MUCH ADO ABOUT FIZA

HOW ironic it is having to listen to a soundtrack album from a film that's been banned. The movie Fiza, a recently-released Bollywood product in which Karisma Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan and Jaya Bachchan take the lead, was banned because it has an element of religious controversy. To comply with the Censorship Board's standard ruling on VHSC (Violence, Horror, Sex and Counter-culture) and religious sensitivity, Fiza has been deemed offensive. The only consolation is that Warner Music Malaysia released the Fiza soundtrack album last month. The visualising you just have to do on your own ....

Despite suffering the same fate as Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan, Keeping The Faith (with Ben Stiller and Edward Norton) and Beyond Rangoon (in which actor Hani Mohsein was portrayed as a monk), Fiza is quite entertaining fare.

This movie sees Karisma playing the title role Fiza who goes in search of her brother Amaan (Hrithik Roshan) who went missing for six years after he was arrested following a riot between Hindus and Muslims.

Using all conceivable means - the media, politicians and the law, Fiza embarks on her mission to determine whether Amaan is dead or alive.

The sensitive issue in Fiza is the depiction of a Muslim, Amaan, as a murderer who goes on a killing rampage to prove his innocence.

The act is deemed un-Islamic, inconceivable and outrageously sinful, according to the Censorship Board. And using this logic, Fiza, directed by Khalid Mohamed, is deemed unsuitable for public consumption.

It's a pity that Fiza, one of the few Hindi movies which tries to move away from the cliched boy-meets-girl love-triangle saga that Bollywood is famous for, will not be able to see the light of day here.

Karisma gives one of her finest performances as Fiza.

She portrays the pain, emotion and suffering of the character with such depth that one critic likened her to Nargis, one of the few veteran Hindi actresses capable of such roles.

Hrithik, who can be likened to a Greek god in terms of looks, and Jaya gave commendable performances too.

But the real charmer is newcomer Bikram Saluja who plays second fiddle Anirudh. With those piercing, hazel-brown eyes and good looks which could melt any woman's heart, Bikram looks set to be a contender to Hrithik's popularity.

If only we could enjoy a movie for pure entertainment value and not allow touchy issues like religion get in the way.

Music director, Anu Malik showcases an array of brilliant music in this album. The most interesting musical score is Aaja Mahiya (Come My Love) by popular playback singers Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik.

His stylish compositions, a common feature of his works such as the recent Josh (Shahrukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai) and Refugee (Abishek Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor) are distinctly brilliant, especially in the song Mehboob Mere (My Lover), a catchy, gypsy-inspired tune sung by Sunidh Chauhan and Karsan Sargathiya.

Other interesting numbers are Tu Fiza Hai (You Are Fiza) by Sonu Nigam and Alka Yagnik and Gaya Gaya Dil (My Heart Is Gone) by Sonu Nigam. The qawalli song Piya Haji Ali (With Much Love Haji Ali) is extremely soothing. The peace and tranquility it evokes would no doubt bring to mind the respected sufi guru Haji Ali who inspired it.

Asha Bhosle's rendition of Aankh Milaoongi (I Will Look Into Your Eyes), though distinctly sharp and melodious, sounds rather archaic.

Fiza the album is doing very well in Britain and the United States, chalking up impressive sales figures. In Malaysia, sale of the album is gathering momentum, with more than 10,000 copies sold in the first month after its launch, claims its distributor.

Another Bollywood album to look out for is the title track of Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai (My Heart Is With You). The movie which co-starred Anil Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai is a tale about a man, Avinash, who saves, lives and eventually marries rape victim Priti.

The movie is drawing the crowds in Indian cities, all because of the interesting and different storyline which is like a whiff of fresh air for Bollywood fans.

The songs in the movie which are the creative output of music directors Sanjeev and Darshan, the sons of Shravan of Nadeem-Shravan (a renowned duo) fame, are engaging.

The lilting melody of the title track alone is enough to put one in a romantic, dreamy and tender mood. Check out the guitarplay which remarkably sounds very much like those in Malay songs.

Other songs are equally entertaining. Try visualising the alluring Aishwarya in a provocative and sensual dance with handsome hunk Anil caressing her and you'll get the picture. Let's hope the people at the Censorship Board don't get any ideas about this movie.

BY ZIEMAN - PUBLISHED 30/10/2000