Director by: Mustafa Engineer
Producer by: Babar Chopra
Starring: Preeti Jhangiani, Himani Shivpuri
Music Dir: Vishnu Narayan
[Watch Songs]

Not many will remember the song 'Chui Mui Si Tum Lagti Ho' from Rajshri Music's debut album 'Yeh Hai Prem'. With new actor Abbas, the pair stirred the music scene and it was announced that a new face in Indian Cinema has arrived. Everyone was talking about the innocent face of Preeti Jhingiani.



Many film barons in Bollywood noticed her and finally it was Yashraj Films that gave her a break in super duper hit 'Mohabbatien' six years back. Since then Preeti has done films of almost all kinds. She came back on screen with a special appearance in Hrithik Roshan's 'Na Tum Jano Na Hum'.

But after that she lost track. In a hurry to make hay while the Sun shines, she signed all sorts of films. After doing about ten films she is still there from where she started six years back. Her new film 'Chaand Ke Paar Chalo' also doesn't look to take her anywhere and once again she has faltered on her own.

She should have better gone for second leads and powerful roles that are hard to find capable actresses these days. But, Preeti looks like to do only lead roles. This has ruined her career . Regular movie watchers do not remember even a single role post- 'Mohabbatien' from her .

'Chaand Ke Paar Chalo' (Preeti's latest released this Friday) moves on a linear track and despite offering some good visual appeal and music, lacks the substance. Debutant director Mustafa Engineer has faltered in choosing the story for this film.

Having written the film himself, Mustafa has committed a blunder of choosing a very raw face as a hero. Saahib the lead man in the film looks very childish to do such a mature role that is parallel to none other than Aamir Khan in 'Raja Hindustani'. Saahib plays Chander in 'Chaand Ke Paar Chalo'.

He is a man who is earning his living by clicking photographs of tourists who come to visit Nainital (Who will visit Nainital now when it is cheaper to reach Malaysia or Singapore from Metros than Nainital). In Nainital he has a good company in close friend Johnny (Sanjay Narvekar) and very caring parents (Kanu Gill and Alok Nath). What is missing in Chander's life is some one who can make him feel comfortable in all situations.

One day while going to work, Saahib chances to meet a stage dancer Nirmala (Preeti Jhingiani). Struck by her beauty, he befriends her and decides to bring heaven for her on the earth. Nirmala's uncle (Tej Sapru) and Aunt (Himani Shivpuri) have other plans for earning but Chander manages to take Nirmala in the land of dreams, Mumbai.

Chander puts everything on the stake and manages to arrange a meeting between Nirmala and a producer who is looking for a fresh face. The chemistry strikes and so does Nirmala's career as an actress. She becomes famous overnight (do you smell 'Abhiman' and 'Akele Hum Akele Tum', blame Mustafa for this).

Chander is still there where he was. Nirmala is secretary to Kapoor (Shakti Kapoor) who is cunning and feels if Chander keeps on lingering around Nirmala, he may face problem in future. So he decides to pack Chander out of the home of Nirmala and one day when everything is working according to his plans, Kapoor throws Chander on the road.

Chander has nowhere to go and after much thought decides to return to Nainital. He starts her career afresh as a photographer, but fate has other things in pipeline for him. He once again chances to meet Nirmala, but this time he tries to keep distance from her.

Will Nirmala win over her love again? Will Chander's luck favor him this time? Or, Chander's enemies will once again succeed in creating a rift between him and Nirmala? All these questions have answers in the climax and the story reaches to end on expected notes. Nothing unusual, nothing extraordinary though!

'Chaand Ke Paar Chalo' would have been a better soap opera than a film . To make a film on this kind of story line does need a big heart, because such like films are not the order of the day. At a time when everyone is heading for realistic cinema, dreamy stories of yesterdays do not make any sense.

Add to this, raw handling of the film's subject by its director and the script of a sure flop is ready with you. Mustafa Engineer has failed everywhere in this film. He chose a bad story, then he wrote a worse script and in the last had a worst product in his hands that he anyhow succeeded in selling to distributors and exhibitors.

The film has nothing to offer to its viewers that they can take along with them after leaving the cinema hall. Only the saving grace is its music by Vishnu Narayan that is excellently picturised in beautiful locations.

Among actors, 'Chaand Ke Paar Chalo' has nothing such that could draw good initials.

 

Saahib is totally raw in acting and it would have been better for him and also the film, if he had got his looks and dialogue delivery right before facing the camera.

 

Preeti Jhingiani tries her best to carry the film on her shoulders but falls short because of oft-repeated story line and bad script.

The film does have a long list of senior actors but except Shakti Kapoor none emerges to leave an impression. On the whole, 'Chaand Ke Paar Chalo' has very little chances to survive at the box office.