Lamhe... Long Lost Movie................

Sridevimania is long over, but that doesn't mean I can't cash in at this late date. Here I am, anyway, whether you want me or not - and I come bearing the so called Bolly movie "Lamhe".

Yash Chopra’s neglected baby born in 1991 fell flat on its face during the race to the top of the box office at the mega-hurdle called “incest”. More than two decades after its release, Lamhe is the Chopra movie most likely to be called an "overlooked masterpiece”.

As an unapologetic member of the minority cult which deems this movie its favorite, I have to say it is a big time exaggeration to call this movie a masterpiece. Overlooked, yes. Masterpiece, no.

Lamhe shows its quality – in its performances like Anil Kapoor’s earnest confession at the climax or Anupam Kher telling his best friend off; in scenes like the one in which Pallavi’s husband gently informs her about Viren’s feelings and advises her to continue her friendship with him or when Anita first recognizes that Viren and Pooja aren’t exactly platonic.

In case you’re one of those who hasn’t watched this movie, here’re some things you should know:

Q. Is Lamhe really about incest?
A. Nooooooooooooo, how can you have such a doubt!!!???!!! The movie is all about this guy (Viren) who falls for the daughter (Pooja) of his first True Love (Pallavi). Now go with your imagination....

Q. That doesn't sound too bad. Then what’s this hue and cry with the incest thing then?
A. You can call it the "then state of mind of the public"... Thing is Viren became Pooja’s guardian after Pallavi died in childbirth and she looks exactly like her mom. Now what can the story writer/scriptwriter/director/ possibly do if the child is the mirror image of her dead mom.. But! The thing to remember is that he never laid eyes on Pooja for those 18 crucial years when she was growing up into her mother’s double and all the day-to-day raising was done by his old nurse (Dai Jaan). Besides, she‘s the one who chases him (rolling my eyes)!!!

Q. By the way, why name the movie Lamhe?

A. Duh, it means Moments. You see, Viren spends his whole adult life hoarding the few moments he spent in Pallavi’s dazzling presence and Pooja threatens to do the same with the few moments she spent in Viren’s considerably less dazzling presence, and then Viren realizes that all the dazzling moments he spent with Pallavi have been replaced by Pooja’s dazzling presence. Too much of razzle dazzle!!

Q. Wait a minute..... Don't tell me this movie features clean shaven Anil Kapoor?

A. Yes! How else then can you differentiate between the immature youth who fell in love with Pallavi-who-looked-straight-through-him (Moochless waala!) and the oldie goldie who falls for the fun and energetic Pooja-who-idolizes-him-even-though-he-ignores-her (Mooch waala!).

Q. Who else are in this movie?
A. There’s our favourite filmy maa Waheeda Rehman who is a total darling. Anupam Kher is great, especially if you and in this matter he himself didn't know that this was going to be the character he plays in every single YRF movie from then on. Deepak Malhotra as Pallavi’s husband and Pooja’s father is hilariously statue. And then there’s Dippy Sagoo as Anita the woman-who-ought-to-have-known-better-than-to-spend-years-mooning-over-a-wet-blanket. I’m very sad Dippy Sagoo’s career never took off (I secretly blame that wet blanket). Too bad, Dippy Sagoo!

Q. Should I watch this?
A. Do you like happy endings, older men, spunky young women, Sridevi and Anil Kapoor? Lata Mangeshkar crooning melodiously in the background and warm woolens in England? Then this is the movie for you! Otherwise, not so much.

Q. You really like this movie, don’t you?
A. Do not judge me.

Last but not the least, Lamhe is a great movie released in the wrong generation. It was a daring move for Yash Chopra to tackle a taboo topic such as this in a professional mainstream manner. This movie bombed at box office all too unjustly because the audience could not handle the subject matter - a love that ignores the boundaries of age.