Live-in couple of Salaam Namaste don’t impress cine-goers in city

Ludhiana: The concept of live-in relationships, popular in metropolitan cities, is what the much-awaited movie Salaam Namaste deals with. The movie opened today at Aarti Cinema. But it’s not just this different theme that attracted cine-goers in the city. Priety Zinta, suave Saif Ali khan and the Yash Raj banner is pulling the crowd too to the theatre.

Says Nikita Sharma, the mother of a school-going girl, “This movie is escapism from the idea of marriage and handling the awkward situations which one faces in the society. It talks of a life free of commitment, which is not accepted in India at least.�

Pooja Kakkar, a teacher at a local convent school agrees that the movie is good entertainment. “But the concept they are dealing with is not going to impress Ludhianvis. This is western culture and popular in metropolitan cities too, but here, no parents want their children to get into such a relationship which has no life, and shows the irresponsible attitude of the youth.�

Priyanka Nanda, an under graduate at Khalsa College, highlights that the movie is a a romantic comedy. “The message here is that falling in love is easy but it is difficult to stick to the commitment.’’

Naveen Kohli, another under graduate, says it is a remake of a blend of Hollywood movies like Nine Months and When Harry Meet Sally. Namrata, also a housewife and a mother, says she liked the movie, but is not convinced about a live-in relationship she said, “Encouraging such a concept is wrong in India, where moral values, religion and the institution of marriage are strong.

The songs of the movie, though heard much on promotions on TV, haven’t really topped the charts or the sales.