Mausam Review

You feel a chill go down your spine as the lights dim and the name "Mausam" comes into focus. Expectations mount and the movie opens with a chilling narration of the Kashmir war in the early 1992 through a letter composed by a distraught father begging his sister to take care of his daughter. We are in Mallukot a remote village in Punjab where or lead actor Harry (Shahid Kapoor) is a mere lad of 17. Adrenalin charged and punjabi to the very core he awaits a letter from the Indian Air Force but instead ends up pining for the newly arrived Kashmir immigrant Aayat (Sonam Kapoor). Stolen glances, exchanged papers and secret meetings in the rain are the order of the day as the pair struggle with their feelings.

Soon enough they are torn apart to meet again after seven years in Scotland still pining for each other. There is Mozart, Ballet, coffee, midnight horse rides and lots of romance in the rainy nights.

This isn't enough as they are torn apart again and again till the director has had enough.

The first half of the movie is fresh and filled with light hearted moments only a close knitted village population can generate. These nuances are undoubtedly the best part of the film. After setting you into the initial comfort zone it falters in its story telling. There are too many separations and the situation is too old school. The major problems in the lives of the lead characters are caused by lack of communication which is difficult to believe in this era.

The director (Pankaj Kapur) has used every possible communal, Indo-Pak or even 9/11 situation in the background for the love story to grow. And there were considerably many since the film runs from 1992-2004. The attempt to make a classic love story seems forced.

Everything stands wasted in the last fifteen minutes of action packed climax.

The high point of the film is the cinematography by Binod Pradhan and he has the chance to capture the lush fields of punjab, the brick lanes of Scotland, the snow terrain of Switzerland and most importantly all the Air Force sequences.

In terms of acting, Shahid Kapoor is excellent as the lively punjabi teen, the lover and the uber serious Squadron Leader. He also manages to look good through out the film. Sonam Kapoor is a pretty face but her lack lustre voice and lost expressions don't get her anywhere. Supriya Pathak and Anupam Kher are wasted in their roles.

The sound track is pleasing to the ear and fits beautifully in the first half.

Mausam is not a bad film. It is a genuine movie and a must for all the Shahid Kapoor fans. It transports you into the slow world of old romance but then again it took too much liberty to remain there.