Khwahish
Saw Khwahish on the first day of its release. This time not due to any personal likes, but because I had lots of requests pouring in for its review. Hmm... the perils of the trade I am in. I would consider Khwahish an occupational hazard for a movie reviewer.

Synopsis
Khwahish pretends to be a modern day look at a couple in love, and their trials and tribulations after marriage. The film is about Lekha Khorzuvekar (Mallika Sherawat, who had earlier debuted as Reena Lamba in Jeena Sirf Mere Liye, the Kareena-Tusshar dud) and Amar Ranawat (Himanshu Mallik, the loser from Tum Bin). Himanshu and Lekha are in love, and Himanshu wants to get laid. Mallika is the modern woman with morals, and is not ready to go the whole way before marriage. So, for the silliest of reasons, they decide to get married; though it looks like Himanshu is doing it to spite his father (Shivaji Satam in a role that does not offer much scope), a rich businessman. Enter the girl's father (Mahamud Babai), a poultry farmer; who after the initial scenes, starts getting on your nerves. Shivaji Satam refuses to toe the line, and tells Himanshu to complete his MBA, and then marry any girl of his choice; which seems logical enough to the lay user.
Hormones win in the end, and Himanshu gets married with Mallika, his father's disapproval notwithstanding. Mahamud helps them through this phase, and gives them money to tide over the time he might need to do his MBA.
After scenes of them living in a chawl, and Mallika taking music lessons to make ends meet, Amar gets his MBA and lands a job. They seem to settle into a life of marital bliss, in a nice home. When they realise that Himanshu cannot spare the time for Mallika, they try to come up with innovative ideas to spice up their lives. They arrange a get-together for old friends, where their joy lasts for one whole song, after which they are at their wit's end again. They think about having a baby, and find that they cannot. Tests reveal a deeper problem, and the last half an hour is about how they cope with it.

Analysis
Mumbai filmmakers should be punished for thinking that different necessarily means great. And, how different is Khwahish really, save the skin show. A supernatural thriller works (Raaz), and half the industry is busy making supernatural thrillers. A skin flick does just about decent business (Jism), and the industry is busy making skin flicks which try to outdo each other in terms of being "bold". Honey, spare me all the thought about those much publicised 17 smooches in Khwahish... they come and go without anyone even noticing them, as they are nothing but pecks (I think they even counted the times that the father pecks his daughter lovingly).
Mallika Sherawat is a female to look out for. She certainly has screen presence, and a great body. The publicity posters and teasers do not do her justice. She looks comparatively ugly in them. Himanshu is too wooden. It seems he hasn't forgotten his modelling days yet. In nearly all the scenes, all that he is aiming for is the right pose, and nothing beyond it. After a point, it gets downright hilarious. I have seen porn actors putting in more emotion in their roles than this dude. Shivaji Satam is wasted in a miniscule role. Mahamud Babai hams a lot.

Technique
Govind Menon had impressed with Danger, a small budget movie (Ashutosh Rana, Tara Deshpande, Jas Arora) which wasn't a hit, but was certainly watchable. In the midst of making that movie, he was kicked out and the producer Vasant Chheda finished it as Chheda said he was disappointed with the way the film was shaping up. Seems like all the credit for Danger should be given to Chheda, as Menon seems to have totally trashed this movie. Producer Vivek Nayak ought to have gone the Chheda way and kicked out Menon.
Music by Milind Sagar is not worth a mention. All the songs in the movie are sung by Asha Bhosle, which might come as a relief to some people going for this movie.

Verdict
Would I recommend this movie to someone?
Why not??? I have lots of enemies in this world. In fact, I would be ready to send them free tickets to harass them through the movie.
But for my loyal readers... Stay away from this movie unless you think you are willing to endure 120+ minutes of torture just to see a skin show by Mallika.