The film revolves around Nick aka Nikhil-a happy go lucky guy who is a qualified architect by profession but works on Melbourne as a chef in a restaurant called "Nick Of Time". Nick is a fun loving male who enjoys his freedom...until he meets Ambar(Preity Zintaa).
Ambar is a confident, outgoing and bubbly girl who has come to Melbourne after rejecting a arranged marriage. Her parents have broken all ties with her. She is studying medicine and works as a R.J for a indian radio station on a programme titled SALAAM NAMASTE.
As the story would go Nick and Ambar meet and Nick falls in love with Ambar. Ambar feels things won't work out as they will never have time for each other due to their contrasting timeframes and Nick suggests they move in together but sleep in separate beds. This way they can live together, eat together and get to know each other over a spate of time and see whether what they have is really love or not. Hesitant at first, Ambar later agrees and the twosome move in. Slowly they start realising that they are as different as chalk and cheese and to complicate matters further Ambar falls pregnant...what happens next? The answer is predictable but the treatment is torturous.
Sometimes a simple idea can be presented in a beautiful manner and the movie still manages to throw some new light onto a old story as well as completely entertaining the viewer which is something Yashraj did with HUM TUM. On the other hand SALAAM NAMASTE had a good idea on paper which goes totally awry on screen.
Siddarth Raj Anands story is good but filled with plotholes. The first half is well penned and the comic scenes have the required punch. But the second half is a complete mess! The film shifts between serious drama and comedy but fails to strike a balance between the two. The screenplay too has many flaws and is a big letdown but what ruins the entire movie is the faricial climax which is usually viewed in a David Dhawan or Priyadarshan movie-totally out of place.
As a director Sidarth Raj Anand is only HALF successful as a director. While he directs the first half with complete understanding and utilises the chemistry and charm of Saif and Preity perfectly. There is a certain amount of freshness about the proceedings in the first half which will have appeal to the youth and keep the viewer entertained.... its the second half where the movie fails. He fails to move the story forward and to develop the characters of Nick and Ambar any further. The comic moments in the second half don't gel at all with the dramatic moments and one finds it hard to take the film seriously at all even when it is trying to be serious. The viewer has witnessed the story many a times and Sidarth Raj Anand does try to give it a fresh twist but misses the mark. One wishes that Anand had concentrated more on the interactions with Saif/Preity and Saifs change of heart rather than concentrate on sex jokes with Saif/Arshad as well as silly subplots involving Saifs jealous streak and a so-called "affair" with a blondie which never really happened. The worst offence is the entire climax sequence which is in bad vein. Just when you expect the movie to take a serious turn and the drama to unfold the movie takes a bizzare comic turn straight out of a David Dhawan film on Ecstacy. The actors lose the plot.....the writing loses the plot....and the director loses the plot! The constant lifting of the skirts to see whether the babies have come out as well as the slapstick humours falls flat on its face. All I can say to Mr Anand is please put in more effort into the whole product next time. Yes-the film does have certain scenes which are superbly directed and work mainly due to the brilliant chemistry/performances from the cast....but as a whole product the movie fails to deliver the goods! Note to Sidarth Raj Anand for the future..please be certain about what you're making...whether its a romantic film laced with comedy or a outright zany comedy..but don't go to the extremes with both!
In terms of performances the film is good...
Expectations were high from Saifali Khan given his recent National Award for HUM TUM and excellent performance in PARINEETA and Saif doesn't disappoint although in comparison Saif was better in the earlier two films. The actor has mastered the art of comedy and yet again he is in top form with a role that was tailormade for him. His expressions, body language, delivery and dress sense are all BRILLIANT. Even the scene where he has a showdown with Preity he is excellent perfectly conveys the right emotions with the right amount of intensity. Yet another feather in Saifs cap.
Preity Zintaa disappoints in a role that could've been a lot more. We have seen Preity play a similar role in Kundan Shahs KYA KEHNA which was a lot better. No doubt she bubbly, cute and lights the screen up with her cute presence...but isn't this what Preity has been doing for a long time? The film doesn't advance her as an actress at all. She excels in the comic scenes, and is superb in the emotional scenes but fails to leave an impact in the dramatic showdown with Saif. Even her kissing and sex scenes are shot aesthetically.
The chemistry shared with Saif and Preity is FANTASTIC and the two bounce off each other well.
Arshad Warsi too is cast in a role that he is mastered to perfection-the comic sidekick. From MUNNABHAI MBBS to HULCHUL to MAINE PYAAR KYUN KIYA and now SALAAM NAMASTE..Warsi is off the hook! His role is slightly restrained here and Warsi relies more on subtle facial expressions as well as his usual wit.
Jugal Hansraj is average in a poorly cast role. I think this is the role that John Abraham was originally meant to be cast for...I can see why he didn't take it!
Tanya Zaetta acts well and looks simply STUNNING.Her figure is to die for and she acts with confidence. The Australian actress earlier appeared in Yashrajs BUNTY AUR BABLI.
Jaaved Jaffery plays a character which will be met with mixed reactions. I thought that he played his character brilliantly and was really damn funny. His delivery and style matched perfectly with his character..yes he is LOUD..but thats how the character is meant to be. Jafferys dialogues and timing are simply hilarious.
Abhishek Bachchan comes in the last 10 minutes as what could be called the WORST CAMEO appearence I have seen in a long time. Abhishek earlier had a cameo in Yashrajs HUM TUM which was full of dignity and Bachchan managed to leave a mark. Here he comes in comic role whichs lacks the desired impact. He plays a zany, goofy, lost and whack doctor who comes in for the delivery of Preity/Tanias babies but keeps forgetting everything. Abhishek doesn't suit this role at all and one feels sorry for him as he is made to act like a BUFFOON.Cringe!
Musically the film is good although weak compared to Yashrajs previous ventures. The title track is no doubt a riot and MY HEART GOES HMM is catchy and cute. The other songs are hummable but the picturisations lack imagination and slow the movie down. One of the songs could also have been done with a chop.
Technically the film is slick and glossy! The beautiful locations of Melbourne have been perfectly captured on celluloid and there is a certain amount of freshness and zestness that is translates well on screen. Ace job by Sunil Patel. Ahmed Khans choregraphy too is good-specially in the title track. The editing could've been slicker.
All up where does that leave SALAAM NAMASTE? A HUGE DISAPOINTMENT. A given the "OH NO" groans that came from the audience with the NIKKI N NEIL trailor it seems like Yashraj will disapoint yet again.
Final Rating: * *
