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Mehbooba movie review: Puri fails to get his mojo in rebirth film

The only good thing about Mehbooba is its cinematography, with Vishnu Sharma capturing some beautiful visuals.

Cast: Akash Puri, Neha Shetty, Sayaji Shinde, Vishnu Reddy, Murali Sharma
Director: Puri Jagannath

Director Puri Jagannath appears to have lost his way after his last hit Temper (2015), having delivered five flops since. He returns this week with Mehbooba, in which he introduces Akash Puri, his son, and Neha Shetty as the male and female leads. The story centres on Roshan (Akash), who has had nightmares since his childhood that he would be killed in a military ambush in the Himalayas. Over in Pakistan, Afreen (Neha) too has been getting similar nightmares. Her parents arrange her marriage with Nadir (Vishnu Reddy) but Afreen doesn’t like him and opts to come to Hyderabad, India, to study engineering as part of an exchange programme. Roshan saves her from a few goons, but fails to see her face. Though they don’t meet later on, they know that they are in love with each other.

As the movie progresses, Roshan gets selected for the Army. But before joining the Army, he goes on trekking in the Himalayas. Afreen is called back by her family. Both of them board the same train, where they meet each other and fall for each other. While trekking in the Himalayas, Roshan sees a woman's body and finds a diary that reveals the connection between him and Afreen. The rest of the film explains who they are, why they are getting the same nightmares and the reason behind their strong attraction for each other. Having tried his hand at numerous formula films, Puri Jagannath chooses the done-to-death reincarnation theme for Mehbooba, following in the footsteps of a long line of films, from Mooga Manasulu to Magadheera. But sadly, it appears as though he has made a mistake in choosing such an out-dated story for his son’s debut movie.

Apart from the India-Pakistan angle, Jagannath fails to make the story interesting. The screenplay is clichéd and the plot lamentably weak. Not a single scene impresses, though the film's promos had held out some promise. The climax is a big bore. Akash has been seen as a child artiste in many films, and as a teen in Andhra Poti. His performance is real and sincere and holds promise for the future. His confidence levels are high and it shows in his body language. Neha is beautiful, but looks sad most of the time. Murali Sharma as her father is good, while Sayaji Shinde merely does what he has been doing for a long time. The only good thing about Mehbooba is its cinematography, with Vishnu Sharma capturing some beautiful visuals. Music by Sandeep Chowtha is just average.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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