NTJNH is Arjun Sablok's first feature film. And it's a pretty good debut. The first half hour is the weakest part of the film, with a song that should be cut, too slow a pace and some tired Bollywood antics. But then the film gets momentum and starts to deliver. There are still lesser moments that pay unnecessary tribute to the 'formula' (silly comedy bits, a clichéd gay character, a hero-beats-up-multiple-adversaries scene...) but they are outweighed by moments which show that the director has at times a firm grip on the various aspects of cinematic expression and uses his tools to good effect (camera, editing, sound effects). There is a delightful party dancing scene which has only one fault, it's too short. There is an equally effective scene involving a zipper. There is a comic scene that makes fun of Bollywood film making which directly leads into the inevitable declaration of love between hero and heroine and its expression in a song number, all elegantly executed. Also impressive is the scene around the intermission and the tell-me-your-name-scene which culminates in a wedding song, to name two more examples. Technically the film is uneven like almost all Bollywood films. Sharp shots and out of focus and filtered shots follow each other in random fashion, without a recognizable concept. Color balance is off at times. Both can be seen on the DVD as well as on 35mm prints. The 3 leads are all doing a good job. Hrithik Roshan tends to overact in comic scenes, but is on the other hand excellent in dramatic and emotional moments. Esha Deol has not got beauty queen looks, but something better instead: personality and charm. She has got talent. Saif Ali Khan plays once more a playboy, which he can do on autopilot by now. He's good as well. The film is above average but suffers somewhat from using Bollywood cliches and a not terribly original story, a variation of so many other Bollywood love stories. On the other hand the basic conflict is well established, the drama works and the execution with a good cast lifts the material often on the level of solid workmanship and a few times beyond.
