‘Mausam’ starts like a dewy-fresh spring morning, where everything is familiar yet new. It then wilts, autumnal overtones taking over. And then never quite recovers, falling into a dreary never-ending winter.

The old-world charm of Mausam is likeable, but doesn’t salvage it. In the end, the only thing epic about the film is its unwarranted length.

On the whole, Mausam does not have the heart-warming quality of a love story to gladden the hearts of the audience. It will not have a long run at the box-office although fetching commission should not be a difficult proposition in view of its weekend business.

Like an overcooked dish, MAUSAM, towards the end leaves a soggy taste in your mouth. Sad. Because as a director, Pankaj Kapoor has shown his class. It’s just that he was playing with too many ideas in one go. Give him time and he will be one of our best.

If, like most Bollywood fans, you love a good love story then Mausam (minus the seasons) will make you want to fall in love again. However, if what you’re after is a story which you could list for years to come as one of the most touching love stories given by Indian cinema, I’m sorry to say that Mausam doesn’t quite hit the spot. Although a strong and impactful love story, the movie sadly seems to get lost in its own fate.

As you leave the hall exhausted from the sheer length of this misguided enterprise, you cannot help but note that despite its many flaws, this is a noble failure. The film doesn’t work, but not for lack of trying.

On the whole, MAUSAM is a colossal disappointment!

The leading couple has barely met. They eye each other from a distance. Constantly. It’s a popular form of rural love. She disappears from the pind suddenly. He checks out from the village as well. The movie goes off on another tangent, on to another plain. So do your brains, from here on.

Finally, giving you opinion about a film called Mausam turn us critics into weathermen, so here goes: Bright and cheerful day, hit by a predictable, gloomy downpour and turned into a damp, middling mess. Perfect one-day cricket conditions, as the English would say.

The film tries to strike a balance between art and mainstream cinema and succeeds partially.

Mausam could quite easily have ended up being a stodgy, strenuous and self-conscious drama. Writer-director Kapur, the accomplished actor that he is, orchestrates the emotional ups and downs of his tale with a commendable degree of moderation for the most part. Mausam is certainly worth a viewing.