Song and dance

Khan (shirt intact this time) plays the quintessential good guy, and it's an uncomplicated role which does not require him to exert himself in the least. All he has to do is dance a bit and smile a lot. Khan as a dancer/choreographer is also a stretch (even though he is energetic his dancing is no great shakes) but to his credit he does make a valiant attempt in the song sequences. American fashion model turned actress Ali Larter (best known for her popular television series Heroes) has a meatier role and delivers a spunky and likeable performance.

The story revolves around Marigold (Larter) who comes to Goa to film Kamasutra 3 but ends up doing a Bollywood musical instead. Since she cannot dance, Prem (Khan) helps her out, and they fall in love. Next stop: Rajasthan. Prem (who turns out to be someone a little more lofty than a lowly choreographer) takes Marigold along for a family wedding. Prem's family welcomes her graciously but everyone (including Prem) looks so grief-stricken that we are quite convinced he is about to die. The problem, however, turns out to be far less tragic, and in a Bollywood film (even if this one originated in Hollywood) it's a minor snag that is easily resolved.

And therein lies the catch. The drama is practically non-existent, and the dilemma quite easily overcome. Willard Carroll was obviously aiming for a sweet little made-in-India fairy tale romance but does not get it right. Marigold is singularly insipid fare and not a single character touches the heart. Surely a cross-continent romance cannot be this dull?

Marigold asking the flummoxed director (Rakesh Bedi) what she is supposed to be thinking about during her dance number makes for an amusing scene. But such moments are few and far between. Incidentally, it doesn't ring true that the womanising hero (Vikas Bhalla) of Marigold's film continues to work with her even after a public slap. He is shown to be a demanding, difficult man, so wouldn't he have had her removed from the film?

The support cast includes Nandana Sen, Suchitra Pillai, Simone Singh, Kiran Joneja and Vijayendra Ghatge but no one makes an impact. Gulshan Grover (as a royal guard) looks like he stepped out of Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Eklavya. The bad man plays a good man this time but is given just one word of dialogue.

Director Willard Carroll (whose Hollywood credits include Playing by Heart and The Runestone) has gone on record to say that one of the reasons he made Marigold was because he wanted to spend time in India. Couldn't he have done that without making this weakly scripted, technically average, musically inferior romantic comedy? If, however, you wish to see for yourself, make sure you try the Hindi version. You'll have to endure a lot less of Salman Khan's picked-up-in-mid-Atlantic accent.

Salman's latest artwork

THE ACTOR who has recently turned painter with a passion, Salman Khan, is as much a rockstar in his latently-found profession as he is in Bollywood.

Besides auctioning his paintings for whopping amounts and donating the proceeds to charities, Sallu is also known to 'gift' his own paintings to his near and dear ones. And the latest recipient of his work of art is none other than family member Amrita Arora.

Apparently, Salman was so impressed with Amrita's new spacious Bandra house, that he decided to colour up her walls with his special touch. And it couldn't have pleased Amrita more, since "I had a spot on the wall where I wanted a nice painting," she says.

What's more, the painting is going to be unique, with a personal touch to it. For the creative streak in Salman has decided to paint the famous 'Last Supper' picture, but with a difference. Instead of Jesus Christ and His Apostles, Salman will paint Amrita's family members. But who will sit at the centre of the table? Now that's a mystery Salman has not revealed.

And what does Amrita (who confesses she's not into art at all —I can't understand abstract art or its deeper meanings) think about Salman's talent with the brush?

"Oh, Sallu bhai is brilliant! He's taken everyone by surprise with his hidden talent. What I love about his work is the fact that takes inspiration from real life situations and real people. I can relate to his works. I'm sure his works will become collectors' items in a few years," says Amrita.

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