VIVAH

Rating:- * * *

Keeping in tradition with the Barjatya patent family theme of unadulterated entertainment, Sooraj Barjatya presents VIVAH a desi film with loads of emotions, family bonding, clashes and gharelu issues which have off late been confined only to the daily TV soaps. It reinforces the traditional values without getting preachy and conservative.

Prem [Shahid Kapoor] is an eligible bachelor, not yet prepared for marriage. He agrees to a betrothal with Poonam [Amrita Rao] just to please his dad [Anupam Kher] only to discover that they are soul mates.

Poonam is an orphan, raised by her Chacha (Alok Nath) & Chachi [Seema Biswas],who is however, jealous of Poonam’s beauty, simplicity and charm, as her own daughter Chothi [Amrita Prakash] is overshadowed.

Gentle, soft-spoken Prem, the scion of one of Delhi’s most prosperous business houses, may have studied abroad, but retains his respect for family traditions and values. Prem and Poonam are engaged and the marriage is scheduled to take place after six months. Just when everything is set for the wedding, a crisis puts their love through a trial by fire.

The film has in store loads of Indian sentiments, feelings and family bonding in this almost 3hr pack drama. The first half of the film fails to grip the audience, however the strength lies in the unconventional twist and the last hour of the film keeps the audience engrossed.

The direction has its own share of drawbacks with a slow and narrative first half, and unnecessary songs. He has made an effort to narrate a simple story portraying human emotions. Music is sub-standard and do not leave any impression [Ravindra Jain]. One tends to forget them as soon as you have heard.

Shahid and Amrita definitely deserve to be applauded for their power packed emotional performances. Alok Nath, Seema Biswas, Anupam Kher live upto their class of performances.

The film will definitely appeal to family audiences and is expected to pick up through word-of-mouth.