Sirf Tum (1999) is the Hindi remake of national award winner Tamil film - Kadhal Kottai. The same director - Ahathian has directed the Hindi version too, writing the script himself in association with Anees Bazmee. It has a unique love story in which the male-female duo starts loving each other without having been face-to-face. The love just happens due to knowing each other through letters. It may appear unlikely in the practical world. However I believe, it can happen when the hearts are pure on both the sides. Sirf Tum (only you) is a lovely movie with many plus points.
Deepak (Sanjay Kapoor) gets a lady's handbag in the train which is of Aarti (Priya Gill). Kochi based Deepak sends the purse to Nanital based Aarti by post. A thanksgiving letter from Aarti triggers a correspondence between them and through letters only they keep on coming closer and closer in their hearts. Deepak don't have anybody in his family whereas Aarti also does not have parents and she lives with her married sister (Shagufta Ali) and her husband (Tej Sapru). Aarti is in search of a job to be self-sufficient whereas his typical-nature brother-in-law wants her to get married at the earliest.
Deepak has to get himself transferred to Delhi due to the labourers going against him at Kochi. However he has to leave the job because of his boss who is the sister of his ex-boss at Kochi (Ajit Vachchhani), Neha (Sushmita Sen) who falls in love with him and expects him to reciprocate her advances. Interestingly, she is also lonely in her life. Since Deepak is already in love with Aarti whom he knows through letters only, he quits the job and becomes an auto-rickshaw driver with the help of his friend, Preetam (Jackie Shroff). On the other hand, Aarti comes to Delhi in search of Deepak only. She is able to identify him in the ending scene only through a gift sent by her to him.
Sirf Tum is a very interesting movie that engrosses the viewer from the beginning to the end. Especially the final phase of the story when Aarti keeps on searching Deepak with the help of Deepak only (because she does not know him by face) in the heavy rainfall, is damn impressive. The brilliant way this love-story has been told, has given it a reliable look.
The director has handled the story pretty well both in the South-Indian setting at Kochi as well as in the North-Indian setting at Delhi. Except for the love of the Neha for her employee, Deepak which seems to have been expressed by Neha in a bit hurry, the story moves ahead at a natural pace and the viewer keeps on flowing with the flow of the narrative till it reaches the climax which is sentimentally appealing.
Through the mature personality of Deepak, the office culture in India has also been portrayed quite emphatically. How the office dynamics go on in real as well as how a mature person should handle the people and the situations, has been presented in an impressive manner. Deepak maintains distance with not only his boss, Neha but also colleagues like Ranjeet (Mohnish Behl) without annoying anybody. It's something to be followed by those (like me) who are working in the offices. How workers go against an officer who is apparently an outsider (from some other state) to them, has also been shown realistically. In fact, it's the excellent screenplay of this movie which makes it a winner. Simplicity has been maintained throughout the movie sans all pump and show which provides the story being told on the screen a natural flavour.
The lead pair of Sanjay Kapoor and Priya Gill has done justice to their roles albeit Priya Gill could have done better. The complete supporting cast including Jackie Shroff, Jaya Bhattacharya (Aarti's Christian friend at Delhi), Sushmita Sen, Tej Sapru, Shagufta Ali, Johnny Lever (Deepak's friend at Kochi), Mohnish Behl etc. all have provided excellent support to the leading characters of the story. Salman Khan and Gurdas Mann in guest appearances have added value to the movie.
Nadeem Shravan's music is mesmerizing. It contains my favourite Qawwaali - Ek Mulaqaat Zaroori Hai Sanam (sung by Sabri brothers) which is played alongside the activities of the lead pair in the ending reels. Among other songs, Pehli Pehli Baar Mohabbat Ki Hai is an excellent romantic duet by Alka Yagnik and Kumar Sanu whereas Dekho Zara Kaise Bal Khaake Chali Hai is an item number picturized on the singer - Gurdas Mann himself. Panchhi Sur Mein Gaate Hain, Ooparwaala Apne Saath Hai, Dilbar Dilbar (a dream song picturized on Sushmita Sen) and the title track are also pretty good to listen. Sameer has written heart-winning lyrics and the music directors have focused on melody, making this album a memorable one.
Cinematographer has done a brilliant job. Whether capturing the beauty of Kerala in the first part of the movie or bringing the natural look of Delhi in the later part of it, he has excelled like anything. Editing is also good. The movie is long but the uninterrupted interest and curiosity do not allow the audience to feel its length. Despite simplicity of presentation, producer Boney Kapoor has maintained a high production value in the movie.
Summing up, Sirf Tum is a very simple, yet heart-winning movie which can be put in the league of the simple movies once made by Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Basu Chatterjee. It's a big treat for the romantic movie audience.
