This movie was very well-shot and atmospheric, so it gives a truly emphatic sense of the journey that the main characters go through.

But in typical Mani Ratnam fashion, he takes 30 minutes to establish what could be efficiently done in one scene, or even one line of dialogue. The movie doesn't seem to go anywhere in the entire first hour; SRK's seems to be a simplistic cartoon character, and Manisha Koirala's is enigmatic but one tone. It is only when the action shifts to another location that the characters start to show some depth and the movie gets going.

The movie belongs to Manisha Koirala for her hauntingly powerful performance. She portrays every aspect of her character with a stark realism that few actresses would have the courage or talent to embody. SRK is good but nothing to shout about here. Preity Zinta excels at her role and adds more perspective to the story.

It is good in how close it stays to the characters rather than deviating from them to tackle the issues it raises, and the songs make it memorable.