Souten-The Other Woman is a film by Karan Razdan. Like all his films, this one too has sex as one of its underlying subjects. The film involves a triangle, however, what is different is that it involves a mother-daughter duo who happen to fall for the same man. This is definitely one more bold subject that the director has attempted after a wife having an extra marital affair and the famous lesbian theme, which he did in Hawas and Girlfriend.
Subject wise, the film could have definitely had some scope, because it is a bold and intriguing topic. Karan, always manages to get his films into a pot of controversies, however eventually his films fail to make an impression and carry forth on their subjects. He is come to be associated as a director who makes sexy and controversial films, unfortunately this tag has proved to be a bane for the director, as audiences go or don’t go to watch his movies due to preset notions of his films.
Souten-The Other Woman is directed by Karan Razdan and stars Mahima Choudhary (Mitali), Padmini Kolhapure (Smita), Gulshan Grover (Thakur Ranbeer Singh), Shakti Kapoor (Sumer Singh), Kiran Rathod (Sapna) and Vikram Singh (Raj).
The film tells the story of Mitali who is married to Thakur Ranbeer Singh; he is rich, powerful and too busy with his business. Even during his leisure, he prefers to go hunting rather than spend time with his wife. Mitali is anxious to be lavished with attention, as she is bored with her predictable life. She is looking for something new and exciting. She gets this opportunity when she meets her husband’s business associate’s kid brother, Raj. He is a young, carefree and reckless man who likes to indulge in risks. Mitali is entrusted with the task of showing Raj around town and their place, during this time both of them are drawn to each other. There is a sexual tension between them and they finally embark on a physical relationship after a few days of meeting. Their affair is purely based on lust.
During their rendezvous, Raj’s sister-in-law, Smita becomes aware of their relationship. She is appalled and confronts Mitali about the affair. However, Mitali is not fazed and brazenly brushes asides Smita’s confrontation, she continues with this illicit relationship. Finally having no choice, Smita approaches her brother-in-law, Raj, she tries to make him understand that the relation has no future and the dire repercussions that it would have, if everyone involved were to find out. Raj realizes his folly, albeit late, but decides to call it off with Mitali. He explains to Mitali that they can no longer see each other.
Ranbeer’s daughter, Sapna from his first marriage comes into the scene. Raj and Sapna don’t get along at first, but later they go to Goa together and fall in love with each other. On their return, Sapna is thrilled and tells her step mom, Mitali, about her relationship with Raj. Mitali is flabbergasted and vows not to let Sapna have Raj too, if she can’t have him. She shamelessly informs her stepdaughter of her illicit relation with Raj. Sapna is broken hearted and breaks off her relation with Raj. She then takes off for Goa, where she wants to pursue her career as a fashion designer. However, Raj lands up in Goa and begs and pleads her to forgive him, and finally she relents and decides to forgive her beau.
But Mitali also comes to Goa, along with an evil plan to keep the two lovers apart. She brings a groom for Sapna, and Ranbeer and Mitali want Sapna to marry him. She cannot decline her parent’s wishes and so agrees to wed this boy. Smita talks to Mitali and convinces her that the lovers belong together and that she should not keep them apart. Mitali’s conscience finally surfaces and she decides to get Sapna and Raj married. Unfortunately at the same time, Ranbeer learns of his wife’s affair with Raj and is spewing venom and seething mad.
The concept of Karan Razdan’s story of the evil stepmother-staking claim over her daughter’s lover is quite good; unfortunately, the execution of the film is below satisfactory. The ambience and style of the film does not give it a current generation appeal. The director needs to move with time in terms of filming and directing techniques. Merely using a bold topic to arrest audience attention does not make a hit film. Many sequences seem to be done in a very tacky manner and they seem predictable. Even the screenplay appears uninteresting and unappealing.
In portions and pieces of the film Souten, the director does manage to hold interest, such as the confrontation of the affair between Smita and Mitali is quite good. Also, the scene where Mitali ruthlessly informs her stepdaughter of her affair with Raj manages to make a mark. However, these well-executed scenes seem to be few in this film and do not manage to carry forth the film. Anand-Milan’s music is just about average in the film; however, the lyrics of the songs like Narm Honthon ki Narmiyaan Lelo and Barsaat Hai Lagne Laga Hai Darr could have more apt lyrics. Cinematography was nice with the beautiful locales of Rajasthan giving a different and fresh look.
Unfortunately, after the interval, the film is a complete washout; even the climax where Mahima sacrifices her life is totally predictable and routine. Also, the fact that in parts of the film, Mahima Choudhary’s duplicate has been used is quite evident. But Mahima's role is meaty and substantial; she plays the role well and expresses the various aspects of the character aptly. Padmini Kolhapure enacts her role of the practical and rational woman well. Kiran Rathod is an average actress, but needs to acquire more style and finesse. Vikram Singh is totally unconvincing in his role; he looks uneasy in front of the camera and seems to be the least efficient amongst the cast.
Souten has not been released with too much promotion and also it has been constantly surrounded by controversies. It may not get any recognition in the bigger metros but may do average in the smaller, Hindi cinemas.
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| Reviewed By: Rachel Fernandes |
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