Sohni Mahiwal

So, another Indo-Russian co-production from the director duo of the Uzbek Latif Faiziyev and the Indian Umesh Mehra based on the classic love saga Sohni Mahiwal. The film is just as the story predicts, but sadly it just doesn't have enough verve to captivate the viewer. Yes, it does capture the ancient era in which the story takes place, the art direction and costumes are all good, but something is missing here and it ends up being just another love story. Maybe it's my personal problem because I'm not a big fan of such tragic love stories. The film's two leads do really well - Sunny Deol, who was the young heart-throb of the times following Betaab and a very good actor in his own right, works well opposite the beautiful and charming Poonam Dhillon, also a star in those years. It also has a Zeenat Aman in an interesting supporting role.

Where the film scores big time is in the music, in one of the most beautiful soundtracks of the decade. Composed by a young Anu Malik, the songs give the film much of what it otherwise lacks, and they make it memorable today. Asha Bhosle is the female voice of most of the songs, and I can't put into words just how brilliantly she sings each one of them, whether it's the classic gem "Sohni Meri Sohni" (with Anwar), the beautifully melancholic "Bol Do Meethe Bol Soniye" (with Shabbir Kumar), or the sassy "Chand Ruka Hai" (pictured on Zeenat Aman), "Sohni Chinab De Kinare". The underrated Anupama Deshpande, best known today for singing "Humko Aaj Kal Hai Intezaar" from Sailaab, soulfully performs "Sohni Chinab De" (courtesy Bhosle who was supposed to re-sing it but suggested to keep it). I wish the film was as good as its music.