Salaam-e-Ishq

About the film

Salaam-e-Ishq (transl. Salute To Love) also known as Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love, is a 2007 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film directed by Nikkhil Advani, marking his second directorial venture after Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003). An unofficial remake of Love Actually (2003), the film features an ensemble cast of Anil Kapoor, Govinda, Salman Khan, Juhi Chawla, Akshaye Khanna, John Abraham, Priyanka Chopra, Vidya Balan, Ayesha Takia, Shannon Esra, Sohail Khan and Isha Koppikar. It weaves six love stories together and follows the relationships of the people within it.

Principal photography began in 2004 and concluded in 2006. The film was released on 25 January 2007 and became the first ever Hindi film to be screened digitally. It received mixed reviews from critics with praise towards the cast performances, but criticism for its length.

Plot

Born in Dehradun, temperamental and ambitious Kamna changes her name to Kamini Ranawat, hires Babu as her manager, and becomes one of the most sought-after heroines in Bollywood. As a publicity stunt to change her image from item queen and to get the attention of filmmaker Karan Johar, she says that she is in love with a man named Rahul. In London, a man saying that he is Rahul Saxena poses as her childhood sweetheart and future husband. Kamna has to play along or she will not get the film deal she was looking for with Johar. This results in a dilemma for her as Rahul reveals that he loved her back when she was Kamna, and she has to choose between her career and Rahul. Kamna initially chooses her career but soon realizes that she is in love with Rahul when she cannot stop thinking about him. Kamna turns down Johar's movie offer and hunts down Rahul at Gia Bakshi and Shiven Dungarpur's wedding, where she proposes to him. Rahul and Kamini accept their love for each other and reunite.

Raju is a taxi driver who comes to the assistance of a white woman Stephanie, who is frantically trying to hunt down her lover Rohit Chaddha. While Raju drives her around all of Northern India searching for Rohit, he falls in love with her and drops her off to the venue where Rohit is getting ready to marry Gia. However, it turns out that Rohit does not want to marry Stephanie because he wants to marry an Indian girl and tells her to get lost. Raju slaps Rohit across the face and confesses his love for Stephanie. Stephanie confesses her love for Raju, and the couple unites.

Gia Bakshi lives with her father Col. Bakshi and is in love with Shiven. Both are to get married shortly, but Shiven starts to get cold feet thanks to a few misleading words about marriage from his friend Juggy. He decides to disappear from her life, leaving Bakshi with no alternative but to arrange Gia's marriage with Rohit Chaddha. However, Shiven remains heartbroken and cannot stop thinking about Gia. While driving one day, he accidentally hits Tehzeeb Hussain, who is walking on the road, and helps her reunite with Ashutosh Raina. As he sees the pair reunite, he realizes that he cannot let Gia go. He rushes to her wedding with Rohit and stops the wedding, professing his love for Gia. Shiven and Gia get married.

Production

Salaam-e-Ishq marks Nikhil Advani's second directorial venture. It was the unofficial remake of Hollywood film Love Actually. While the original had ten stories, the film had only six love stories. Vikram Phadnis worked for about two years and designed around 800 costumes for all the on-screen characters, from the actors to the background dancers.

The film featured an ensemble cast of Anil Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Akshaye Khanna, Ayesha Takia, John Abraham, Vidya Balan, Govinda, Shannon Esra, Sohail Khan and Isha Koppikar. The film marked Shannon Esra's Hindi film debut.

Principal photography began in 2004 and concluded in November 2006. Since the plot involves various interlinked stories, the film was shot in various Indian locations of Rishikesh, Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, and Hyderabad along with foreign locations such as London, Australia and Sri Lanka.

Soundtrack

The music of the film was released in 2006 at Grand Hyatt, Mumbai by T-Series. It features 7 songs composed by Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy with lyrics written by Sameer. This is the second film of Advani together with the trio. Their first venture Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) had earned Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy the National Film Award for Best Music Direction. This soundtrack consisted of 7 tracks. The track "Babuji" from Aar Paar (1954) was remastered and used for the album.

Actor Akshaye Khanna who plays Shiven in the film commented on the music, saying, "Salaam-E-Ishq has the best music I have heard in the last 10 years. The album is outstanding. It is definitely Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's best work till today. It has very unique sounds, and Sameer's lyrics are also fabulous. It is not the type which will become obsolete after a point of time. You will want to pull out its CD even after 15 years and listen to the music." Anil Kapoor, who plays Vinay, too echoed the same sentiments, saying the album was best to come out of Bollywood in a long time.

The album was met with positive reviews from music critics. Sukanya Verma of Rediff in her 4.5 star review, remarked, "Salaam-e-Ishq is a well-designed, wholesome soundtrack with emphasis on melody, beat and innovation. Featuring 7 individual tracks, no sad versions or technically-damaged retakes. It is 7 out of 7! The musical trio succeed in getting the perfect score." Joginder Tuteja of Bollywood Hungama too gave the album a positive review, stating, "Each of the songs of Salaam-E-Ishq boasts of high quality music. There are some new sounds interspersed with the kind of music that goes well with the Bollywood scheme of things and the final result is something that is going to stay with you for many more months to come." Glamsham remarked, "The musical trio has infused different musical beats, style and concepts with élan in tracks in 'Dil Kya Kare' and 'Saiyaan Re' and has entertained with the title track. Hear it for different musical flavors and you will feel the versatility of this high-profile album and the musical flamboyance of the musical trio."

Key details