Radio Review

When Himesh Reshammiya stars in a film, it's got to be a musical. Musical it is, but RADIO also attempts to explore the man-woman relationship in a metropolis.

RADIO rests on a thin storyline. Superficially, it's about a couple that goes separate ways, then man meets another woman, later ex-wife develops a soft corner, much later man is torn between the two women. Haven't we witnessed similar themes in the past? Oh yes, aplenty!

Only thing, director Ishan Trivedi places the story in a radio station and that gives the film a different texture. Also, the film is divided in various chapters - some interesting, some mundane, some yawn-inducing and boring.

The USP of RADIO is, without doubt, Himesh's musical score. The film has some melodious tracks, but how one wishes the super music was complimented by an equally superior script.

Vivan [Himesh Reshammiya] is a successful RJ with a popular radio channel. His wife Pooja [Sonal Sehgal] seeks divorce and the reason cited is lack of compatibility between the two.

Enter Shanaya [Shenaz Treasurywala], who is like a ray of sunshine in Vivan's insipid life. He discusses Shanaya with Pooja, but being a woman, she can see his love for Shanaya. In the end, however, Vivan realises that he may have a soft spot for Pooja, but he wants to spend his life with Shanaya.

RADIO rests on a fragile plot, with the writing holding your interest at places, but blowing away the hard work in its immediate chapter. That's how erratic RADIO is.

Confusion kya hain? The ex-wife can't decide if she wants her man back or not. It was she who wanted a divorce, not the man, but she can't let go off her man for some inexplicable reason. Even the other woman, all of a sudden, wants the man she loves so dearly to go back to his ex-wife. That just doesn't work!

Besides, the narrative is laced with too many songs. Whether or not the situation warrants them, you have one track ready to unspool every 10 odd minutes.

On the brighter side, RADIO has some tender moments too. Note the sequence towards the end, when Himesh pours his heart out to Shenaz. It's a beautiful sequence and the writer in particular needs to be complimented for taking a mature look at relationships.

Directorially, Ishan Trivedi cannot do much given the fact that he's handicapped by a sketchy screenplay, which, ironically, is also penned by him. Resultantly, the film grips in bits and spurts. Himesh's music is top notch. 'Mann Ka Radio' is already a craze and its picturisation needs to be lauded. The other tracks - 'Teri Meri Dosti', 'Zindagi Jaise Ek Radio' and 'Rafa Dafa' - are lilting compositions as well. Attar Singh Saini's cinematography is perfect.

Himesh has grown as an actor and that reflects in certain difficult moments of the film. Shenaz is natural. In fact, she gets it right this time. Sonal acts well, but her character is not well defined. Paresh Rawal's track looks forced. Zakir Hussain is strictly okay. Rajesh Khattar is good.

On the whole, RADIO just doesn't work... It's complicated!