Reviews: Milenge Milenge

Milenge Milenge review: Too staid for a comedy, too bland for a romance

Movie
Milenge Milenge
Director
Satish Kaushik
Cast
Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Aarti Chhabria, Satish Shah, Delnaz Paul, Kirron Kher

Sonia Chopra

Milenge Milenge is a prime 'how-not-to' example of turning an original film's unique concept into a predictable Bollywood romance.
Milenge Milenge was made five years ago. The Indian film audience has since evolved and has developed a taste for more stimulating stories. Of course, rom-coms are still the popular flavour, but even love stories are checking their syrupiness level and adding a dose of authenticity.

In this film, the heroine describes her life's goal as finding Mr Right, having two kids, and looking after the home and children while the husband is off to work. Stepford Wives, anyone? For characterisation, you have the girl smiling at everyone, including unsuspecting security staff, buying flowers for no reason, and staring at wedding lehenga-cholis longingly at store windows.

Writer-director Satish Kaushik (Karzzz, Tere Naam, Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai) has always had a problem portraying his female characters effectively. Stuck in a time warp, he believes that the leading lady ought to be a teddy-bear adoring, love-crazy girl without a mind or a spine.

So our protagonist Priya (Kareena Kapoor with the favourite screen name back then), is thrilled when a tarot card reader predicts that she will find her love within seven days, at 7 a.m., and the lover will be wearing seven colours.

She falls in love with Immy (Shahid Kapoor) who meets her ideal of being a teetotaller and a non-liar. But then we realise that Immy's been manipulating her all along. And there's where comes in Serendipity, the 2001Hollwood success from which the rest of the film's plot is taken.

Priya decides to test destiny, and determine whether they're meant for each other. Phone numbers are written on a book and a currency note. 'If we're meant to find each other, we'll find each other's numbers,' they say and sign off. Now three years later, they're still in love with each other, but without any means to contact.

That's the 'rom' part. The 'com' part is the kind to make your toes curl. For it takes a special kind of endurance to sit through Shahid Kapoor and his college friends in drag, heaving their implants to a raunchy song.

Shahid plays the lover-boy with his usual stock of expressions that hasn't changed over the years. His earnestness and sincerity shines through as always, though. Kareena's character is super-boring, but her effervescence somewhat makes up for the wishy-washy character sketch.

In keeping with those times, we must endure Kareena Kapoor with blonde highlights and garish make-up (shocking pink nails, always shiny lips). And, yes, both lead characters have "best friends" employed solely for the reason of making the lead pair look good.

So forget about the film. Everyone knows it's dated. The main draw is the onscreen, once off-screen, pairing of Kareena and Shahid. They're cute together, but they don't share the fun chemistry of Jab We Met.

Too staid for a comedy, too bland for a romance, the film might draw those viewers keen on seeing Kareena-Shahid onscreen again.

Rating: 1.5 stars

https://sify.com/movies/bollywood/review.php?id=14948784&ctid=5&cid=2425

Taran Adarsh, July 9, 2010 - 12:57 IST


Freshly cooked, piping hot food is savoured instantly. Similarly, a film that radiates freshness catches your eye instantaneously. Conversely, if a film takes a really long time to hit the screens, it generally doesn't find a place in your things-to-do-this-weekend list, unless the word of mouth is electrifying. MILENGE MILENGE suffers for this reason. Even the man on the street knows that it's a dated product!

The gap between the commencement of this film and its eventual release is quite substantial and that's pretty evident when you look at its promos. Especially the way the lead actors look. The camera doesn't lie, right? Perhaps, that's a prime reason why MILENGE MILENGE doesn't propel you to rush to a nearby cineplex and grab a seat, despite the fact that its lead stars are at the prime of their respective careers and enjoy a solid fan-base.

Write your own movie review of Milenge Milenge
But never judge a book by its cover. Sure, you march into the film with zilch expectations, expecting a dated product with a hackneyed plotline, but as the reels begin to unspool, you realize that it does have a story to tell. So what if MILENGE MILENGE borrows from the John Cusack - Kate Beckinsale starrer SERENDIPITY [2001]. The Indianisation by writer Shiraz Ahmed is quite engaging at places.



The 'recipe' for that perfect love story is simple [at least that's what most film-makers believe]: Cast a good looking pair, choose a tried-and-tested story [read, make a mix of EK DUUJE KE LIYE, Q.S.Q.T., MAINE PYAAR KIYA, D.D.L.J., KUCH KUCH HOTA HAI], garnish it with sweet/cute/romantic/delightful situations, add a couple of energetic songs [at least two/three Hit songs are a must] and shoot the muvie at panaromic locales. Presto, prem kahani tayyar ho gayee!

