Main Hoon Na |  | Director: Farah Khan
Actors: Shahrukh Khan, Sushmita Sen, Sunil Shetty, Zayed Khan, Amrita Rao
Studio: Eros Entertainment
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.95
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Seller: MovieTimeVideo
Rating:  16 reviews
Sales Rank: 74132
Format: NTSC
Region: 0
Discs: 2
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 0.5 x 5.5
UPC: 883629119946
EAN: 0883629119946
ASIN: B000LXSAIU
Release Date: December 11, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
There´s something about Bollywood choreographers, and their ability to make decent film directors. The late Kamal (Chahoonga Main Tujhe) and B.H. Tarun Kumar (Nayee Padosan) have already proven that a "dance master" can also direct a semi-tolerable movie. But super-successful young´un Farah Khan, with her first foray behind the megaphone, trumps both the dudes with a wallop.
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 16
 "But I just don't look like a student!" July 21, 2007
H. Bala (Carson - hey, we have an IKEA store! - CA USA)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
What fun this movie is! Three hours of counter-terrorist intrigue, crazy action sequences, and goofy campus hijinks breezed on by for me. Shahrukh Khan, whom I've only seen in full in DON (although I've seen him in a few cameo roles), is just about perfect as he walks that tightrope between intense and dedicated military man and silly, lovestruck undercover college boy. I think he pulls it off, and nicely.
Major Ram Prasad Sharma (Shahrukh Khan) loves his nation of India and dreams of when Project Milaap ("Unity") will come to full fruition. However, Project Milaap, which is basically a prisoner exchange program intended to end Indian/Pakistani hostilities, is something which embittered Indian terrorist Raghavan (Sunil Shetty) hates with all his fiber and is something which he's vowed to sabotage at all costs. Indian Army General Bakshi, who heads the Milaap project, fears that his daughter Sanjana (Amrita Rao) might become a pawn between him and Raghavan and assigns Ram to protect her. Accordingly, Ram goes undercover as a student in Sanjana's college at St. Paul University. Oh, and, by the way, Ram is 31 years old and very much looks it. Thus, it's really no surprise that he soon becomes the brunt of many age jokes administered by his "peers" as he's mockingly called "Uncle," "Senior Citizen," and - my personal favorite - "Mr. Geriatric." Shortly enough, though, he wins the friendships of Sanjana and her brash and popular friend Lucky (Zayed Khan, of DUS (2 DVD'S)).
But Ram has a second important task. Further complicating the tale is Ram's father's deathbed revelation that Ram has a step-mother and -brother, with whom Ram's dad had been estranged for 20 years. His dying wish is that Ram seek them out so that familial fences can be mended. As luck would have it, and because this is Bollywood (home of serendipity and coincidences), Ram learns that his step-brother, Lakshman, also attends Sanjana's college.
Now, with Ram having been accepted by his college mates, another dilemma threatens to get in the way of his mission. He meets and is instantly smitten with and distracted by the sexy, new chemistry teacher Chandni Chopra (Sushmita Sen), who, to go by her constantly windblown tresses, seems to have her own personal wind machine. Can Ram keep his focus on point, defeat the bad guys, reconcile his long lost family, win the girl, and do his Physics homework? Well, yes, he can. The fun is in watching him do it.
So, MAIN HOON NA ("I'm Here Now") starts out seriously enough as background is layed out concerning the all-important Project Milaap summit, the ensuing terrorist attack, and the resulting death of Ram's father. Also, the film has to initially set up Shahrukh's action hero creds so as to better provide a contrast with his later quasi-nerdy college persona. However, as soon as Ram shows up at the St. Paul campus, the film switches up and becomes a madcap comedy, replete with broad humor and over the top slapstick. I enjoyed it, and got a kick out of the violinists who kept popping up every time anything remotely romantic was going on. The spit spraying professor was also a gas. However, the badly caricatured characters of the forgetful principal and the much avoided, English-mangling school spinster had me yawning.
Unlike films such as ASAMBHAV, GADAR, and ZAMEEN, MAIN HOON NA doesn't wallow in much Pakistan-bashing. Too, the nationalistic rah-rahs are kept to a minimum. Film choreographer and first time director Farah Khan, along with producer Shahrukh Khan, maintains an even keeled movie, which is always an accomplishment in Bollywood pictures when one factors in all the different genres normally thrown in the stewpot. But, no scene is too jarring here, despite the mishmash of wirework action, Indian-Pakistani intrigue, family melodrama, and college goofiness. Oh, and musical interludes. Speaking of which, these songs are infectiously fun, from the title tune to the energetic "Chale Jaise Hawayein" to the Latin-flavored "Tumhe Jo Maine Dekha" to "Tumse Mil Ke Dil Ka Jo Haal" (Qawali), with its awesome beats, to the retro-cool "Gori Gori," which is reminiscent of GREASE in its exuberance. I don't do this much, but I'm probably gonna buy the movie soundtrack. By the way, since we're talking music here, I could've sworn I heard the warped strains of the Austin Powers and Mission: Impossible theme songs in certain scenes.
