Every talented scion of an artistic family would like to be different from his predecessors. But Rohan Sippy seems so much a chip of the old block -- both in terms of work attitude and looks -- that you feel you're looking at Ramesh Sippy all over again.

At Sippy's unostentatious office in suburban Mumbai, stills of his son's ready-for-release debut film, Kuch Na Kaho, starring Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, adorn the wall. There're some visual legacies of papa Sippy's historic success, Sholay, as well. But the focus, clearly, is on the son.

"I know I've been neglecting my career. But I wanted our complete infrastructure to concentrate on what he [Rohan] wanted to do. Ab bahut ho gaya [It's more than enough now]. I'll start my film now," says Ramesh.

Rohan, who has been editing his film in the other room, joins us. He's shy, but confident. Like other recent second-generation filmmakers -- Goldie Behl (Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai) and Gurudev Bhalla (Shararat) -- Rohan has chosen to start his career with Abhishek Bachchan.

His face lights up as he speaks about his buddy. "You've to see what Abhishek has done in my film…"

We move to the other room for a glimpse at Rohan's craft. Kuch Na Kaho certainly looks different. The format, though familiar, has an element of daring to it. But what really grabs you are the colours. Soothing greens and blues visually highlight Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's innovative tunes and strike a chord in those looking for something different in mainstream commercial cinema.

On the screen, Abhishek courts Aishwarya with the earnestness that is his trademark. The romance has been shot with panache. Though I'm not supposed to reveal the plot, there're moments in the Abhishek-Aishwarya courtship that have to be shared.

There's an innovatively-tuned qawwali filmed at an engagement ceremony where boys and girls, led by Abhishek and Aishwarya, tease each other. Familiar enough. But what a tremendous difference Rohan's vision makes to the presentation!

There is a long sequence in which, after a dramatic parting, Aishwarya falls down a steep, rain-gorged ravine. A panic-stricken Abhishek plunges in after her. As they slip down the gully, Abhishek suddenly finds a branch to cling to.

"There's something I've to tell you," he stammers, as he clings to the branch and dear life with one hand, and to his lady love with the other. "If I don't say it now, I never will. The branch we're holding on to is about to break." Then, they go down together…

At times, Rohan's shots, colours and moods remind us of Ramesh Sippy's oceanic blues in Saagar (Rishi Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, Kamal Haasan). In some of the songs, there are shades of filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's style. But, at the end of the day, Rohan is his own man. His vision is fresh and the sensitivity with which he interweaves the songs and dramatic scenes leaves no doubt as to which way his talent is headed.

Compliments delight and trouble Rohan. "I don't know how much of Kuch Na Kaho is inspired by my father. I've never consciously imbibed his style. But, yes, I'm my father's son in the way I look at cinema. Every frame matters. That's what I've learnt from him."