Sooraj Barjatya started a new trend in the world of Indian love stories by Maine Pyar Kiya (1989). The stuff was old but the presentation was as fresh as a gust of cool breeze in the morning hours. Sooraj shifted to family dramas thereafter but a decade later, his disciple Nabh Kumar Raaju tried to follow his footsteps and came up with a love story somewhat in the style of Maine Pyar Kiya. This movie is Hum Tum Pe Marte Hain (1999) starring Govinda and Urmila Matondkar in lead roles.
A girl or woman living in your neighbourhood is called Padosan in Hindi and this word itself is so special that it creates a stir in the romantic male hearts when falls in the ears. The story of Hum Tum Pe Marte Hain (I am smitten by you) is the love story of two neighbours Rahul (Govinda) and Raadhika (Urmila Matondkar). Where Rahul is the only son of his businessman father (Paresh Rawal), Raadhika is the responsibility of her elder sister Devyaani (Dimple Kapadia) who is a social worker as well as a women's activist. Rahul's father readily accepts Raadhika as his would be daughter-in-law and gets affectionate to her since their introduction itself, making Devyaani agree for their marriage proves to be a tough nut to crack for Rahul. How she finally accepts Rahul for her younger sister forms the remaining part of the story which involves laughs, sentiments and action (in the climax) as well.
Since the director of this movie - Nabh Kumar Raaju had learnt direction from Sooraj Barjatya, this first independent directorial venture of him is clearly appears to be having an inspiration from Maine Pyar Kiya. The difference is where Maine Pyar Kiya focuses on romance, here the focus is on comedy. And the comedy is really good. Once love blossoms between the lead pair, the movie entertains in a different way. Finally, like Maine Pyar Kiya, action has also been inserted into in the final reels through a villain (Nirmal Pandey) who has influence over the elder sister of the heroine who is not ready for the desirable matrimonial alliance.
All the same, it's to be admitted that Hum Tum Pe Marte Hain is a very entertaining movie for the major part of it. A good movie it is. The role of the hero's father has been crafted very well and the mutual understanding and affection of the father (Paresh Rawal) and the son (Govinda) touches the audience's hearts. The way Paresh accepts Urmila as his would be daughter-in-law in the beginning itself and considers her as auspicious for their home, is heart-warming. Overall, it's a feelgood movie. There is no dearth of entertaining scenes in the movie. Both the comedy and the romance aspects of the story have been handled very well by the director.
Govinda has utilized his perfect comic timing to the fullest to entertain the audience. Urmila has ably supported him as the leading lady. Paresh Rawal is in full form. He has got a role which is able to conquer the hearts of the audience. Dimple Kapadia as the stern sister as well as a women's activist is perfect. Nirmal Pandey as the villain is also well in place.
Technically this formula-based romantic movie is okay. However the editor should have curtailed the final phase of the movie to shorten its duration.
The title of the movie has been taken from a song of Govinda's earlier hit movie - Hero No. 1 (1997). The album of songs of this movie also contains a title track. The songs penned by Anand Bakshi and composed by Uttam Singh are not great but not bad either. I like the song picturized on father Paresh Rawal and son Govinda the most which has been sung by Hariharan and Udit Naarayan whose lyrics are - O Mere Daddy, Ye Kab Hua Tha, Kaise Hua Tha Bhala.
Summing up, I assess Hum Tum Pe Marte Hain as a decent timepass and unconditionally recommend it to the entertainment-seekers.
