Khoya Khoya Chand has a quite an interesting script, but unfortunately its screenplay simply comes across as just about average. The film is set against the backdrop of the film industry in the 50's and 60's. Though the film manages to capture the era visually, unfortunately it comes across as monotonous, self-indulgent and long drawn. The performances too are just fare with Shiney giving an okay performance; however Soha Ali Khan seems unsuitable for the complex character. However the melancholic mood and over emotional content right through the film weighs down on the audience too. Moreover after a point the film gets monotonous and the pace drags. A film with a good intention of portraying a bygone era in the film industry with nostalgia, however the slightly depressing and dark hue may not appeal to the masses.
Khoya Khoya Chand has been directed and written by Sudhir Mishra and stars Shiney Ahuja as Zaffar, Soha Ali Khan as Nikhat Bano, Rajat Kapoor as Prem Kumar, Soniya Jehan as Ratanbala, Sushmita Mukherjee as Sharda, Vinay Pathak etc. The music for the film has been composed by Shantanu Moitra.
Nikhat enters the film as a junior artiste, but with her mother's consent she becomes a victim of the casting couch at the young and tender age of just 14 years. After several years of struggling, Nikhat manages to catch the attention of the debonair superstar Prem Kumar. He too uses Nikhat in return for giving her a chance and she manages to break into the limelight. She becomes an overnight sensation which leads to the reigning actress Ratanbala becoming extremely insecure. Professionally Nikhat has achieved what she desired but personally she has paid a high price.
Prem Kumar being the reigning superstar also gives struggling script writer Zaffar a break in the film industry. Being in the same industry Nikhat and Zaffar often cross paths and gradually a romantic relationship develops between the two. However this love story is doomed right from the start and the cracks soon begin to appear. Prem Kumar is naturally upset with Nikhat and Zaffar as his ego is hurt and he then drops them from his future films. But Nikhat and Zaffar manage to deliver a hit film together but from there on things take a turn for the worse. Nikhat and Zaffar's pending marriage is abandoned as she is busy with her work commitments and she also opts out of his film. Their love story goes through a tumultuous path and their love gets overshadowed by ambition and egos. The tragic and sudden end of Nikhat's life finally brings the film to an end.
Sudhir Mishra's script is definitely different but the director tries to incorporate too many different aspects of the 50- 60's film industry at one time. However he does manage to portray the bygone era of the 50's and 60's with a natural poise. Also several characters in the film bear a striking resemblance to real life of actors and actresses of that era. The finer nuances of the inner world of the film industry is explored well from an insider's perspective by Sudhir Mishra.
However the screenplay lacks the ability to capture and maintain the audience's attention. The proceedings get confusing and vague at times; it gets monotonous and dreary after a while. The pace also crawls slower towards the second half and the length simply drags on endlessly. The climax is tragic and seems extremely abrupt and unfulfilling.
The music by Shantanu Moitra suits the 50- 60's era and is pleasing. The cinematography is first-rate as the look, mood and ambience of the film is apt and captures the by gone era with finesse. The dialogues are average. Performances are fare. Shiney Ahuja gives an average performance and his expressions and eyes portray his anguish. Soha Ali Khan on the other hand seems too raw for such a mature role; she lacks the experience to carry off this role efficiently. Rajat Kapoor is average and Soniya Jehan does an adequate job.
Overall the film caters to a niche audience with its subject and treatment which is a bit off-beat. The screenplay often gets emotionally heavy and the pace often drags. A film with a good intention, but the execution is inadequate and director Sudhir Mishra is unable to sustain the viewer's attention. Khoya Khoya Chand is just about average and at the box-office it may not set the cash registers flowing.
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| Reviewed By: Rachel Fernandes |
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