Bollywood boulevard

LET8217;S face it, we always celebrate too soon. When Lagaan and Dil Chahta Hai released last year, we promptly declared that Indian cinema...

LET8217;S face it, we always celebrate too soon. When Lagaan and Dil Chahta Hai released last year, we promptly declared that Indian cinema had come of age. The fact that a typical family drama like Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham turned out to be the year8217;s biggest success, was grossly overlooked.

And now, once again as we cheer Ramgopal Varma for taking the road less travelled and for coming up with a film like Company, we forget that there8217;s a spate of 8216;happy family movies8217; lined up for release. Amidst the Bhagat Singh frenzy and the buzz around Devdas, get ready for at least half-dozen movies centred around lavish shaadis, family bonding and all things tried-and-tested.

Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai, as its title declares, is yet another story centred around a typical Punjabi wedding. Although inspired by a Hollywood hit, this Yash Chopra production has plenty of songs set against mehendi parties, sangeet functions and bidaai situations. Anil Kapoor8217;s Badhaai Ho Badhaai is all about a fat guy who can8217;t get the girl he8217;s smitten by. It8217;s a 8216;8216;celebration of life8217;8217;, the actor says. And we all know what the word celebration means in Hindi cinema 8212; shaadis, baraatis, ladoos and the all things saccharine sweet.

The Fardeen Khan-starrer, Kuch Tum Kaho Kuch Hum Kahen is supposedly a sweet romance set bang in the midst of an extended family. Lots of nanas, nanis, kakas, kakis, mamas, mamis, uncles, aunties, bhais, behens8230; the works. Another one of those tender love stories that blossoms right under the noses of watchful relatives.

And Anupam Kher8217;s directorial debut, Om Jai Jagdish is your classic family drama. Three brothers who eat together, drink together and pray together are driven apart for various reasons and eventually come together and rebuild the family bond. Ho hum8230; Is there any escaping from formula? Apparently yes, for on the other side are at least a handful of films that promise to break stereotypes. Films that promise to offer something besides the usual. In Rajat Mukherjee8217;s Road, which stars Vivek Oberoi, Antara Mali and Manoj Bajpai, neither of the three actors play the central character. According to Ramgopal Varma who8217;s producing the film, it8217;s the Jaisalmer Highway on which much of the film has been shot that is the pivotal element in the movie.

Sanjay Gupta8217;s Kaante also has no heroes although the film boasts of a stellar cast. It8217;s about six bank robbers who screw up a perfect heist. What8217;s interesting, is the fact that nobody survives to keep the loot.

Shashilal Nair8217;s Ek Choti Si Love Story is a Malena-style film about a 14-year-old boy8217;s obsession with an older woman whom he doesn8217;t actually come face to face with until the film8217;s final scene. Padam Kumar8217;s Supari is about the business of contract killing, and how the country8217;s youth is seduced into it.

And finally 8212; believe me, you can8217;t get any 8216;8216;different8217;8217; than this 8212;masala filmmaker Rakesh Roshan is going the unconventional route too. His Koi Mil Gaya starring Hrithik Roshan and Preity Zinta is Forrest Gump meets E.T., he says.

Now who told them to go so way off the beaten path..?