We open with some stylized split-screened credits that had me worried for a while. However, these are still images, and not nearly annoying enough to qualify as a USS. These shots are from the various musical numbers that lie in wait for us a little further down the line. When these run their course, we see Raju on the phone discussing some important sounding business stuff. One of his servants comes to him and informs him that breakfast is ready. Raju tells him that he will be there after he visits with his mother.
Sounds
sweet, doesn't it? However, "visiting with Mother" actually means going to
another room where a small shrine has been set up with a portrait of Raju's mom,
now deceased. Through the course of his monologue, we learn that she died when
Raju was 6 years old, and it is now 20 years later. He reminds her that his
birthday is coming up, and she always sends him gifts from Heaven. He wonders
aloud what his gift will be this year.
Cut to Raju walking on a treadmill and watching the news. There are several people in the room with him going over his schedule. He shuffles some appointments around until his attention is caught by the news anchor. The woman on the screen announces the winner of England's most prestigious business award is one Mr. Rajesh Mittal. Raju is awestruck at this announcement and walks to the screen to touch the picture of Rajesh. Raju turns back to the picture of his mother and tells it that his father is alive after all!
We
gather from his rambling that Raju's mother had told him that his father was
killed before Raju was born. Raju is so excited that he tells the picture they are
going to London immediately to be reunited.
I thought it odd that Raju would do all this in front of a roomful of people. There is probably a dozen or so people standing there awaiting instructions or appointments, but Raju does not hesitate to give a loving speech to a picture of his mother in front of them. Ah well, perhaps I am too inhibited.
The next thing we see is Raju's plane making its approach into London. After some scenic shots of the skyline, we go inside the airport where a lovely young lady is struggling with lots of bags. She gets annoyed and drops them to the floor, and takes a look around. She notices the strapping young lad easily hefting his large case over his shoulder and heading her way.
Since
we know her name, we'll use it. Sonia does a little victory dance and calls him
over to her. She begins to pretend that they are old friends, and berates him
for not calling or writing all this time. As she's doing this, she is hanging
her bags on his shoulders, arms and neck. Finally as she's got it all loaded
onto him, she picks up her one tiny remaining case and starts to walk off.
Raju gets into the act and tells her how could he forget his first love. He goes on and on about how despondent he would be if they didn't remember each other, and begins to transfer all of her luggage back to her. Instead of a nice even placement like she was doing, he just hangs all of them off her neck, causing her to hunch over. With a peck on the cheek and a push downward on the bags, he walks off leaving her looking confused and more than a little uncomfortable.
Feeling excited about meeting his father, Raju starts to run towards the doors. As he does this, the strains of the first musical number start up. Raju begins to belt out "Main To Papa Ki." (There's a little confusion on the title of this one. I have the soundtrack CD, and it calls this song "Carbon Copy (Part 1).")
