Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Milind Soman and Mylene Jampanoi
Director: Pan Nalin
Rating: **1/2

Pan Nalin's "Valley Of Flowers" is a romantic tale based on the myths of the great mountains.

Set in Ladakh, the land of passes, the film is a visual treat spanning a couple of centuries. Cinematographer Michal Englert captures the majestic Himalayan peaks with haunting élan.

However, the narrative is full of questions marks, which the director has not bothered to address.

Ushna (Mylene Jampanoi), a mysterious woman who falls madly in love with Jalan (Milind Soman), pops into the film without a flashback. Also, who is Yati (Naseeruddin Shah)? Why is he trying to stop Jalan and Ushna from uniting?

The audience never finds out.

The lead actors - be it Naseer, Milind or Mylene - strip boldly with the camera lingering lovingly on Mylene's bodily contours.

The script is studded with hastily written dialogue - a woman is called "Mirchi" in the 18th century! The lyrics are commonplace and uninspired.

Toughie Jalan is the leader of a band of outlaws who earn their livelihood by stealing from unsuspecting travellers. All is fine until the mystifying Ushna joins them.

Jalan and Ushna venture too far in their exploits, progressing from the theft of material objects to tampering with taboo elements - stealing energy, luck and even the powers of levitation.

The two cross over into the bounds of the supernatural, until fate puts an abrupt end to their rapturous adventure. They face a temporary separation but meet again for the final surprise.

The opening film at the eighth Osian Cinefan Festival Of Asian Cinema, "Valley Of Flowers" fails to carry the audience with it.

Though Milind and Mylene give it their best shot, in the final cut, the film sinks in its own question marks.