But MILENGE MILENGE has 'kismet' keeping the lovers apart. Imagine a love story where the lovers have already expressed love for each other, but some force beyond their control gets in their way and keeps them apart till the end of the film. The script indulges in bringing its leads together, but also makes sure that they stay far away from each other till minutes before the film is about to conclude. Sure, this thought sounds interesting on paper, but there's a flipside to it. With Facebook, Twitter, Google and also cellphones at one's disposal, is it difficult to trace anyone in today's times? Naah, not anymore!

Final word? MILENGE MILENGE may be dated, but watch it for the chemistry between its lead pair. Perhaps, this JAB WE MET jodi may never team up ever again!

Immy [Shahid Kapoor] and Priya [Kareena Kapoor] meet at a youth festival in Bangkok. Priya is a romantic at heart and expects her life partner to be a teetotaler, a guy who doesn't smoke and also, who doesn't lie. Immy is totally opposite of what Priya wants from her life partner. Their world collides when Immy lays his hands on Priya's personal diary and learns of her likes and dislikes. He poses as her dream mate by giving her a totally different picture of himself.

While preparing to return to Delhi, Priya discovers the copy of her diary in Immy's room. She realizes that Immy has made a fool of her and decides to confront him. In the meantime, Immy confides in his friends that although he has cheated Priya, he is truly in love with her. But Priya appears in front of him and all hell breaks loose. She decides to end the relationship.

Immy tries to regain her trust by telling her that they are destined to be together. Priya decides that if it is destined that they be together, then they will find each other in Delhi again, although both do not know each other's whereabouts in Delhi. Three years later, Immy returns from abroad, while Priya is now settled in Mumbai. Immy is engaged to a family friend's daughter [Aarti Chhabria], while Priya has also moved on in life. She is in a relationship with a pop singer.

Both of them are about to be married, but after all these years, they still have this nagging feeling that the other was his/her true love. Of course, fate conspires to bring them back together [after several near misses] as they simultaneously undertake one last attempt to find one another just before they get married to someone else.

MILENGE MILENGE starts off like one of those countless love stories, with mandatory songs and lovey-dovey scenes aplenty, but the twist minutes before the interval is so well executed that it suddenly raises the bar of the film. Naturally then, you expect the post-interval portions to charter a new path.

The second half has its share of engaging moments, but, very frankly, it tends to get repetitive and melodramatic as well. The entire track of a particular Rs. 50 currency note and the book with Kareena's name and phone number on it, although novel, hasn't been portrayed too effectively. Even the finale -- when Shahid reaches out to Kareena -- isn't convincing. Like I pointed out earlier, what binds the film together is the chemistry between the lead pair and a few charming moments.

Satish Kaushik's handling of a few sequences is commendable. Himesh Reshammiya's musical score is quite good. 'Kuch To Baaki Hai' and the title track are good compositions. Cinematography is okay.

Both Shahid and Kareena play the hopeless romantics to the hilt. Their [then] off screen chemistry comes across very well on screen. Although the film was shot several years ago and Shahid looks boyish all through, his performance is consistent and believable. Kareena is equally convincing. Aarti Chhabria has nothing to do. Delnaaz Paul [Kareena's friend] and Sarfaraz Khan [Shahid's friend] get ample scope and are noticeable. Satish Shah is hardly funny. Kirron Kher sparkles in a brief role. Himani Shivpuri is wasted.

On the whole, MILENGE MILENGE has the charismatic lead pair, who are very popular with the youth, as its USP. But the problem is its dated look. Having taken a long time to reach the theatres, it will have to rely on a solid word of mouth to lure the audiences into cineplexes. Business-wise, there's some hope in the Hindi belt, where traditional love stories and melodrama are accepted.



2/5.

https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/review/7301/index.html

i wont watch it anyway, it seems too outdated for me, that cutie shahid and a little more fuller bebo's time

the film doesnt seem to be appealing

Hey there's another post on this as well. I posted this there but I'll post it here as well.

Rating: ***

Ex-flames Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor starrer 'Milenge Milenge' rekindles a reunion thought in the minds of the audiences. No sooner did we move out of the special screening, people were heard saying "wow, they look great together. How we wish they may make it up in real life too".

