rao) lest a dreaded terrorist Raghvan (Shetty) get his hands on her in an attempt to thwart Mission 'Milaap' - an attempt to ease the seemingly unending tension between India and Pakistan. However, he also has a hidden agenda for visiting the college. His half brother, Laxman (Zayed Khan) 'studies' at the same college and lives locally with his mother (Kher) - who had left her husband (Naseerudin Shah) as a result of his infidelity, the result of which was Ram.

Add to this 'bhelpuri' of sub-plots a spitting teacher (Satish Shah), a forgettfful principal (Irani) a wannabe 'Hinglish' teacher (Bindu) and a chemistry teacher, Chandni Chopra (Sen in an all too brief role) who sets Ram's pulse racing and you have the perfect ingredient for a typical Manmohan Desai style pot boiler which offers 3 hours of shameless fun.

Main Hoon Na is by no means a thought provoking film. And the best part is it doesn't pretend to be either. It is Farah Khan's tribute to the 70's style of filmmaking, comprising of a silly but fun comedy track, lost and found siblings, dutiful sons, hammy villains, adult and teenage romances and racy music.

Farah Khan's gives us every aspect of escapist cinema in three hours and frankly does quite a good job of it. Not once does the film get boring, and by today's standards that is quite an achievement. Technically the film is sound with some excellent action sequences and brilliant end credits (inspired by Bombay Dreams) but the Matrix like effects need to be toned down as they're getting quite repetitive. Anu Malik's music is good, not brilliant but matches the mood of the film and their choreography obviously is spot on seeing that Farah Khan herself is a renowned choreographer.

Performance wise, it is off course Shah Rukh Khan's film and revolves around him. Don't get me wrong he is good but in his narcissistic attempt to try and pull off the dude, the lover, the dutiful son, and every character possible he forgot that he really isn't convincing as an action hero. Still this is one of his better and restrained performances. Zayed Khan is passable - I suspect the original choice Hrithik would have done a far better job but Zayed's not bad and definitely better than his debut in Chura Liya Hai Tumne. Sunil Shetty pulls off his villainous act well and gives one of the films better performances. Amrita Rao is cute and seems to be improving with each film. Sushmita Sen has the smaller role and is required mainly for 'oomph' value and boy does she score on that front! Never has she looked so jaw droppingly gorgeous (full marks to Manish Malhotra) - and I doubt if she ever will. Shame there isn't more of her in the film. Kiron Kher is good in her role too. Of the supporting cast, Boman Irani has a small role but is hilarious. Ditto Satish Shah and Bindu. Kabir Bedi and Naseerudin Shah deliver the goods.

On the whole Main Hoon Na is unabashedly entertaining and will probably do quite well. Enjoy it for what it is but don't expect it to be memorable or anything - it's just a good, enjoyable popcorn flick and a great way to kill a few hours.