Many years back I had watched this movie unaware that it was a copy of the English classic Roman Holiday starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in iconic roles. Unfortunately the Hindi version pales in comparison to the classic. It aims to be a fairy tale story but becomes a run of the mill typical 90s Hindi movie.

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The Plot

When you have a fairy tale, you have a princess. Princess Sapna (Tabu) lives with her stepmother Rani Maa (Radha Seth) in the princely state of Raigadh. Her father and real mother have passed away. Hukum Singh (Amrish Puri) is a close confidante of the queen and looks after Sapna’s needs. Meaning Sapna has to attend boring Sanskrit lessons, eat boiled food and learn classical music. Rani Maa and Hukum Singh (Amrish Puri) are overprotective of Sapna and she is not allowed to have a free life. She cannot step out of the palace as the common people outside are dangerous and cannot be trusted. Sapna is lonely and has no other comfort than remembering her dead parents.

Rani Maa and Hukum Singh are not as straightforward as they seem. They are having an affair and are after Sapna’s wealth. They need to make a show of being concerned about Sapna’s welfare and get her sign blank cheques to satisfy their greed. They have their own secrets to hide. Apparently Rani Maa had a hand in the king’s death and Hukum Singh is a wanted criminal.

Sapna is frustrated and doesn’t want to live like a caged bird. An old servant Shantabai helps her to flee from the palace in a truck. Sapna is to contact Shantabai’s brother who will take care of her. Sapna is free! The scene moves to Switzerland for a song celebrating her freedom Thandi hawa sun, kali ghata sun.

She meets a common man Raj Singh (Rishi Kapoor) who gets a lift in the same truck. As they get down the truck driver Kader Khan assumes both of them are traveling as a couple and demands money. Sapna offers him a Rs 500 note as that is the smallest denomination she carries in her purse. Raj is frustrated, pays the money and goes home. He is further frustrated when Sapna rings the bell requesting to spend the night at his home. Her language and tone appear funny to him as she doesn’t know how common people live and speak.

Funny scenes follow. She asks the milkman to give her 5 litres of milk and brings home a huge amount of grocery. Raj is losing his patience. He asks her to call Shantabai’s brother and leave his house. She informs she has lost the contact details and has nowhere to go.

Raj gives her an ultimatum and she reluctantly leaves. It starts raining heavily. A worried Raj goes searching for her. He convinces her to come back. A rain song Sawan mahina follows igniting the spark of romance between the two.

The next day, Raj’s journalist friend Anand (Anupam Kher) returns home and is aghast to find a young girl staying in his house wearing Raj’s clothes. Raj explains the situation. Later in the newspaper office while speaking to his editor boss, Anand realises the girl in his house is none other than the princess Sapna. The editor asks him to get an interview of Sapna. Anand promises an exclusive interview along with a footage of the princess doing household chores like cooking, cleaning etc.

Anand ensures Sapna enjoys herself as he gives her a tour of the city. Raj also takes her to his village where his mother and sister are staying. His sister’s marriage has been arranged and his mother is asking him to arrange money. Sapna dresses like a village girl and sings a duet with Raj – Kore kaagaz pe likhwa le.

Anand has also contacted Hukum Singh demanding Rs 2 lakhs in return of Sapna’s safe return to the palace. He wants to give part of the money to Raj for his sister’s marriage.

Meanwhile Sapna sees the simple nature of the villagers and also realises some decisions taken by the palace (implying her) are not in favour of the village. She abruptly leaves Raj’s house and returns to the palace. A visibly transformed Sapna informs Rani Maa that her outlook has changed and she will live the way she prefers going forward.

But Rani Maa and Hukum Singh have other plans. Through emotional blackmail, they make her agree to marry a fake prince Shakti Singh (Gulshan Grover). Shakti is actually Hukum Singh’s son but Rani Maa and Sapna are not aware of this. They also cook up a story that Raj and Anand knew she was a princess and were taking care of her in return of money. Sapna is disgusted at the revelation but comes to know the truth when Raj manages to send her a video with his explanation.

On the day of the engagement, she refuses to entertain Shakti Singh and leaves the palace to live with Raj forever. They sing a romantic song Jaanu, jaanu jaanu.

Wish the movie had ended at this point but unfortunately the viewer is not so blessed. Sapna is forcibly taken to the palace, her marriage is hurriedly arranged, Raj and Anand enter the scene as disguised pundits etc. It goes on and on…

The Music

Anand Milind give some melodious songs. Thandi hawa sun, Jaanu, jaanu jaanu and Kore kaagaz pe likhwa le stand out.

My Thoughts

Pehla Pehla Pyar had potential but fails to deliver. Thus was Tabu’s debut film and she acts confidently. The initial interactions between Tabu and Rishi Kapoor are genuinely funny. But their chemistry as a romantic couple is a bit hard to digest due to the visible age difference. Anupam Kher is irritating. Other supporting actors are good. Kader Khan appears in multiple roles as the truck driver, shopkeeper, train passenger etc.

Overall, the movie had potential. Had it followed the innocent and believable setup of Roman Holiday, it would probably have met with success. But unfortunately it fails to retain the longevity of its inspiration.