Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge

When I first saw Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge I was surprised by what it presented. The title quite suggests a movie that is something on the lines of a romantic drama or something of this sort. But the film is not. It does have its romance and drama like every other Hindi movie, but more than anything it's an action thriller. The storyline is quite interesting and it's extremely twisted and unpredictable. But the movie itself does not really offer anything incredibly special and is overall a rather ordinary product, which, on top of that, is unoriginal. That's the case with most Hindi movies of its sort, and sadly so. The film has a stronger second half, but in the end, it does not make that great an impact. Salman Khan plays the leading role, and he does quite well. His role requires him to look confused, and he manages to look successfully awkward. Diya Mirza is pretty and likable. Sushmita Sen is okay in a relatively small role. Sharat Saxena is fine as the loving father. One song that Ireally liked is "Yeh Bekhudi" which is beautifully sung by Sonu Nigam and very well pictured on screen. Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge is a surprising but not particularly impressive film, but still it can be seen once.

This movie came out when Salman Khan was in the news for all the wrong reasons- Aishwarya Rai break-up, the alleged hit-and-run case etc. In retrospect, all that must have contributed to its dismal performance at the ticket windows, for as a film, Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge, is a quite solid commercial potboiler. It has a good story to tell, some great songs, good looking actresses, and a lead actor in decent form. Inspired (though not copied) from a Hollywood flick, the movie even flirts with that much abused domain of the Mumbai underbelly, a trick that always tends to bring in critical acclaim. Had the first half been tighter and had the Jhonny Lever comic track done away with, the movie could have been at a different level altogether, competing with the best action thrillers of the Hindi film industry. In any case, even in its present form, TNBP is quite an entertaining watch.

Tip: Just fast forward the initial bits and 2-3 songs. Though don't dare miss anything once Salman Khan moves back to the city to unravel his past.

The movie reminds me of a delicacy with a surprise element(and then what are thrillers for). This is one movie which keeps you engaged with its comical and romantic moments right from the start and puts you entirely at ease in the first half. For those who would be expecting a run of the mill romantic movie, avoid the second half and watch the end. For those who came expecting an action movie as the reviews may have it, the first half is boring and apparently pointless. But the suspense builds up slowly without crying out loud. And all elements in the first half are woven pretty well for the "two halves" to create a decent whole. What I found eye-catching was the way the two elements in the movie were combined. Arguably one of the better Indian movies.

Lets start off with the cast. Salman Khan is great as usual, and nothing more needs to be said about him. Dia Mirza is good in her role as is Sushmita Sen. Sharat Saxena and Rajpal Yadav are also good. It has something for everyone: romance (a lot), action ( a lot), humour (some) and good music. The story is great and is complemented by great action. The music is fabulous. Clearly, Sajid-Wajid have done a good job. The tracks 'Bindiya chamke','Mehndi hai lagi' and 'Yeh bekhudi'are the ones that stand out. The cinematography's good and so is the editing. Definitely Pankaj Parashar's best movie.

Verdict: A must watch. I give it 9.5/10

One of the best Salman Khan's film! Best songs of the time, seriously worth watching!