Producer: Mahesh Manjrekar, Asoo Nihalani, Sagoon
Wagh and Raj Lalchandani
Director: Sanjay Jha
Starring: Vijay Raaz, Raveena Tandon, Namrata Shirodkar, Aman Verma,
Rinkie Khanna, Divya Dutta, Shweta Menon, Diya Mirza, Sachin Khedkar, Sayaji
Shinde, Shivaji Satam, Vivek Shauq, Bharat Jadav, Abhijeet Satam and Sanjay
Narvekar
Release
Date – May 02, 2003
SYNOPSIS
- Sanjay Jha-directed Prraan Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaye is the story of number of
middle class families living in the cramped confines of their 100-odd square
foot homes in Popatlal Chunilal Garodiya chawl in Mumbai.
The film revolves around their lives, their petty problems and their fight with
their new landlord, who is hell bent on vacating the chawl and constructing a
huge complex in its place.
The movie begins with Sushmita Sen playing the sutradhar (narrator) and
introducing a viewer to the residents of the chawl.
The habitants of this chawl include Durga (Raveena Tandon), an unhappy housewife
who is barren and cannot conceive a child. Moreover, her husband cannot afford
to get her treated.
In the same chawl live Suman (Rinke Khanna) and her slightly disoriented father
lament. They are bereaving the loss of family’s sole son (Sanjay Narvekar) in
a police encounter.
Then there is Dulari and Sheela (Divya Dutta and Shweta Menon) who are in
distress because of their good-for-nothing husbands' constant need for sexual
gratification.
There is a girl named Soundarya (Dia Mirza) who is traumatised by her supposedly
unattractive face.
On the other hand, there is also bombshell Mona (Namrata Shirodkar) whose good
looks attract too many admirers outside her window, causing her much grief.
As it turns out, Popatlal (Sachin Khedekar), the chawl's wicked owner, wants to
get all the tenants evicted as he wants to build a multi-storeyed apartment
block and shopping mall in its place.
Enters the film's hero Aman (Aman Verma) who at the first glance seems the
kind-hearted savior who helps the tenants by getting them huge loans. But it
turns out he is actually Popatlal's friend who is helping him ensure they are
forced out of their homes.
Praan Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaye boasts of a fine cast and a promising story,
but loses its way because the director tries too hard to be clever. There are
certain instances in the film where humor is forced in the narrative.
The first half of the movie is pleasant in parts but the second half takes an
unbelievably silly turn and the film loses its focus.
The script by Mahesh Manjrekar is replete with satirical gags that are going to
appeal to those who are tired of seeing Govinda’s crass and slapstick humor.
Wow, finally!!! A Hindi female oriented film. The star cast is great...from Raveena Tandon to Rinkie Khanna to Namrata Shironkar to Diya Mirza. Even Sushmita Sen has a guest appearance. All the beauty queens. I was excited to see the film. The only thing was how to fit all the characters in the movie.
I was so disappointed after watching the film. I thought the movie was very dumb. There was too many comedy at unnecessary times. The film could have been a lot better since the storyline was interesting.
Raveena having the first name credit had such a dumb role. She was funny in the second half but her acting seemed so unreal and fake. She is very talented and I hated to see her wasted in such a role!
Namrata hardly ever shows off her acting skills. I loved her in "Pukar" and find her very beautiful. All she did was show off her body and beauty.
Divya
Dutta does good in her ten seconds role. I liked her in "Sur"
but she always play supporting roles. Sweta Menon was also very good in
her ten seconds role.
Diya Mirza was cute and I liked her short role. She didn't really show off any acting. She has the talent and beauty but I would like to see her show it off more.
The surprise package of the film is Rinkie Khanna. Her role was the strongest and she does a great job at it too. Surprisely, her name was not given credit first. She is another actress who can act but isn't given the right opportunity to do so.
Overall, the movie is a miss. Only watch it if you are really bored. The movie is only worth it for Rinkie's acting and Sush's short guest role appearance.
1.0 out of 10
NiCKi