Kya Kehna!

The music score by Rajesh Roshan is mostly hummable. At least two numbers — the title song and Tere naal pyaar ho gaya — deserve special mention for their freshness. Meanwhile, of the actors, Navneet Nishan is a complete disaster mainly because of her garrish wardrobe, and also because she is far too loud. Anupam Kher just about manages to evoke a few laughs.

Chandrachur Singh is pleasant and underplays his role as required in the film, earning your sympathy and affection by the end. Saif Ali Khan, on the other hand, tends to go way over the top at times. Also, if it wasn’t for Saif’s fluctuating hairstyles, one might never have known that the movie has obviously been shot over a long period of time. Preity Zinta plays her part with conviction, but is clearly too young for the role. With enough scope for delivering a commendable performance in a part that travels from being a school-girl up until the time she’s a mother, Preity is, at best, adequate. The blame, however, rests not with the actress for taking on such a part, but with the film-makers for entrusting such a role on a newcomer like her who has neither the age nor the experience of veterans, as say Madhuri Dixit or Kajol, which would have helped her carry off a role of this nature.

The film is definitely not in the league of director Kundan Shah’s previous efforts. Yes, the characters played by Deven Verma and Daisy Irani do remind you somewhat of the film-maker’s trademark comic touch, but the Eighties humour that Jane Bhi Do Yaaron, and even Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, so reeked of, is missing in Kya Kehna.

And really, that’s such a pity.

— RAJEEV MASAND