The
movie starts with the title card, and then wastes no time in trying to get our
attention. The first thing we see is a large poster of Mallika hanging on the
wall as some techno-ish music starts thumping around on the soundtrack. For the
next couple of minutes we watch a flexible and energetic young lady (okay we'll
use names - this is Rashmi) dancing her little heart out in a pink halter top
and tight shorts. If you were thinking this is to be the "Britney" parallel
character, give yourself a gold star.
After two solid minutes of her gyrations we see that she's performing for a
group of her friends, one of whom is videotaping her routine. They all jump up
and compliment her on her skills, and tell her that she's destined for greatness
in the entertainment industry. She proves she is a down-to-earth wholesome gal
by telling them all that she does all this for herself, for the sheer joy of the
act itself. They continue, saying that she's even good enough to dethrone the
Mighty Mallika, but that's where she cuts them off. No one is allowed to
badmouth Mallika around Rashmi since she's a die-hard fan. Her friends back down
a little, but tell her that she should really think about this possibility.
Rashmi says that she would like to try to be a star, but her dad is a little
old-fashioned, and would probably have some reservations against this.
I also noticed in this scene that one of her friends is the former leader
of the Pastel Shirt Mafia from
Ram Jaane.
My, how they do grow up.
Her
pals tell her not to shoot down the idea until she at least runs the idea past
her dad once. Rashmi looks reluctant to do so, but says that she will. We cut to
Dad, Dr. Sanjeev Reddy, talking on the phone and heading towards the dinner
table where Rashmi awaits him. He calmly explains to the caller that they
probably just have gas, but if it will make them feel better he'd be happy to
see them in the office. (I'm hoping that if it is gas, they take care of it
before they're closed into a small room together.)
After calming the patient down, Sanjeev sighs and closes his phone. He then
sets about getting himself something to eat. After pouring some juice for
himself and Rashmi, he looks up to see that she seems very tense and
preoccupied. In an appropriately concerned tone, he asks her what's on her mind.
Rashmi
takes a deep breath, and tells him that she has something important to say to
him concerning her career. Sanjeev looks pleased to hear that she's been
thinking about this, and tells her to go ahead. She plunges forward with her
speech, and tells him that she wants to try her luck as a performer. He asks her
if she's kidding, then realizes that she isn't. He says that he had plans to
have her admitted into a medical school in the United States. (Correct me if I
am wrong, but I don't think you can just start in medical school. I thought
there was a significant amount of schoolwork to be completed in regular college
for a medical track, but then again - I just fix computers.)
Rashmi is adamant that she does not want to become a doctor. Sanjeev tries a
compromise - if she wants to be in the media, why not go the route of a mass
communication degree to be in broadcasting or something in that area. Rashmi
says that isn't what she wants. He asks her if she's confident that she can be a
success, and she swears up and down that she knows she can do it.
Seeing how determined she is, he agrees on one condition. A time limit is to
be imposed. She has one year to make some decent progress into this industry, or
else they fall back on the whole medical school/doctor plan. Rashmi agrees to
these terms, and gives her dad a big hug to thank him.
We cut over to the offices of a big music company where Mr. Big Shot Record
Executive Rahul is arriving for the day's work.
