Zameer [2005]

I know this isn’t the type of film most people get excited about watching, but I remember looking forward to it many years back while it was being shot. I remember how happy I used to get seeing the onset pictures in Filmfare and Cineblitz, and then the promos started and I was so hyped for the film! However, then the film just got stalled for sometime and that was irritating, it took longer then expected to release and my hype got lost somewhere there and I forgot all about it! Then when I was at some DVD store a couple of weeks back I saw the film in the “3 for £10” section and just had to buy it to add to my collection!

I’m a huge fan of both Ajay Devgan and Mahima Chaudhary and since last year I’ve started to like Amisha Patel a lot too, so I was really looking forward to watching this one when I got time. So last night I did just that!

In terms of the box-office result, I know this film flopped…badly! Do I think that’s justified? Well, in a way, yes it is. Why? Because it released 5 years too late! The film is very “outdated” in terms of concept and perhaps even treatment. Had it released earlier, it would’ve found a market for itself. But instead it ended up being unfortunate enough and releasing in the year where we saw progressive cinema like Black, My Brother Nikhil and Parineeta seeing commercial success.

Zameer consists of a very sweet romance, with all the ingredients one expects from a movie of the 90s. It doesn’t find a place in today’s cinema, but that’s not necessarily translating into the film being a bad film – I personally do not believe it to be so!

I enjoyed the film a lot. The story is a sweet college romance, with a twist. It’s not original or earth shattering, but it forms the base for a very good entertainer. I’m delighted to say that this DVD wont just sit on my shelf collecting dust from now on, because I can actually imagine myself watching it again!

The music by Jatin-Lalit is a let down. None of the songs are catchy enough to even remember, and the lyrics are incredibly cheap! The technicalities of the film are also unimpressive but that’s not really a surprise as it’s a film which was in ‘the making’ for a long period of time and didn’t even have the backing of a big production banner.

All the performances are impressive and the three lead stars of the film get very good roles to project their talent. Ajay Devgan is as smashing as ever! His natural performance makes his character so believable that the viewer cannot help but sympathise with the situation he’s in.

Among the actresses, both get good roles to display their talent. Amisha Patel looks adorable and makes a very convincing college student. She pulls of her cutesy outfits with a lot of grace and a very warm childlike innocence. Performance-wise there are times where one wishes she had worked that tad bit harder, but nonetheless she delivers well. Mahima Chaudhary is a revelation. She looks stunning, as she always does, and performs like a dream! Her expressions were perfect throughout and though her screen time is a lot less then Ajay and Amisha, she leaves an equal amount of impact!

The supporting cast all do a very good job. Kulbhushan Kharbanda is at his best, Alok Nath is impressive and Shakti Kapoor delivers one of his finest, most likeable and mature performances!

Overall, I’m very impressed with this film and I know I’m probably not in the majority here, but I believe it’s definitely worth watching at least once! Sweet story, great entertainer and very good performances all round!