A review

OK so I’m waiting for the film to start at a 2.30 show in London’s Empire Leicester Square, one of the best cinemas in the world. Of course, I stocked up on snacks because this was 3 and a half hour epic. The movie began… In the first scene you meet all three of the boys. Sameer, played by Jugal Hansraj, Karan, played by gorgeous Jimmy, and Vicky (short for Vikram), played by Uday Chopra. This is the first time they meet but surprise, surprise they all happen to be in the same dorm!

At the first assembly in Gurukul, which is run by Narayan Shankar, (Amitabh Bachchan), they are reminded of Tradition, Honour and Discipline, the three pillars of Gurukul (blatant copy of Dead Poets’ Society). As they get settled into the harsh and disciplined life they all fall in love. Vicky meets Ishika (Shamita Shetty) as he catches her stealing some apples from the grounds of Gurukul. She attends Miss Monica’s (Helen) College, behind Gurukul.

Sameer has always been in love with his childhood sweetheart Sanjana (Kim Sharma) but she moved away when they were 14. She now lives close to Gurukul and they meet each other in the market place. She just happens to hand over her bags to a complete stranger (Sameer), even before she realises who it is. “Sameer! Tum yaho hon!” You should hear my wonderful impression of her squeaky voice.

Finally, Karan, who goes to the station to pick up a Professor, notices Kiran (Preeti Jhangiani) who is standing across the platform from him. He falls in love at the first sight, even though he must have Superman like vision to be able to see her face clearly from so far. What he doesn’t know is that she is/was married to an Air force pilot, who was called on duty on their wedding night and was killed. She remains as a bahu to please her father-in law.

The boys meet up on the rooftop and discuss their various stories. Karan however remembers the harsh words of their principal and then tells the famous Gurukul story. The story is about a student who did the worst possible thing in Narayan Shankar’s eyes he fell in love. The boy got expelled (a bit harsh, don’t u think?) and the girl he loved committed suicide. The girl was Narayan Shankars one and only child, Megha (Aishwarya Rai). People thought her death would soften him but it doesn’t. The boy who was expelled is Raj A. Malhotra (ShahRukh Khan).

Raj Aryan returns to Gurukul looking for a job as a music teacher. Narayan Shankar does not recognise because he was expelled without even being seen by him. Raj gets the job and thus commences to change the 'Tradition, Honour and Discipline' parts of Gurukul. He befriends Vicky, Sameer and Karan as they are the only students who have fallen in love in his music class. He helps them in wooing their potential girlfriends!

On Raj Aryans birthday, he plans to have a party but is warned by Shankar that no girl has entered into Gurukul and he would like to keep it that way (but what about the little girl he was playing the violin for in the beginning?) Raj being the cool guy manages to smuggle the girls in, wearing the most skimpiest clothes, to enable them to be camouflaged(!) Narayan Shankar returns to find his School Hall filled with half dressed girls. The next morning he tells Raj to hand in his resignation but Raj holds in his hand a contract which states that he is not permitted to leave until the end of term. "Jab tak mein yahan se jaonga, mein itni mohabbat bhardunga ke saath janmo tak tum bhi isi nikhal nahin paongi." So the story continues. Songs, Dance and LOVE. Lots of Love.

Things which were wrong with the film

- Raj Aryan comes into the school and starts playing his violin for a little girl. Whats a little girl doing in a boys college?

- Raj Aryan comes into the school and suddenly, everyone can play an instrument.

- Megha keeps on popping in and out of the film. It can get really annoying.

- Vicky is returning to his dorm after meeting Ishika and even though he knows he’s not meant to be out, he starts whistling. Does he want to get caught?

- Karan wants to be the student who gets to teach Kirans Nephew the piano. He knows nothing about playing in the morning but by the afternoon can play an amazing rendition of Chalte Chalte!

- At the end, Narayan Shankar hands over the principal’s post over to Raj Aryan who as far as we know, was not allowed admission into any other college. I suppose education was not important in deciding who takes over the most prestigious boys college in the country.

Can you think of anymore? If you can, e-mail me!

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