After watching Hello Premistara, the first question that comes to your mind is, what was ace director Puri Jagannath doing while the film was being canned, considering the fact that protagonist Sai Ram Shankar is his brother. Besides he was the one who took the initiative to promote Sairam as the hero.

The first stumbling block is the selection of story, which is a bit heavy duty for an upcoming artiste like Sairam. Second, the script lacks originality and appears as if it is cobbled up with snatches taken from other films particularly the Tamil film Valee.

Hello Premisthara is all about mistaken identities, sibling rivalries and vengeance laced with love. An interesting subject, but the film appears hollow to a viewer and the culprit is the script. Sometimes it just meanders and one feels like walking out of the theatre. It is because the scenes appear as if interwoven to make up the three-hour film.

To handle a theme replete with interplay of emotions of various hues needs dexterity and it is evident that Rajkumar needs at least one or two more films to tone his direction. The film vacillates between the light and the serious, and most of the time it goes out of hand.

Arvind, an executive in a cell phone company, falls in love with Nandini, who is the anchor of Hello Premisthara programme. The TRP ratings of this programme zooms even as the love between the two blossoms because Nandini is able to handle the programme with new verve after falling in love, or so she says!  So what is the hitch to go ahead and marry as both could do better things for their well-being? Besides, there are no nagging parents on either side who believe in putting their foot down on the matter. But there is a character named Arjun who accidentally meets Nandini and thinks she loves him. No, it is not a love triangle but of mistaken identities�. and the story goes on.

Though the plot is good, the director fails to make it an intense viewing. And Sairam fails to give in a perfect performance to match the characterisation. For the time being, he is cut out for just mushy love stories. Nandini in the female lead manages to give a good performance.

Even the comedy track fails to evoke much laughter.

Music by Chakri is good only in parts.

In the end, there is nothing much to write home about.

Rediff Rating: