Sukanya Verma

Whether it's Nana Patekar's searing jingoism in Krantiveer or Amitabh Bachchan's menacing vengeance in Mrityudaata, going over the top has always been a particularly special forte of filmmaker Mehul Kumar.

Why should his latest Kitne Door Kitne Paas be any different?

For starters, the film draws its inspiration from Forces Of Nature (Ben Affleck, Sandra Bullock). The original was an uninspiring effort in its own right. Apparently Mehul Kumar doesn't think so.

After completing his MBA in the US, Jatin is all set to catch the next homebound flight to India to get married to the girl of his mother's choice, namely Jaya (Sonali Kulkarni). On his journey, he keeps bumping into short-tempered Karishma, also on her way to India to get hitched to some random chap called Nimesh (Ayub Khan).

Interestingly, the makers try to pass Australia for America. Sydney Harbour Bridge for San Francisco's Golden Bridge, anyone?

Call it sheer coincidence or the writer's master plan, Jatin and Karishma catch the same flight, same cab, same bus and share the same destination: Vijaynagar, Gujarat. (Side note: If Oz becomes US, Filmcity sits pretty as Gujarat's Vijaynagar). Taking the longest route possible, Jatin and Karishma take a trip from New Delhi airport via Bikaner to Gujarat and, finally, Vijaynagar. Apparently, all trains in the country have ceased to function and the concept of luxury buses is still to come in to existence.

Not that Jatin and Karishma have any problems hitchhiking with a Hum Aapke Hain Koun-type family to Bikaner. Despite their protests, the duo is forcibly mistaken for a married couple and are made to undergo some customary rituals to keep a dada-dadi happy.

Jatin and Karishma fall in love. But since both of them hog a half hour on their undying trust in their indulgent parents' choice as far as their marriage partners are concerned, they place a lid on their feelings. The lid soon pops up. Thereafter, all's well that ends well.

The funny part is it is much ado about nothing. When their respective folks discover Jatin and Karishma's involvement, they wholeheartedly give their go-ahead.

Kitne Door Kitne Paas evokes contrasting reactions. Loud humor prevails whenever Jatin's America-obsessed in-laws --- Bapabhai (Tiku Talsania) and Koki (Ketaki Dave) --- attempt comedy. The emotional scenes in which Karishma or Jaya pose as sacrificial lambs evoke hearty laughs.

Veejay-turned-actress Amrita Arora makes an impressive debut. She has potential, besides a charming screen presence. Amrita is at ease with light, frivolous scenes as well as dramatic parts. Although during the song-and-dance sequences, Amrita tends to imitate Urmila Matondkar unabashedly.

Fardeen Khan's lovelorn Romeo act with a firang accent is surely designed to typecast him. Kitne Door Kitne Paas shows him no different from what he has done earlier.

The talented Sonali Kulkarni doesn't get a better deal either. Her itsy-bitsy role and garish outfits leave a lot to be desired. Apart from silly humour, implausible dialogues and situations, the film offers dull music (Sanjeev Darshan), too. There are countless songs in the film which pop up at every known and unknown opportunity.

One somehow bids time ogling at the impressive Gold Coast and Brisbane in Australia. Mazhar Kamran's camera work is commendable. I wish I could say the same for Yusuf Sheikh's editing or the lack of it.

If the original Forces Of Nature was bad, rehash Kitne Door Kitne Paas is worse.

Maybe Mehul should try remaking Pearl Harbor next time.