Khoya Khoya Chand

Director: Sudhir Mishra
Producer: Prakash Jha
Starring: Shiny Ahuja, Soha Ali Khan, Soniya Jehan, Rajat Kapoor, Vinay Pathak, Sushmita Mukherjee, Dipannita Sharma
Music: Shantanu Moitra
Lyrics: Swanand Kirkire

Sudhir Mishra is known for his great job in directing Hindi movies, and he has tried his best to continue that effort in his latest but very difficult project of depicting the great era of Hindi cinema of 50s and 60s.

This is indeed very brave on his part to undertake this journey into the glorious past of Hindi movies that has had an innumerable number of sincere and devoted film artists of great repute. Let's now analyze the job of his different departments if they have delivered the goods.

'Khoya Khoya Chand' is a film about two young people afloat in the film industry of the wild 1950s - 60s, the Golden age of the Hindi Film industry. The film is a tribute to those wondrous times and people as well as an accolade to their inspirational lives. Even as the backdrop of this film is period, the film remains modern in its narrative, characterization and treatment.

The movie revolves around Nikhat played by Soha Ali Khan who is an aspiring actress and gets into a relationship with superstar Prem Kumar played by Rajat Kapoor with a view to get an entry into the film industry.

Therein comes a talented writer Zafar played by Shiney Ahuja who makes changes in the film project that Prem Kumar and Nikhat are working on. Later, Zafar is offered to write for Prem Kumar's forthcoming movie. Meanwhile Prem announces his marriage to Dippanita Sharma. Consequently, Nikhat's heart breaks.

Zafar feels the pain suffered by Nikhat following the marriage of Prem with Dippanita. So, he comes to her rescue and tries to console Nikhat. As the destiny has it, both Nikhat and Zafar develop a thick relationship. However, relationship is accompanied with problems.

When both are about to get married, Nikhat calls it off because of financial problems. Well, she presumably feels that once she is married, then she will lose her charm among the directors and the producers who will not sign her in their movies.

This is a known fact of Bollywood today. Incidentally, Nikhat fails to share dates with her once lover Zafar even for the latter's directorial debut. Thus, the first half of the movie ends. In the second half of 'Khoya Khoya Chand' the same story of their relationship sans marriage goes on without any reasoning but fails to impress the viewer.

Though the movie claims to be based on the film industry of the 50s and 60s, it doesn't look like. The movies of 50s and 60s had been not only popular among the cinegoers but used to leave a great impression on the visitors even after they left the theater hall.

Unlike those movies touching the viewers' hearts, this Sudhir Mishra's much hyped film fails miserably. Well, we may blame the set designer for his complete failure to create an environment of that era on the sets.

But, the fact remains that the viewer is completely disappointed when he compares this movie with those of that era. Believe it that 'Khoya Khoya Chand' doesn't even distantly come close to the Waheeda Rehman and Guru Dutt saga. Thus, the story has failed in its job of creating an impact on the viewers about the frustration arising out of the old pairs' failed relationships.

Let's look into other aspects of the movie. Music- wise, Shantanu Moitra has played his part very well. In the screenplay sometimes you feel you are getting a bit too much of it and that some of the scenes are written just to incorporate the background music.

Shiney Ahuja is as bright as ever. He has been doing better and better. We wish him to improve his skill more and more in his forthcoming movies. As far as Soha Ali Khan is concerned, she has done exceedingly well in such a short time since she began her filmi career in 'Rang De Basanti' and later in 'Ahista Ahista'.

She seems to be reigning the industry and who knows that she might very soon excel her mother Sharmila Tagore who has charmed her fans for decades and still rules over their hearts. Yes, Rajat Kapoor has done full justice to his role and comes shining in the movie.

From amongst others in the cast, Saurabh Shukla stands tall as compared to the rest. Vinay Pathak and Sonia Jehan haven't let the movie down either; they have successfully lent more than anticipated support to the movie.

This would not be too critical if we term the movie's plot weak from its inception to the end. We fully appreciate Sudhir Mishra's endeavor of truly depicting the popularity of the movies and their principal cast in the 50s and 60s filmi era, but cannot ignore the fact that he hasn't succeeded in his task.

Yes, the task has been too difficult to succeed. We sympathize with the director in undertaking a great task and trying to achieve it, but would fail in our onerous duty in not faithfully reviewing his movie.