by Subhash K Jha

You have seen Aamir Khan and Vivek Oberoi wooing a British Gori Mem in Lagaan and Kisna, right? Now get ready to watch Kabir Bedi's gora son Adam Bedi wooing the svelte Tanistha Chatterjee in Sanjay Jha's second feature film Strings.

Shot entirely on location at the Kumbh Mela, Jha's second film is a 94-minute English –language romantic overture.

"It's a slight film, I know," admits Jha. "And I don't know how audiences will react to it. I've made it straight from my heart. I'm just as proud of Strings as I was of my first film Pran Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaye."

Pran Jaaye...with a record number of expletives on the soundtrack got into serious censor trouble. When shown on satellite telvision recently the soundtrack was a series of beeps more than dialogues.

Laughs Jha, "I know. What's the point of showing a film about chawl -wallahs when they're gagged? Let's stop making films about people whom we can't stand by."

Jha foresees some trouble for Strings, including sharp reactions to a British foreigner/tourist courting an Indian girl. The moralists of this land do not take kindly to their bahu-beti being swept away by the 'corrupt' outsiders.

"I'd rather focus on the bright side... Strings is the first Indian film to be shot completely on location at the Kumbh Mela in the midst of a crowd of 20 lakh people. It wasn't easy. But I am happy I did it. No point in making a routine love story with two newcomers prancing in New Zealand which disappears faster from the theatres than the hoardings in Mumbai. Might as well do something different," Jha avers.

With a playing- time of 94 minutes where does Strings hope to position itself in the film market?

"I'm not worried. The mutiplexes have thrown forward a multitude of options for independent filmmakers like me. I'm sure Strings will find its audience," Sanjay Jha jas his fingers crossed.