Shahrukh Khan is excellent and has me finally, finally convinced of his star quality. And he's working with a good bunch of actors here. The sensuous Sushmita Sen (whose movies I really need to start checking out) embodies that hot teacher every male youngster must've lusted after in school, at one point or another. Amrita Rao is the tomboyish Sanjana, who wears her heart on her sleeve, and she makes me wish she were my friend. She's a promising young actress. Zayed Khan also punches in to work and is pretty good, although I could've done with much less of the lame Karate Kid moves. Sunil Shetty surprises me the most as he actually demonstrates depth and complexity in his terrorist role. After seeing him in crap performances, who knew he had it in him to be good? As an added bonus, Naseeruddin Shah has a brief but key supporting part as Ram's military father.
This paragraph is as good as any to mention the dvd itself. The dvd version I have is the 2-disc set, with disc one containing the feature film and the 2nd disc having these following special features: a trivia game (I missed 3 questions the first time, darn it); Farah Khan & Shahrukh Khan's filmography; a story board to scene comparison; "The Making Of" featurette (around 28 minutes long, but worth watching); 6 minutes of deleted scenes; outtakes & bloopers (worth it for the hilarious spit scenes); a visual effects segment; and TV spots, song trailers, & theatrical trailer. Not bad.
MAIN HOON NA started out boringly, with the ponderous Mission Milaap meeting. But, stick with it, it gets better as we're soon treated to some interesting action sequences. And, then, with Ram showing up in campus half an hour into it, the movie really takes off and quickly ingratiates itself with the viewer. Honestly, from then on, there's a sense of joy in this film which made me feel good all the way to the end with its high spirited closing credits. The main actors have great chemistry together and seem to be having a blast, and, if you go by the "Making Of" featurette, this sense of camaraderie was conveyed off the screen as well. The fight scenes are nicely choreographed, even if the film aims too much for MATRIX-like special effects, a goal of which it falls short. Some of the wirework really, really look unconvincing; they even used wire for the cycle rickshaw stunt. However, there's one scene between one professor and Ram in the teacher's lounge which makes hilarious use of the MATRIX effect. But, for me, the enjoyment in the film doesn't really lie in the action bits.
Even with the sometimes shabby dvd quality (the screen got extremely "pixelized" in several scenes), this is still a movie well worth having. I've seen it twice in the last three days, and, truth be told, the action sequences may have gotten old, the f/x become cheesier, but the college moments retain their freshness and sense of playfulness and Ram's interactions with Lucky and his mom remain touching (and, yes, hokey). Four and a half stars for MAIN HOON NA. Would that all Bollywood films be this effervescent.
This is one of my favorites. It is a celebration of a mix of well-loved Hollywood genres. You have the romance, the college with May 29, 2009
Lyn (Melbourne Australia)
This is one of my favorites. It is a celebration of a mix of well-loved Hollywood genres. You have the romance, the college with the adult undercover as a student and you have action - with a little comedy thrown in. The songs and dances are memorable and SRK is great. Zayed Khan is I think the best I have seen him to date, and Amrita Rao a very apt romantic young woman. Sunil Shetty as the major deluded terrorist who wants to invade the school and kidnap the girl, is so good he's troubling!
There are many salutes to Hollywood cliches here and the music really grew on me (enough to seek out and download). There is some violence but very Hollywood in its action sequences rather than graphic and nasty.
The cover makes this look old fashioned or dated (as SRK has been dressed 'square' as the older male returning to school) but it is very contemporary and westernized. Definitely recommended. Even my daughter raced out and ordered a copy after seeing it too so it appeals to different age groups.
I was surprised by many reviews knocking this - though mostly often for DVD quality (The film DVD quality of my copy was fine!) Looking elsewhere on the Net it tends to get above average . IMDb had it sitting on average 6 out of 10 out of almost 3000 votes (with a third rating it a 9 or 10 out of 10)
Fabulous June 14, 2009
Evelyn Phillips (South Australia)
This movie has everything, romance, humour, matrix type action and a wonderful hero SHK. The supporting cast are also excellent. I have watched this movie four times now and still enjoy it. The story line is both moving and typical of young people and how they suffer with poor parenting. But SHK comes to the rescue and saves the situation. I am not Indian and I'm not young in age but I really enjoy Bollywood movies and have quite a collection. This is my favourite so far.
