Pyaasa

I'm only about 4 years late :oP This came out in 2002 - I don't think it ever registered with me on any level back then, which tells you something already. The thing that kept me going (well, two things) were the male leads - Zulfi Syed (as Prem), and Aftab Shivdasani (as Sooraj). They were oh-so-great to look at. Umm. That's about it really!

The sad thing is that it all started so well - the initial plot was an interesting one; Sooraj's a kindhearted but misunderstood soul with a father who's deeply disappointed that he's nowhere near as successful as his cousin, Prem. Note - Sooraj dislikes Prem with a passion. This makes you like Prem all the more - minor detour here, but Zulfi doesn't get too much to do in this flick, but I would quite happily pay to watch him just stand in the corner and smile every now and then - say, every 15 minutes or so *drools*

Ahem! Aaaanyway - along comes Sheetal (played by Yukta Mookey) who offers Sooraj a highly paid job which finally takes him into the big league and he gets many an opportunity to go 'ner ner' in the face of Prem (who takes this very well and smiles throughout in saintly fashion). Sooraj falls for Sheetal, she leads him on but then breaks his heart when she confesses she fancies Prem (don't we all *more drooling*). Cue Sooraj having a mental and going a bit doolally. His anger increases when he finds out that Sheetal is using him to get closer to Prem, and then openly admits she is. We find out this has somet to do with Prem's father and for a bit it looks like she'll also do Prem over. But. But but but. This is where it all heads into the twilight zone :oS The next bit is like watching four hindi movies back to back on speed.

I won't elaborate too much but it goes something like this *takes deep breath*: Sooraj hates Prem but Prem loves Sooraj (as a brother, none of the funky stuff); Sheetal is taking revenge for what Prem's old man did to her's. Sheetal forces Sooraj to break up Prem's existing relationship. Sheetal pays Sooraj for this. Sooraj tries to kill Prem. Prem is still loving everyone. Sheetal confesses her love to Prem. Prem suddenly decides he loves her too. Sheetal comes to Prem's house with her father. Her father tries to kill Prem's father. Sheetal tells Sooraj what happened back in the day. Prem finds out the truth about his dad's dastardly deeds from a houseservant. Prem hands over his entire estate to Sheetal then walks out on his dad. His dad goes to Sooraj's house and asks for shelter yadda yadda. Sooraj tries to get him kicked out but his dad takes Prem's dad's side (he's the younger brother - are you still with me?!). Sooraj is now even more mad. Sheetal's happy until she gets kidnapped at gunpoint. Prem's dad appears and threatens to shoot her unless she signs everything back to him. Prem turns up to rescue Sheetal and after a bit of fisticuffs, his dad accidentally shoots him. Nice :oS Cue rushing to the hospital and along comes Prem's dad to visit his son and beg for forgiveness from the family. All forgive him (including Sheetal's dad), aside from Sooraj who loiters outside and vows to reach new levels of insanity. Prem is still smiling. Can't remember how but Sooraj gets all of Sheetal's wealth signed over to him and orders her about. The biggest order being that she has to marry him even though she's now decided she really does love Prem. Sooraj hands Prem an invite for the wedding. For the first time, Prem is not smiling. Sheetal refuses to marry Sooraj but he threatens her brothers who in turn threaten her - they'll kill Prem if she doesn't marry Sooraj. Shift to the only decent song in the entire flick - 'Dupatta Lehron Valiye', and the wedding ceremony begins. Prem is smiling again. All hail the gorgeous Saint Prem :oP Just before the final bit, Sooraj has a change of heart and drags Prem towards the mandap to marry Sheetal. Her brothers start shooting and Sooraj's dad gets shot (not fatally), but Sooraj manages to hold them off until the marriage is sealed. Then he gets shot of course; it's always the way - the one without the girl always dies - 'tis the way of Bollywood!! Cue death scene and much crying and Sheetal's brothers are back on her side again. Sooraj tells Prem he's a good lad and says his goodbyes etc etc.

*sigh* It could've been good...it could've! Sheetal/Yukta didn't help - in the bit where she's told that she has to marry Sooraj/Aftab, or Prem/Zulfi gets killed, I swear she had a smile on her face :oS The lady can't act. At all.

Final words: It was worth paying three quid for the DVD just to leer at Zulfi, but that was about it ;o)