Movie: Khwahish

Actors: Mallika Sherawat, Himanshu Malik
Director: Govind Menon, Producer:

Khwahish is a film about young urban Indians and departs from the stereotyped love and action bollywood flicks. It does away with designer ghagras and foreign locales or the slap slick comedy.

Khwahish deals with the practical aspects of life along with its emphasis on love and being together in ‘sickness and health’.

Khwahish is a refreshingly matter-of-fact, coming of age movie, not in terms of technical wizardry or special effects but in terms of attitude. For once it’s the girl who is more practical and demanding and open and clear about what she wants. It is also the first for an Indian movie where the girl stops the guy from proceeding beyond a kiss (You don’t touch a girl’s boobs just like that Amar, she reprimands him), where the girl supports the boy through his MBA when his moneybags father disinherits him for tying the knot before completing his education (The guy incidentally is in a hurry to do all that he wants to do but possibly can’t do with such a clearheaded no-nonsense practical girlfriend), where she walks up to the Himachal hillside chemist and asks for KS after the guy fails to do so, where its she who expresses her desire to make love, get naked, feel his naked body beside hers and even admit to being horny in exactly as much words or throw away the condom packet with glee ke jaane kab se aisa karna chah rahi thi!

Mallika Sherawat was matter-of-fact and did her job well for a new comer. There was no hesitation, no awkwardness, no exaggeration.

Himanshu Malik was justifiably the ‘oonth from Rajasthan!

Other supporting characters were adequate.

The movie touches many familiar issues and situations confronted in real life. It traces the initial discomfort and excitement of the physical touch that gradually progresses to a comfort zone.

The movie talks about the double standards nurtured and practiced by society. What is good and right for the gander is certainly not good and right for the goose.

The music is a big let down and the lyrics less than ordinary.

You guessed it right … the movie is an unabashed copy of the Hollywood Love Story.