सलाम नमस्ते

Salaam Namaste Starring : Saif Ali Khan, Priety Zinta and Arshad Warsi. It has taken nearly nine years for an Indian Director to be "inspired" by Nine Months. What we get then is a Siddharth Anand meets Chris Columbus in a Yash Raj package. So you could meet Hugh Grant (Khan-competent),Julianne Moore (Zinta-dependable), Tom Arnold (Warsi-getting better) and Joan Cusak (Tania Zaetta- getting worse) and Robin Williams (Abhishek Bachchan in one of his most hammiest cameo) or go to Blockbuster and pick up the original instead. Too much hype little spike. I will be posting a more a detailed review on dus-ka-bees.blogspot.com

This Hindi film is said to be a remake of 'Nine Months' and to be derivative of certain Hindi films, but not having seen any of them I am not entitled to comment on that. (I felt an undertone of 'Sleepless in Seattle', not a bad choice to emulate). In 'Salaam Namaste' practically everyone is young and successful and gorgeous, so it is admittedly an escapist fantasy. One could criticize that but on the other hand it's a hard film to dislike. The stars are wonderful together, and Melbourne, Australia, is a major character the way New York often is. Living in Melbourne, the main characters deal with certain issues that they might not face -or would deal with differently- had they stayed in India. Likewise, traditional Indian viewers might find some elements a bit shocking but I don't think the filmmakers set out to put off anyone. Yes, it's manipulative and predictable, but it's a 'feel-good' movie that works. If you can handle a little sugar, I recommend it.

I was pleasantly surprised. Went to this movie for a Charity Fundraiser to help orphans in India. Never seen an Indian/Bollywood movie before as these movies never interest me. I have detested reading subtitles in the past.

When it started I though, oh my, I have to sit through this, I thought "how corny".

However, the more I got into the movie the more and more I liked it. It is a lighthearted, predictable romantic comedy who's target audience would be 15yo to 40 yo women. It is not really a mens movie.

The acting was excellent and I loved seeing Melbourne.

The end birthing scene was over the top but overall a great movie

Salaam Namaste is one of the lightest and boldest Hindi entertainers in recent years. It is on par with any well-made Hollywood rom-com. The film addresses two very controversial issues in India: live-in relationships and premarital pregnancy, yet does not try to emphasise them or take them too seriously. It is brilliantly shot, with great production values, great cinematography, light and beautiful songs, and well-cast actors. The film is entirely shot in Australia, and the various locations of Melbourne, the sets and the beautiful landscapes are breathtaking and extremely pleasing to the eye. While it is a modern comedy, it never forgets that it is actually a Hindi film, and in the second half becomes loyal to its Bollywood standards. By the same token, while it turns into a dramatic feature, it never forgets to remain modern. The emotions of the film are reserved and not overly cheap. They are natural and consistently flavoured with great comedy.

Saif Ali Khan and Preity Zinta are irreplaceable in their parts, and their chemistry is fantastic. They are sensitive, cool and modern actors who understand this foreign lifestyle and act accordingly. Khan's character is quite unsympathetic, as he is portrayed as someone who fears commitment and does not want to take responsibility for his actions. Yet, the transformation his character goes through over the course of the story is very well done. Zinta is quite the owner of the show though. Oozing charisma and sex-appeal, she is utterly charming and attractive as the strong-minded, moody and lively Ambar. Her vivacity in the first half and then pain and hilarious hysterics in the second are excellently done. But what's more, she actually captures the real person beneath the strong and sometimes comic surface - Ambar's struggle and optimism amidst loneliness throughout the pregnancy are convincing, touching and inspiring.

There are many memorable scenes in Salaam Namaste. First, the kissing and love scenes between the leading actors are surprising and must be noted. I really liked the "My Dil Goes Hmmm..." song. The scenes when Nick and Ambar fight intensively are funny and well-acted. The scene when they meet at their friends' house and the subsequent "Tu Jahaan" song are moving. The entire birth scene is exciting and funny. But my favourite scene is the "Ben and Jerry's Dark Belgian Chocolate ice cream" one. This is one of the greatest acts of the film, spontaneous and wholly entertaining. I recommend Salaam Namaste to everyone. It's not an extraordinary film, but it's a spectacular and visually stunning romantic comedy for the entire family.

How they came up with this movie:

Aditya: ...But you know it gotta be new.

Siddharth: Lets see what we can do? How about a new location?

A: Oh yes! In the past movies, We've been to London, new york, LA.. how about Melbourne this time?

S: Fantastic! and we can have a couple of beach songs there, you know thats the latest trend these days.

A: OK Lets talk about the story. I've an idea, lets do a different kind of romantic movie.

S: What different?

A: How about if we make a modern day love story, girl and boy both living outside India. That way we can also capture those NRI sentiments you know?

S: Whoa whoa. But that we have already seen in so many other movies lately. Need to add something more to it.

A: How about if the boy and the girl live together?

S: Live-in relationships? Indian audience will never accept that.

A: Ha! They are going' to jump on it, it will be a fresh story, wholly new idea, you know. Boy and girl stay together, fall in love, have sex, and then the girl becomes pregnant.

S: You are talking about "nine-months"?

A: whatever! how many in India have watched nine months? forget it. people are just going to love the idea.

S: OK so the story is finalized. What about the music?

A: Yeh, we need one or two dance item numbers, one wedding song?

S: why a wedding song?

A: You don't understand! its that superstition thing!

S: OK OK! But how are we going to have dance numbers when the heroine is pregnant?

A: Don't worry! Audience won't care. They come only to see the dance and songs. Nobody gives a damn even if she dances while giving birth to her baby.

A: I've got this gut feeling, in last movie remember, people loved the comedy. We have to have that in this movie too.

S: But its a serious movie. How can it have comedy?

A: Then arrange some part time TV actor. You know those anchors, they can speak so much on the spot you don't even need to worry about writing dialogs for them.

S: Thats fine. How about the cast?

A: Lets see, Preity is hot these day. See if we get dates from Preity, else go for Rani. Male actor, I don't think Shahrukh is that good after Swades. and Aamir, just don't approach him, he'll demand the god-damn script first.

S: Then how about Saif.

A: He'll do. Anything else?

S: We'll see that on the sets. Lets start working on it.