When
Himesh
Reshammiya
stars
in
a
film,
it's
got
to
be
a
musical.
Musical
it
is,
but
Radio
also
attempts
to
explore
the
man-woman
relationship
in
a
metropolis.
Radio
rests
on
a
thin
storyline.
Superficially,
it's
about
a
couple
that
goes
separate
ways,
then
man
meets
another
woman,
later
ex-wife
develops
a
soft
corner,
much
later
man
is
torn
between
the
two
women.
Haven't
we
witnessed
similar
themes
in
the
past?
Oh
yes,
aplenty!
Only
thing,
director
Ishan
Trivedi
places
the
story
in
a
radio
station
and
that
gives
the
film
a
different
texture.
Also,
the
film
is
divided
in
various
chapters
-
some
interesting,
some
mundane,
some
yawn-inducing
and
boring.
The
USP
of
Radio
is,
without
doubt,
Himesh's
musical
score.
The
film
has
some
melodious
tracks,
but
how
one
wishes
the
super
music
was
complimented
by
an
equally
superior
script.
Vivan
[Himesh
Reshammiya]
is
a
successful
RJ
with
a
popular
radio
channel.
His
wife
Pooja
[Sonal
Sehgal]
seeks
divorce
and
the
reason
cited
is
lack
of
compatibility
between
the
two.
Enter
Shanaya
[Shenaz
Treasurywala],
who
is
like
a
ray
of
sunshine
in
Vivan's
insipid
life.
He
discusses
Shanaya
with
Pooja,
but
being
a
woman,
she
can
see
his
love
for
Shanaya.
In
the
end,
however,
Vivan
realises
that
he
may
have
a
soft
spot
for
Pooja,
but
he
wants
to
spend
his
life
with
Shanaya.
Radio
rests
on
a
fragile
plot,
with
the
writing
holding
your
interest
at
places,
but
blowing
away
the
hard
work
in
its
immediate
chapter.
That's
how
erratic
Radio
is.
Confusion
kya
hain?
The
ex-wife
can't
decide
if
she
wants
her
man
back
or
not.
It
was
she
who
wanted
a
divorce,
not
the
man,
but
she
can't
let
go
off
her
man
for
some
inexplicable
reason.
Even
the
other
woman,
all
of
a
sudden,
wants
the
man
she
loves
so
dearly
to
go
back
to
his
ex-wife.
That
just
doesn't
work!
Besides,
the
narrative
is
laced
with
too
many
songs.
Whether
or
not
the
situation
warrants
them,
you
have
one
track
ready
to
unspool
every
10
odd
minutes.
On
the
brighter
side,
Radio
has
some
tender
moments
too.
Note
the
sequence
towards
the
end,
when
Himesh
pours
his
heart
out
to
Shenaz.
It's
a
beautiful
sequence
and
the
writer
in
particular
needs
to
be
complimented
for
taking
a
mature
look
at
relationships.
Directorially,
Ishan
Trivedi
cannot
do
much
given
the
fact
that
he's
handicapped
by
a
sketchy
screenplay,
which,
ironically,
is
also
penned
by
him.
Resultantly,
the
film
grips
in
bits
and
spurts.
Himesh's
music
is
top
notch.
'Mann
Ka
Radio'
is
already
a
craze
and
its
picturisation
needs
to
be
lauded.
The
other
tracks
-
'Teri
Meri
Dosti',
'Zindagi
Jaise
Ek
Radio'
and
'Rafa
Dafa'
-
are
lilting
compositions
as
well.
Attar
Singh
Saini's
cinematography
is
perfect.
Himesh
has
grown
as
an
actor
and
that
reflects
in
certain
difficult
moments
of
the
film.
Shenaz
is
natural.
In
fact,
she
gets
it
right
this
time.
Sonal
acts
well,
but
her
character
is
not
well
defined.
Paresh
Rawal's
track
looks
forced.
Zakir
Hussain
is
strictly
okay.
Rajesh
Khattar
is
good.
On
the
whole,
Radio
just
doesn't
work...
It's
complicated!