Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge

Welcome to the madhouse. Say hello to Sapna (Karisma Kapoor) who lives in a huge palatial home, but is stifled due to the constant attention of her three mamas, each of whom have an agenda for her. Pehalwan uncle (Om Puri) teaches her to stay fit as a fiddle. Pandit uncle (Paresh Rawal) instils in her the right values and morals. And Pansy uncle (Anupam Kher) just makes sure she learns to dance like a dream. No wonder then that the pretty girl decides to scoot off for a trip around Europe so she can let her hair down and have a ball. On the trip, she bumps into Raja (Salman Khan) who has been sent here to woo the damsel by his adamant papa (Kader Khan), who in turn, wants nothing more than to see the two goodlooking lovelies together. Predictably, the young ones begin on the wrong note, bickering and warring like little children. Of course, in the midst of all this, smart-alec Sapna doesn’t for a moment forget that she’s here to do all that she wasn’t able to in the past. So she abandons thosesalwar kameezes for skimpy short skirts, gets all sexy and asks for a lift, allows perfect strangers to buy her a beer, and even hits the dance floor with unknown admirers. But when — on more than one occasion — Raja helps her out of sticky situations, love slowly blossoms. Before long, they’re inseparable. That then, is the cue for a bunch of splendidly shot numbers at scenic locales in Switzerland and Austria caught beautifully by Harmeet Singh’s camera.

But despite everything, Dulhan… is an enjoyable watch. Dialogue by Rumi Jafry deserves mention as does the music score by Himesh Reshammiya. Two songs in particular — Mujhse Shaadi Karogi and the title track — are applaud-worthy while the others are simply a treat to watch because of both, good choreography and eye-catching camerawork. Although Om Puri and Paresh Rawal are wasted in roles that display none of their talent, most other characters are appropriately cast. Johnny Lever is entertaining, but the same can’t be said of Anupam Kher who takes his camp portrayal a little too far. Karisma Kapoor exudes just the right amount of innocence in her part, and is a treat to watch. Clearly, she has learnt the finer nuances of acting over the years. Salman Khan also shines with his performance. Evidently, he has a flair for comedy which is on abundant display in this film. His ability to make the audience reach out and laugh with him is commendable, as is his talent for dancing.

At the end of the day, despite the occasional flaws in the script, here’s a film that leaves you with a big grin on your face. Deserves a dekko rightaway.