Fatally Attracted

Nidhi Taparia

A happy-go-lucky photographer Jai (Fardeen Khan). A headstrong, spoilt rich girl Ria (Urmila).

Girl meets boy. Girl fights with boy. Girl falls in love with boy.

Sounds familiar. Just like your regular Hindi film. That is the story of Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya upto the intermission.

Post which comes the twist: The guy doesn't love the girl. He is happily married and crazy about his wife Gita (Sonali Kulkarni).

The uneasy triangle emerges.

Ria turns obsessive. Threatens to jump off the building. Calls him in the middle of the night. Visits Gita in the hospital after injuring her. And spins lies to sow the seed of doubt in Gita's mind. Anything to get the man she loves.

Jai meanwhile tries to hold on to his sanity and marriage. Gita tries not to let the doubts and suspicions creep in.

And the story of Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya unravels.

The first half has a few breezy scenes coupled with humour. Rajat Mukherjee builds the suspense with few clues to let the viewer know that something is amiss: the maniacal gleam in Ria's eyes, her headstrong behaviour with her father.

Barring Fardeen's entry in a song from nowhere, the characters are well etched. From a stubborn brat, Ria emerges a woman who blooms under Jai's attention. And Jai changes from an easygoing photographer to a man desperately trying to make his marriage work, despite all odds.

The second half which shows Ria slipping into a depression and trying to come to grips with her emotions is very convincingly portrayed. The scenes in the second half are intense, quick, racy.

The pressure builds as Rajat Mukherjee depicts how Ria's insinuations test the roots of a marriage. Of how, little by little, suspicion creeps in. The frustration of a man caught between trying to save his marriage and yet trying to help another human being by doing the right thing. Of how he loses his patience and his control snaps as Urmila's love for him turns more obsessive and almost has his wife's life in danger.

The scenes leading to the climax are feverish. Jai patiently trying to convince Ria that he is not the man for her; Ria walking into a fight between Fardeen and Sonali; Urmila trying to convince Sonali in the hospital that there is a relationship happening between her and Fardeen are scenes that lend the film the character.

Gita's insecurity as she constantly seeks reassurance that she is beautiful and loved, Ria's continuous struggle to win Jai and her fight against depression, are well portrayed.

The scenes are heavy, the edgy cinematography in sync with the realistic mood of the film. No loud colours, no unreal situations, just the story told. Though the camera angles and some of the costumes are very unflattering, the sharp editing and the background score will keep the audience tuned.

Fardeen Khan essays the role of a smooth charming photographer with his easy lines and I-am-so-cool demeanour. He still needs to work his way through some of the emotional scenes, which could have been more convincing.

The film, though, belongs to Urmila Matondkar. She plays the role to a T. Especially convincing is the climax scene and also the confrontation scene between Urmila and Sonali.

Lending a certain credibility to the character, Urmila makes you believe that it is so easy to go to any lengths for a man you love. Fortunately, Rajat Mukherjee, does not make any apologies for Urmila's character.

The Ramgopal Varma hangover stays throughout the film. While the script and screenplay are not very strong, the crisp editing and the taut scenes add to the edge and anticipation.

But, in extracting performances from Fardeen and Urmila, Rajat Mukherjee fails to explore the marriage angle, neglecting Sonali Kulkarni's character completely. The actress doesn't really have much of a role, unfortunately.

The songs, though, by Sandeeep Chowta, are totally in tandem with the emotion of the film. Take the wistful title song and the eye-pleasing Kambakth ishq, to the intensely dramatic Rondhe hai, Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya. Well publicised and slickly promoted, Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya might appeal more to the metros than anywhere else.

Also read:
The Music review of Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya
The Rajat Mukherjee interview and chat
Story in pictures
Official website