Rajshri Production has been there for more than last fifty years, but for the first time it has witnessed such an atmosphere in which their latest movie, 'Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon', is released this Friday.

Sooraj Barjatya, the director, who has made a sort of hat trick of hits with his last three films, 'Maine Pyar Kiya', 'Hum Aapke Hain Kaun' and 'Hum Saath Saath Hain', must have been under great pressure as no one in Bollywood wants to see a director succeed like this.

The only director who could past a hat trick was Inder Kumar who delivered 'Dil', 'Beta', 'Raja' and 'Ishq' in a row.

Sooraj conceived this story three years back when Kareena had just started her career and Hrithik was already a big star. But, three years down everything has changed.

Hrithik has been labeled as one film wonder. Kareena has no solo hit to her credit and the other man in the film, Abhishek Bachchan, is yet to prove himself at the box office.

So Sooraj needs to be given openhanded applause. True, like any other film, 'Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon' is not a perfect film, but one should not underestimate it too.

Unlike usual settings of Sooraj's earlier films, this has been set in contemporary age and for the first time any Rajshri film has been shot abroad. Kareena becomes the first heroine for Rajshri to bare her body on the screen.

'Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon' is the first film where Kareena has been asked to carry forward the story with her each and every scene. While the two heroes of the film take.

this burden one by one, it is Kareena who has struggled hard to give a better performance. 'Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon' is her story. It is the story of Sanjana (Kareena Kapoor).

She belongs to a middle class family. Having finished her college, she looks at life with love. Her elder sister Rupa (Tanaj Karim) is married to an NRI and is settled happily.

in the U.S.A. Rupa informs her family back in India that she has Sanjana's photos to a rich lady who is looking for an Indian girl for her son Prem. Prem is about to visit India and Rupa arranges his stay with her family.

Sanjana is told to behave like an archetype Indian girl. Her father (Pankaj Kapoor) receives Prem (Hrithik Roshan) at the airport. Finding him handsome, intelligent and a cultured boy, Sanjana's mother (Himani Shivpuri) just falls head over heels.

Sanjana is asked to take care of Prem and also take him around for sightseeing. Sanjana with her band of girls first plays mischief with Prem and soon loses her heart to this young man.

Sanjana and her parents are happy with Prem. However, Prem Kumar who was scheduled to arrive India last week postpones his trip by three days. Sanjana's parents are shocked.

Her mother starts cursing the boy who is already staying with them. Her father leaves the decision to Sanjana. Three days pass and Prem Kumar (Abhishek Bachchan) arrives.

He too falls in love with Sanjana, but she doesn't because she loves Prem till the end. And her Prem is Prem Kishen and not Prem Kumar. Sanjana's parents think otherwise and fix her engagement with Prem Kumar.

Prem Kishen leaves the town as Prem Kumar is not only his boss but his close friend too and he does not want to ruin this marriage.

Who will win is any body's guess? The older generation is aware of the seventies' 'Chitchor'. That too was a Rajshri film. It was Sooraj who made 'Nadiya Ke Par' as 'Hum Aapke Hain Kaun' and now he remakes Chitchor'.

Set in modern era 'Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon' is a deviation from the old Rajshri trend. Sooraj himself agrees to it and is ready to adjust accordingly. He has worked hard in this film too but there is no Salman Khan, no Madhuri, no Alok Nath, though Reema Lagoo is there as a loving mother of Prem Kumar.

The team is settled for the first time. However, there is not as good tuning as was there between Sooraj and Salman in his last three films. And more importantly, the music composer Ram Laxman too is not there.

Instead, Anu Malik gives this time the music. How he impressed Sooraj is yet to be revealed. But it is Anu Malik only who has failed in this film.

Except one song Teri Zindagi Mein Chali Aayee, none other could become the soul of the film. Sooraj made a mistake in selecting songs and music this time.

But in other respects, 'Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon' is better than other trashes. It is a full three-hour entertainer. Maybe if the duration was cut short it would have become more appealing.

Mukthar Ahmed must pick up his scissors again and chop some parts of the film before it gets late. Rajan Kinagi has captured life and nature beautifully on the screen again.

Bijon Das Gupta's sets look contemporary and it is Jay Borade who brings life to dance steps even though the music is not so good.

Among actors, the film belongs to Kareena Kapoor. Hrithik comes a close second. Junior B is, as always, struggling behind to find a place for himself in the tough race to reach to the finish line.