BOLLYWOOD

In the first half, the script is hugely disappointing. There are instances of circumstances that make your jaw drop in disbelief. Arjun (Ajay Devgan) is being taken by his uncle, Om Puri, to London after his father's demise. Why he is going there, no one knows. But what takes the cake is at the airport, Arjun leaves his uncle and runs off. That's not all, he lives a good 20 years in the UK, furthers his singing ambition and manages to raise a band of Indian origin called, London Dreams.

How he grew up, where he stayed, why his uncle never lodged a police complaint is things we should not ask. A good 20 years later, or so, he is at his uncle's fast food corner ordering some food with his band friends. His uncle does not recognize him. Later, after a concert, Arjun calls out to his uncle!

Another instance of poor scripting is when at an audition, Arjun requests Priya (Asin) to join him. She knows all about him. C'mon, this is an audition of a lifetime and he is chancing it by requesting some female he saw dancing on the street.

Thankfully, post interval the pieces are picked up and the script gets tighter. Mercifully, there is Salman Khan (Manu) to grab your attention, with a laudable performance. I'm no Salman Khan fan, but the way he has tackled this role is like he has put his whole life into it. The fun-loving Manu, Arjun's childhood friend steals the thunder from Arjun's nose with his performance, just as he does on stage during their concerts. If you are a Salman fan, this is one performance of his you have to watch.

Arjun and Manu are childhood friends living somewhere in Punjab. Arjun has a dream of performing at Wembley to a full house; Manu is content playing the fool in the village. Arjun's parents are dead against their son's choice of career. Things turn in his favour when Arjun's father passes away and his uncle takes him to London. There (20 years later) he meets up with two brothers from Pakistan and sets up his band. Manu, in one of his conversations on the telephone, informs Arjun that he is getting married and Arjun flies down to Punjab, pronto! His first visit after he left for foreign shores (another of the 'script tease'). Here, he hears Manu singing and invites him too, to join his band. Once there, Manu steals the show with his singing and Arjun is sidelined as the crowds root for Manu.

Arjun's dream is shattered. What he dreamt for himself, he sees it happening to his friend. He plans the downfall of his best friend, as he cannot contain his jealousy. He vents his fury at Wembley Stadium when he does get to perform there. All that the crowd wants is Manu, while Arjun is belting out his number. Arjun on his part has made sure that Manu will never come back on stage.

The music is good while you hear it but the lyrics or tune is not something you will take home. A good opportunity lost for the trio of Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy.

Vipul Shah has garnished the film with some convincing concert scenes but its Salman and Salman alone who turns the table for LONDON DREAMS and makes it worth a watch.