You must watch this film, if only for a few laughs. Nawaz Sharif repays all the kindness George Fernandes has done him since May. He lavishes such praise on India that his own people decide to assassinate him when he arrives here on a goodwill mission. Ajay Devgan's separated twin, now a hardcore Pakistani sharpshooter, is assigned this mission. But sheer brotherly love wins him over so easily, it looks like we started Kargil. Let's at least perfect the art of the ridiculous. Ajay Devgan looks earnest but the national award has come a bit too easy. Amitabh Bachchan's get-up is nearly the same he got as David in Aakhri Raasta. His role is the kind he played in Andhaa Kanoon. Manisha Koirala and Sushmita Sen are in the film. And if you can hum along with any of the songs, then music director Sukhwindar Singh is in luck.
Hindustan Ki Kasam uses a lot of special effects, mainly to carry forward the make-believe aspect of the plot. Ignore the division of frames in the climactic dockyardshots, and the smoke clouds that freeze even as the two Ajay Devgans fight in the foreground. A couple of shots go out of focus, and the dialogues have been corrected at the dubbing stage. Veeru Devgan (he claims to have done the screenplay, and we believe him) has had a bad dream, and like all bad dreams, this one shall soon be forgotten.
But one good result comes out of Hindustan Ki Kasam. We've learnt to name the enemy.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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