A Little Bit of Everything October 24, 2009
Jaclyn Massi
Main Hoon Na, directed by Farah Khan, is a spectacular film with a little bit of everything in it. Ranging from action to romance with a slight twist of comedy, it will suit anyone looking to see a good film no matter what genre you prefer. The film begins as General Amarjeet Bakshi's (Kabir Bedi) of India is speaking about Project Milaap, an attempt to end the war between India and Pakistan. The problem is that not everyone wants the war to end such as the terrorist Raghavan (Sunil Shetty), former Indian army officer. Suddenly, as the general is speaking, a shooting erupts from terrorists including Raghavan. In attempt to kill the general, Brigadier Shekhar Sharma (Naseeruddin Shah) sacrifices himself and takes the bullet. While on his deathbed he confesses to his son Major Ram Sharma (Shah Rukh Khan) that his wife left him with his other son because of his past mistakes and reveals his last wish- to have both of his sons throw his ashes into the river. The attacks from Raghavan continue as he is threatening to kill General Bakshi's daughter Sanjana (Amrita Rao). The general sends his best, Major Ram, to protect his daughter. Major Ram thinks that this is going to delay his journey to find his long lost brother until he learns that Sanjana and his brother Laxman Prasad Sharma (Zayed Khan), aka Lucky, attend the same college. So Major Ram poses as a student in Sanjana's class and the journey to save his country as well as find his brother begins.
Farah Khan did a great job at directing this film. The movie begins with an action scene, where the matrix-style stunts are shown in slow-motion and the background music is a popular tune from mission impossible; repetitive in every action scene throughout the film. The full length and long shots emphasized the action scenes as well. The use of song in Main Hoon Na is essential because it often introduced main characters such as Sanjana and Lucky. Also, when Lucky finally realizes his love for Sanjana, song is used to express it. In the end of the film, Major Ram brought his family together, saved 100 students held hostage by Raghavan, fell in love, and formed incredible friendships with Lucky and Sanjana along with other students. It is obvious that Major Ram is the hero and the low-angle shots reflect he was doing something heroic.
Although there were a lot of things to follow throughout the film, I never lost interest. Love, comedy, and action are my favorite genres and I was excited to see the strong sense of each throughout the film. Farah Khan is an impressive director and I would recommend others to see Main Hoon Na.
 I'm Here...So Read Me October 25, 2009
Emily K. Gydesen
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Main Hoon Na is an action filled Bollywood film that incorporates warfare and familial troubles for an interesting story line. At a young age, Ram Prasad Sharma (Shahrukh Khan) is left on his biological father's doorstep. Upon his arrival, Ram's father's wife learns of her husband's unfaithfulness and leaves the home, taking with her their only son, Laxman "Lucky" Prasad Sharma (Zayed Khan). Years later, on assignment for the military, Major Ram Prasad Sharma poses as a student at his half-brother's school. It is here, while on assignment to protect General Bakshi's daughter Sanjana (Amrita Rao), that Ram is able to build a relationship with his half-brother.
During one action scene early in the movie, Lucky is chasing a schoolmate on the roof of the school building. After losing his footing, Lucky slides down the roof and is only hanging on by his fingertips. Long-angle shots show the height from which Lucky is dangling compared to the people on the ground. The distance Lucky would drop if his fingers were to let go is intensified because of this style of shooting. Later in the movie, another scene on a rooftop is filmed with long-angle shots. In this scene, however, Ram's life is in danger, as he is confronted by Raghav, the enemy terrorist. Ram must leave the roof immediately and long-angle shots capture the determination on his face as he sprints to save his life. The suspense that builds up in these scenes is vital to action movies such as Main Hoon Na.
Director Farah Khan did a great job when he cast the roles in the film; the chemistry between Ram, Lucky, and Lucky's mother is real. Unfortunately for them, the relationship between the three is based on lies. When Ram is ready to reveal that he is Lucky's father's illegitimate son, he is too late; Raghav exposed Ram's true identity to Lucky and his mother before Ram could do it himself. Upset that they have been lied to, Ram is told to leave their home. Later, however, when given the opportunity to help save Ram, Lucky puts his anger behind him and rescues his half-brother.
Main Hoon Na is an intense, action-filled story that I would recommend to anyone looking for a thrilling film-watching experience. Compelling action shots throughout the film keep the audience on their toes and entertained. In addition, the film incorporates a touching story of the reconciliation of a family torn by one man. By incorporating these story lines, the film is sure to have something that would appeal to everyone.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 16
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