Suresh Productions P. Ltd.`s Kuch Tum Kaho Kuch Hum Kahein, produced by Dr. D. Rama Naidu and directed by Ravi Shankar, is a love story with ample doses of family values and sermonising. Abhay (Fardeen Khan) lives with his mother and sister in Mumbai. Abhay`s joy knows no bounds when he receives a telegram from his grand-father (Vikram Gokhale), inviting them to their place for the first time.
Amiable and lovable that he is, Abhay soon wins the heart of the family members in Dadaji`s house. In a youthful and playful manner, Abhay falls in love with Mangla (Richa Pallod), but before his love story could turn fruitful, some hard truths from the past surface.
Remake of the Telugu hit KALISUNDAM RAA, the storyline is such that you can foresee what`s in store (the pre-climax is novel in that respect!). Yet, Kuch Tum Kaho Kuch Hum Kahein manages to appeal, but in parts. The first half has a couple of interesting moments and the emphasis is clearly on providing light moments.There`re a couple of dramatic sequences in this half that stand out and the one when Fardeen Khan and his mom and sister set foot in their ancestral home (Vikram Gokhale, Farida Jalal) and interact with them for the first time, can be singled out for its sensitive treatment.
The story gathers momentum soon after the intermission, when the flashback begins. These portions, shot in sepia tone, have been stylishly shot and seem justified from the story point of view. Besides the flashback, Fardeen`s `tricks` to bring the two families together keeps your attention arrested.However, the film is not without its share of snags.First and foremost, the story is old-fashioned and the screenplay abounds in clichés. Also, the writers should`ve concentrated on the two tracks that are interconnected – the warring families and the love story of the lead pair. Instead, it deviates to a comedy track (Raghuvir Yadav) and also the dam-and-flood issue seems totally unwarranted.
Moreover, the second half is lengthy and how one wishes the editor would`ve used the scissors more effectively. Director Ravi Shankar succeeds on two levels. One, he has extracted a fine performance from Fardeen Khan and two, the handling of several emotional moments in the film are commendable.Anu Maliik`s music is passable, although two numbers are catchy enough – the title track and `Chudi`. Cinematography is functional.
Dialogues sound oft-repeated.Fardeen Khan takes a step forward with Kuch Tum Kaho Kuch Hum Kahein. He sheds his inhibitions and handles a complex role with utmost sincerity. Though the performance is not earth-shattering, it is sure to benefit Fardeen since he hardly left any impression in his earlier flicks. The emotional scenes definitely reflect his growth as an actor.
Richa Pallod needs to polish her acting skills as well as concentrate on her overall appearance. Performance-wise, she is plain mediocre. Among the horde of character artists, Vikram Gokhale and Farida Jalal stand out. Sharad Kapoor is fair. Govind Namdev does a fine job.On the whole, Kuch Tum Kaho Kuch Hum Kahein is an ordinary fare by all standards. At the box-office, it will have to put up with a tough struggle for survival in view of the fact that it`s pitted against a youthful film (Kyaa Dil Ne Kahaa) this week, and also the flow of biggies from next week onwards.