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A few years ago, the Govinda-Harmesh Malhotra combo delivered a hit in
DULHE RAJA. The duo team up again for KHULLAM KHULLA PYAAR KAREN, which,
like DULHE RAJA, follows the same pattern as Manmohan Desai and David
Dhawan entertainers.
Unfortunately, KHULLAM KHULLA PYAAR KAREN comes at a time when the routine
formula is being discarded by moviegoers. That explains why this comic
caper holds no attraction in today's times.
Damaani [Prem Chopra] and Govardhan [Kader Khan] are underworld dons
operating from Gujarat and Mumbai, respectively. The leader of the
underworld, Supremo/Anna [Sadashiv Amrapurkar], orders them to forget
their enmity by getting their children married. Govardhan sends his son
Vicky [Mohnish Bahl] to Surat to approve Damaani's daughter Preity [Preity
Zinta].
In the meantime, Raja [Govinda], who works for Himalaya Travels, is sacked
by his boss [Satish Kaushik]. Raja decides to return to his native place,
Bihar. As luck would have it, Raja bumps into Vicky on the way and asks
for a lift.
Despite Raja's requests, Vicky consumes alcohol while driving. His car
meets with an accident and falls into a river. Damaani's men save Raja
instead of Vicky, believing him to be Damaani's prospective son-in-law.
After regaining consciousness, Raja realizes that Damaani is under the
impression that he is Vicky. He decides to take advantage of this
opportunity and settles down there. Damaani's daughter Priety does not
like Raja at first, but ultimately falls in love when he saves her from
goons.
Govardhan is told by Damaani that their children have agreed to marry.
There's happiness all around, till Govardhan finds Vicky entering the
house in torn clothes. He tells his father that he could not reach
Gujarat, as he was held captive by a money-crazy doctor [Dinesh Hingoo].
Govardhan is shocked to know that an imposter is living at Damaani's
house. They immediately head for Gujarat to eliminate Raja. But Raja is a
smooth operator; he pretends to be Govardhan’s illegitimate son and
continues to live under the same roof.
In the end, Raja’s boss, who has now been reduced to a cabbie, reaches the
marriage venue and the truth is revealed.
KHULLAM KHULLA PYAAR KAREN is meant to be an entertainer with emphasis on
laughter, but, unfortunately, the film does little to tickle your funny
bone. It does boast of a bizarre and cliché-ridden plot, like DULHE RAJA
and AKHIYON SE GOLI MAARE, but KHULLAM KHULLA PYAAR KAREN just doesn't
have the power to keep you glued to the goings-on. The [juvenile] jokes
fall flat most of the times!
The screenplay is its biggest drawback. There are several instances in the
film that look simply ridiculous. Like the 'Baba' sequence when Kader Khan
decides to visit Gujarat. Or Preity's sudden change of feelings for
Govinda -- it looks straight out of 1980s cinema. Even the post-interval
portions, when Govinda pretends to be Kader Khan’s illegitimate son and
Razzaq Khan is asked to visit Bihar and then the Himalayas to trace
Govinda’s mother, is like taking the viewer for granted!
Director Harmesh Malhotra tries hard to make you laugh, but most of the
on-screen antics don't evoke mirth simply because of a lopsided
screenplay. While a few sequences do register an impact [the Johny Lever
track in the first half is hilarious], the impact is sorely missing in the
latter half because it lacks novelty in the script.
Music [Anand-Milind] is another drawback. It sounds jaded and seems more
like a gap filler. None of the songs really leave an impact, barring 'Khullam
Khulla Pyaar Karen'. Cinematography is just about okay. Dialogues are
witty at places and do raise a chuckle.
Govinda is lovable yet again, but the actor seems to have enacted similar
roles over the years. Preity Zinta tries hard to do what Karisma Kapoor
successfully did in David's movies and she is just okay.
Kader Khan and Prem Chopra, as rival dons, are adequate. Sadashiv
Amrapurkar doesn’t get much scope. Johny Lever, as the gangster, is
excellent. Mohnish Bahl is passable. Satish Kaushik provides some
entertaining moments in the initial reels mainly. Himani Shivpuri [Kader
Khan's wife] and Razzaq Khan [Kader Khan's brother-in-law] fill the bill.
Asrani [Panditji] comes only towards the end.
On the whole, KHULLAM KHULLA PYAAR KAREN is a routine fare. At the
box-office, it has nothing to offer!
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