Silsiilay – effectively shows today’s men’s & women’s changed mindsets

Rating:- **

Gone indeed are the days when Indian women were content with being confined to the kitchen, cooking for her pati-dev and other members of her family. Their place has been taken by modern day women and characters who form the backbone of Khalid Mohamed-directed Silsiillay, characters with whom the audience of today can easily identify with. The film revolves around the changing mindsets and issues that are very contemporary.

The film is inspired, if not copied, from Hollywood flick THE HOURS which also dealt with the story of three women living in different places.

SILSIILAY also narrates the stories of three women, who're not even remotely connected with each other.

Zia [Bhumika Chawla], an unmarried leading Bollywood actress, is expecting a child thanks to her liaison with Neel [Rahul Bose] who believes in the institution of marriage. The lovers drift apart after a bitter confrontation. The sequences between the two are well handled. And the confrontation sequence is the highlight of the film.

Anushka [Riya Sen] is a telephone receptionist who longs to discover tenderness in her relationship with Nikhil [Ashmit Patel], but lo, another office colleague of hers, Tarun [Jimmy Shergill], also loves her albeit silently. She must decide between the two.

Rehana [Tabu] is a housewife who has to confront the fact that her husband Anwar [Kay Kay] is unfaithful to her. Preeti [Celina Jaitley] plays the third angle of the tempestuous triangle.

SILSIILAY starts off very well, with Shah Rukh Khan acting as the sutradhar, introducing the three protagonists in the film [Tabu, Bhumika, Riya].

The second story pertaining to Riya, Ashmit and Natasha,looks like a routine triangle. Hence becomes boring before long.

The third story revolving around Tabu, Kay Kay, Celina Jaitley and new-find Karan, is the boldest of the lot. This story not only looks at an extra-marital affair, but also incest (mother-son fixation). The real-life relationships have been handled with maturity, with each character delivering a good performance. The confrontation sequence is the best part of this story as well.

Besides extracting some wonderful performances, director Khalid Mohamed has handled a few scenes very well.

However, as the screenplay writer, Khalid is not without his share of faults. One wonders why none of the protagonists -- Bhumika, Riya and Celina – get married.

Himesh Reshammiya's music is soulful and seeped in melody. 'Ban Jaiye', 'Meri Chandi Mera Sona Tu', 'Ahista Ahista' and 'Chahat Ki Guzarish Hai' are compositions that stand out. The title track -- filmed on SRK -- is also catchy.

Although the film has, on the whole, a good star cast, it is Tabu who towers over the rest.

Bhumika Chawla also impresses and looks alluring in a glamorous role. Celina Jaitley contributes to the glamour quotient enormously. Riya Sen also shows more confidene. Although male characters also do well, particularly Rahul Bose, the film is dominated by women.