Story: The story revolves around Amit (Shahid) and Priya (Kareena). While they are away attending the youth festival at Bangkok, Amit happens to enter Priya's hostel room and falls for her at the very first sight. He picks up Priya's personal diary while leaving the room. He reads it and prepares various ways of getting closer to her. Priya believes in destiny. However, when Priya finds out that Amit lied to her and tried to woo her by going through her likes and dislikes only after reading the pages of her personal diary, she turns furious and decides to part ways without exchanging each other's contact details, giving him the idea of meeting through destiny. The rest of the tale unfolds the varied paths that they have to tread on, to finally get hitched.

Director's cut: Satish Kaushik has tried his utmost to bring freshness in his treatment. The intriguing love story has been directed well. The minutest detail portraying how and when the two lovers may finally make it by coming close to each other, keeps one engaged and excited. The lovers turning emotional and missing each other are the delicate moments which will definitely bring changes in the youth who may have parted ways in real life.

But as shown on reel – while Priya tries to reach Amit through the radio – the grownups will not find all this very appealing. Perhaps in a few scenes, Kaushik's direction should have had some hep and new trend.

Ex-flames: Both Shahid and Kareena performed their parts well (read the chemistry was amazing!). Although Kareena looked beautiful and stunning, her style statement looked very stale, as with the film's delay the fashion has progressed to a different level. All in all, both looked the perfect onscreen as well as off screen match.

Music: Even as Himesh's music goes with the film, the audience may not come out humming any number as such. The songs are not very catchy except the title number.

Fast paced editing goes hand in hand with the presentation of the story. It feels gripping and keeps ones inquisitive levels on a high. Though cinematography doesn't deserve any special mention.

Last but not the least, producer Boney Kapoor's patience in bringing Milenge Milenge to the theatres may prove beneficial. All he needs to do is keep his figures crossed. The USP of the film is of course Shahid-Kareena jodi, which is coming back once again, especially after their break up. Who knows their magic will create a traffic jam at the box office window.

By Lipika Varma / Sanskriti Media & Entertainment

Obviously this film is not for everyone only for those who are Shahid and Kareena fans. OR fans of Shahid-Kareena chemistry. I myself am a Kareena fan so will see it for her, but I also like her chemistry with shahid so thatz a bonus.

i have a feeling that the movie is good!

FIRST DAY FIRST SHOW

Okay guys I watched the film. I loved it. Its one of those films that gives you the butterflies.....the film is that romantic. It was def better than IHLS for me. The only thing IHLS had an advantage on is its not oudated film, style, ect. But MM is def better in story, script, and peformance by Kareena and Shahid. Kareena was so natural in the film I loved her. I can't believe she acted that well so early in her career. She is talented. Shahid he is so romantic that he makes you feel for him so badly. Sometimes he went a bit OTT, but he was good and played his part very well. He was believable in his role. Kareena also played the part of a simple girl very well.

I give it 4/5.

Best part about the film:
The story....these days we get crappy film, this film actually has a story and it makes sense lol

its romantic and shahid is funny at parts. There is also drama def

The chemistry between shahid and kareena was too cute and hot. The music: Kuch to baki hai, the title song, and Tum chain ho has very romantic and good tune to it.

Bad:
Kareena's outfits lol its understandable though since it an old film



Verdit
its a cute film. For all those who like love story 😊

Originally posted by: lensahunte08

Okay guys I watched the film. I loved it. Its one of those films that gives you the butterflies.....the film is that romantic. It was def better than IHLS for me. The only thing IHLS had an advantage on is its not oudated film, style, ect. But MM is def better in story, script, and peformance by Kareena and Shahid. Kareena was so natural in the film I loved her. I can't believe she acted that well so early in her career. She is talented. Shahid he is so romantic that he makes you feel for him so badly. Sometimes he went a bit OTT, but he was good and played his part very well. He was believable in his role. Kareena also played the part of a simple girl very well.

I give it 4/5.

Best part about the film:
The story....these days we get crappy film, this film actually has a story and it makes sense lol

its romantic and shahid is funny at parts. There is also drama def

The chemistry between shahid and kareena was too cute and hot. The music: Kuch to baki hai, the title song, and Tum chain ho has very romantic and good tune to it.

Bad:
Kareena's outfits lol its understandable though since it an old film



Verdit
its a cute film. For all those who like love story 😊

ok this will sound very dumb but wat is OT? yeh i am not liking kareena's outfits also!! neway by the reviews it seems like that the movie does have a good story, and it does seem quite romantic! since i like shahid a lot, and because this might be the last movie of kareena and him, i might go and watch it!! it is soo unfortunate that they won't cum together again!!!! i use to like movies 5yrs bak----seems like they will have a good chemistry, outdated stuff doesn't bother me too much----i am quite sure it will be much better then IHLS, i have a feeling that i will like it as i like good romantic movies