The Film: Koi Mil Gaya
Director: Rakesh Roshan
Starring: Hrithik Roshan, Preity Zinta, Rekha and Rakesh Roshan
Music: Rajesh Roshan
RATING: 4/10

Filmkraft Productions (India) Pvt. Ltd.'s Koi... Mil Gaya is a science-fiction film which seems more like a fantasy fare. Rohit (Hrithik Roshan) is a mentally challenged boy whose brain was damaged while he was still in his mother's (Rekha's) womb. His father, Sanjay Mehra (Rakesh Roshan), was a scientist who had just managed to establish contact with life on another planet, minutes before he was killed in a road accident.

Years later, Rohit, quite accidentally, also establishes a link with the same alien creatures through his father's computer. One such alien lands up in Rohit's town and to the latter's joy, the alien has magical powers when exposed to sunlight. The alien gets friendly to Rohit and his girlfriend Nisha (Preity Zinta) and, in return for their love and care for it, it cures Rohit of his malady. Rohit becomes strong, both physically and mentally.

Meanwhile, scientists from all over the world reach Rohit's town in search of the alien. It now falls upon Rohit to save it from the scientists who would not hesitate from heartlessly killing it for academic reasons. But sending the alien back to its planet (by signalling the spaceship to fetch it) would mean that Rohit would once again become his original retarded self. Putting compassion before selfish interest, Rohit sets out to save the alien from the scientists as well as from a group of nasty boys who are sworn enemies of Rohit and his group of tiny tots.

The film gives the impression of being a sci-fi fare but it remains more of a fantasy. The biggest asset of the film is its novelty value. The subject of an alien has never before been seen on the Hindi screen and that itself is enough to bring in the audiences to the cinemas. The first half has some interesting moments as Rohit's abnormal behaviour and interaction with other people are established. The interval point, where the alien shakes hands with Rohit, raises hopes of an exciting second half.

But the post-interval portion, save for a couple of clapworthy scenes, remains a dull fare. In particular, the basket-ball match and the classroom scenes in which Rohit rattles off difficult answers with the ease of a super-brain are very inspiring. But overall, the soul in the film is missing.

Director Rakesh Roshan has not been able to evoke the audience's sympathy - neither for the retarded Rohit nor for the helpless and lonely alien. Because of this, the feeling of euphoria, when Rohit becomes powerful and mentally agile, is short-lived. The first time when Rohit realises that he has become normal should've actually moved the audience to tears. It doesn't! Again, when it's time for the alien to leave, viewers should've felt lumps in their throats. They don't! Finally, when the alien does escape from Earth, the public should have applauded thunderously. They don't! Likewise, one doesn't feel sad for Rohit when the town bullies poke fun at him or beat him up. Besides, interesting threads of the first half, like the chant of 'Aum', have not been woven into the script in the second half. How the alien understands only some Hindi words while not understanding other words at all, remains a mystery for the viewer, which is not even attempted to be explained by the writers.

The above weaknesses are not just those of the director. The writers (Sachin Bhaumick, Honey Irani, Robin Bhatt and Rakesh Roshan) are also to be equally blamed because they've not come up with scenes which would tug at the heart-strings. Besides emotions, the film also lacks in romance. Although there is a move to establish a budding romance between Rohit and Nisha, it doesn't come across as a heart-warming experience for the viewer. Comedy is of the kind which would entertain the kids tremendously but the reaction of the elders to the same would be lesser.

The track of the group of boys, who are always troubling Rohit, is weak and repetitive. The way they go about with the ball, it almost appears like the ball was the most important thing in life for the two warring groups. Further, although Rajat Bedi, as the head of the anti-group, has a formidable personality, an actor with a status to match the star status of Hrithik Roshan was absolutely necessary for the role.

The film has some dull moments and becomes boring at places. Even a couple of songs can easily and advantageously be shortened/ deleted. Climax is not exciting enough. Dialogue (Javed Siddiqi) are fair.

Hrithik Roshan does a splendid job in the role of a boy with an under-developed brain. Even as a normal boy, he is very good. His dance in the 'Magic magic' song is superb and a major highlight of the film. Preity Zinta does not have a very significant role in terms of the value she adds although she has a running role. She looks pretty and acts well. Rekha's is a restrained performance.

Rajat Bedi does a fine job. Prem Chopra, Rajiv Verma, Mukesh Rishi, Beena, Anjana Mumtaz and Aryaman Sapru lend ordinary support and have inconsequential roles. Johny Lever is effective in the comic role of a ploiceman. Of the group of Hrithik's kid-friends, the sardar boy is very nice. Akash Khurana and Vivek Shauq leave their marks from among the rest. The computer-generated alien is cute.

Rakesh Roshan has given the film a big mounting and the final product that emerges is technically very superior. But had the drama been as heart-warming as the film is eye-filling, the film could've emerged as a big and universal hit. Rajesh Roshan's music is very good but the situations of a couple of songs are so weak that there would be audience walking out of the cinemas when they come on the screen. In the cinema halls, 'Magic magic' turns out to be the best number due to the superb dance by Hrithik. Musically, the title song, 'Idhar chala' and 'Jadoo' are very nice.

Camerawork (Sameer Arya and Ravi K. Chandran) is fabulous. The breathtaking locales have been captured beautifully on celluloid. Computer graphics and visual effects (Marc Kolbe, Craig Mumma, James Colmer and Lara Denman) deserve distinction marks. Action scenes (Tinnu Verma) are exciting. Sets (Sharmishtha Roy) are excellent.

On the whole, Koi... Mil Gaya has maximum masala for the kids but less than that for the youth and the older generation. Given the mind-boggling opening it has taken all over, it should prove an earner, doing the best business in Bombay.

Business in Overseas will be just fair becase of lack of novelty for the audience abroad. Lack of repeat value will prevent it from scaling great heights. Business in big centres and particularly in multiplexes will be fantastic but the film will not find much acceptance in small centres. First week's collections will be historic. Holidays (Raksha Bandhan, Independence Day) in the first two weeks will prove bountiful. For the producer, of course, the film is a veritable lottery of many crores, considering the recoveries from all the territories, electronic media and audio rights.