HUM TUM AUR GHOST
The interesting beep on love and being human sounds good as a theory but cinematically it fails to impress all
by Vishal Verma

An Indian Films presentation of a Shooting Star production in association with Studio 18.

Producers: Arshad Warsi and Maria Goretti
Writers: Arshad Warsi, Arshad Ali Syed and Soumik Sen
Director: Kabeer Kaushik
Genre: Comedy
Target Audience: General


Starring
Arshad Warsi...... Armaan Suri
Dia Mirza...... Gehna
Sandhya Mridul...... Mini
Boman Irani...... Mr. Kapoor
Zehra Naqvi…………Mrs, Fernandes  
Shernaz Patel………….psychiatrist
Javed Sheikh………..Gehna’s father











Technical Analysis

Arshad turns producer with ‘Hum Tum aur Ghost’, - comedy on the idea of love and humanity with sprinkles of psychophrenia syndrome. The operation is perhaps more interesting in theory than it is on the screen, and appears too shapy to attract a significant audience beyond experimentalism enthusiasts.
Helmed by the talented Kabeer Kaushik (Saher) the movie does manage to cultivate some touchy moments of romance, love and humanity while in the proceedings of a photographer in London who takes to drinking as he hears voices and can see ghost who had made him the ‘Chosen’ one to solve their unsolved miseries, the angels taking help of a misunderstood kind hearted alcoholic human can give a pious spiritual ‘kick’ to some who are comparatively more open-minded then the normals, otherwise for the commoners, Kabeer’s narration takes place in a considerably less interesting universe somewhere in UK at a place where the office of ‘Cosmopolitan’ mag is situated.

Some of the more interesting sequences involve the ghost Boman Irani and the protagonist Arshad Warsi who sees them and it’s an inspired piece of casting. The film is at its best between Boman and Arshad and of course the on screen chemistry between Dia Mirza (looks and acts lovely) is warm and romantic.

Nevertheless, the movie does makes a beep into your heart as it challenges our familiar story-telling notions by forcing us to make our own decisions about what we're watching and then suddenly sweeping us up into an all-too-human moment. And mind you the climax is cliché but still.

The problem is that the movie drags in the end and it’s a bit disappointing to see that the movie which stated on a promising note gained height with its spiritual human touch ends on a dull and uninspiring note.

Arshad is commendable as an actor and as a producer as well for believing in this run of the mill stuff and agreeing to a part as a producer. Boman Irani is likeable as usual. Sandhya Mridul is fantastic.    Zehra Naqvi, Shernaz Patel and Javed Sheikh chip in with valuable support.

Shot by the veteran Ashok Mehta, the movie is eye pleasing, Steven H. Bernard editing is up to mark. Sound by Rakesh Ranjan is adequate, the movie posses excellent production values.

The movie scores 3 out of 5

One for its human touch

One for its performance and technicalities

One for its interesting attempt to be human



The Story

In the world of Armaan (Arshad) and Gehna (Diya), life is truly beautiful, For Armaan, the fashion photographer, debonair, charmer to the core and loved by all around him life only gets better when he dates Gehna, a High profile fashion magazine editor. Life is picture perfect.

Armaan has learnt that his chronic insomnia is however not a function of any sleeping disorder. The truth is that he hears voices; voices that torture him; voices that are disturbing him. More importantly voices that nobody else can hear! Life is less that picture perfect right now!

While his friends sympathize with his problems, his girlfriend Gehna is irritated with his weird behavior. Add to that her father constantly berates him for his fondness for the bottle. No one seems to understand his predicament. What puzzles everyone is the fact that he talks to himself… or rather, he talks to people, who no one can see, simply because they don't live.

Soon, Armaan becomes aware of his special ability to connect with the souls that haven't crossed over. Equipped with a will to fulfill the wishes of these spirits who hound him, Armaan sets out on a mission to help out three souls - a child, Ali, an old man, Mr. Kapoor and a young woman, Carol.

In this ensuring journey that follows Armaan discovers the lives of his three special companions and ends up frustrating Gehna. Yet, Armaan is on a journey where he discovers a lot about his own self, his own life for the first time.



Promotion

The promos and the indoor/outdoor publicity are decent but surprisingly not much buzz has been generated.



Business Analysis

Interesting with human moments but multiple release, IPL and not inspiring for the ‘aam’ junta, the movie has its best chances in its post theatre sales.



Other Credits

Cassettes and CD's on T-Series. Lyricist: Javed Akhtar. Music Director: Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonca. Background Music. Julius Packiam. Cinematography: Ashok Mehta. Choreography: Remo D'Souza. Action: Jai Singh. Editor: Steven H. Bernard. Sound: Rakesh Ranjan. Dialogue: Arshad Warsi, Arshad Ali Syed and Soumik Sen. Media Relations: Parull Gossain. Publicity Designs: Marching Ants. Reviewed at Famous Studios preview theatre, Mumbai on March 24, 2010.

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