If you are an Indian reading this piece, and also married, chances are high that you would have gone through an arranged marriage. While love marriage is not an uncommon thing any more, what still forms a chunk of marriages is the arrangement made possible by families and friends.

So here we get to witness the story of one such couple, Abhay Sachdeva [Fardeen Khan] and Ritika Khanna [Esha Deol]. The two met just once in their life, in the marriage of their friends Ejaz Khan and Anita respectively, and lo, they are now themselves going to tie a knot soon. But who were they actually?

Well, none of them belonged to a super-stud or a gorgeous stunner variety! They were as simple as most of us and were just the boy and girl next door. They belonged to middle class families, had simple dreams and agreed to marry the person their parents decided for them.

Abhay was a young man who had finished his MBA from abroad and was now holding a good job in an MNC. He used to hang around with friends, crack jokes, enjoy life and was mostly found at his cheerful best. Carefree yet ambitious, he was now looking forward to his honeymoon with a girl who he had met just once and was now married for last 24 hours - Ritika!

On the hand Ritika too carried similar personality traits, except for the fact that she was dead petrified about the prospects of living en entire life with a guy she had barely known. Though she was not keen for this marriage, she wasn’t too against either for the match. But now it was just the beginning of trouble for her.

Well, at least this is what she thought! Why? Because she was now off to a honeymoon with a guy about whom she practically knew nothing. Fine, so he was good looking, was genuinely caring and now would continue to be the man for her entire lifetime. But how about the next 5 days? Because this is the time where she would be all alone with him, would have to understand his likes and dislikes, make him aware about her likes and dislikes, and last but definitely not the last, share a bed with him!

Now how much more difficult and inconvenient could it be more than this?

So here begins a beautiful journey of Abhay and Ritika as they are off to Ooty, the place of their honeymoon. While Abhay is quite sure that he would make this relationship happen and come out as a happy man with an equally happy wife after 5 days, there are just apprehensions galore for Ritika who is clueless about what’s in store for her!

In this journey, they meet many couples and individuals. And to think of it, each of them have a story to share. And some viewpoints! Because while some thought that marriage was the most beautiful thing to happen to the mankind, there were some who thought in a completely different direction. And now it was up to Abhay and Ritika to lend an ear to what they believed was right, and shy away from listening to what they dreaded to be wrong!

Made of numerous sweet and sweeter moments, their 5 day adventure is the time period when they actually got to know each other. And yes, even fall in love!

Because for this couple that had been ‘Just Married’, marriage culminated into love, rather than the other way around. Now isn’t that the story of most of us?

Directed by Meghna Gulzar who had debuted with a sensitive ‘Filhaal’ a few years back, ‘Just Married’ is a PNC production with some very good music by Pritam. The film also stars Bikram Saluja, Perizaad Zorabian, Mukul Dev, Sadia Siddiqui, Satish Shah, Kirron Kher, Raj Zutshi, Tarina Patel and Moushmi Chatterjee and is looking forward to a February 23 release.

Hindi cinema is truly evolving. Pratically every month there is a film with a fresh/innovative subject being released and this March will be no different when ‘Hat Trick’ arrives. Directed by Milan Luthria who gave a delightful ‘Taxi No. 9211′ last year, ‘Hat Trick’ is a UTV production.

As per the makers of the film, ‘HAT TRICK’ is a story of the triumph of the human spirit. There are 4 stories that come from different slices of life, in different parts of the world, each of which reach a crescendo, and each of which need the protagonist to pull out a magic trick from the hat.

Because it will make the difference between winning and losing…

The four stories are all connected with World Cup Cricket, 2007. Using the tournament as a sensational and poignant backdrop, and the fictionalized fortunes of the Indian Cricket Team in the tournament, “HAT TRICK!” takes a tangy look at what happens to five sets of lives during the span of the tournament. Yes, five. The fifth being the journey of the Indian Cricket team in its quest for the Cup.

Hat-trick opens with stories at the onset of Cricket World Cup 2007 and finishes with their triumph which is simultaneous with Indian team’s triumph in the World Cup. As the Indian team moves ahead in the World Cup, the characters in the story journey through their lives, realize their faults and correct them to finally turn out winners.

Madhav Anna [Nana Patekar] and Dr. Satyajeet Chavan [Danny Denzongpa]

Madhav Anna is an ex-cricketer – a legendary leg spinner. He has devoted his life to cricket. He is forever happy and lives every moment of his life with élan. Unfortunately, owing to his ill health he has to be admitted to a hospital for treatment. Being admitted to a hospital is not unfortunate; it is being under the observation of Dr. Satyajeet Chavan that is going to be fateful for him. Simply because Dr. Satyajeet HATES the mention of the word ‘cricket’ and he will be devoid of watching world cup matches in the hospital.

But as it turns out, in treating Madhav Anna, Dr. Satyajeet’s gets cured of a life swallowing disease – of bitterness, hostility and pessimism. Dr. Satyajeet is able to rekindle his love for his wife, Surekha, loosen control over his adolescent son Mihir, in the process gaining confidence in their relationship. Having Madhav Anna is a life changing experience for Dr. Satyajeet, so much so, that when Madhav Anna refuses to go for an operation before watching India win the World Cup finals, Dr. Satyajeet goes to lengths he couldn’t have imagined. Madhav finally survives a difficult operation and Dr. Satyajeet learns to live again.

Hemu Patel [Paresh Rawal]

On the other side of the planet – LONDON – is modest family of three – Hemu Patel, his wife Priya Patel and his erratic daughter Natasha aka Nattie Patel. Hemu’s story is about transformation from pretense, hypocrisy and faking style to being stylish by acknowledging ones own strengths.

Hemu Patel is a huge fan of cricket and never misses to watch a match in the local pub along with his friends from the ghetto. He is quite a charm in his group because of his mimicry talent and influential position he claims to have. In truth, he is a janitor at the Heathrow Airport. He has been living in London with his family for past 16 years as an illegal immigrant. His pre-occupation is with getting a British Citizenship that can solve their financial and security worries.

And Hemu is willing to go to any extent to get it. Things get tougher for him because the citizenship officer in-charge of his case, Mr. Cook, is able to correctly gauge that Hemu fakes his patriotism for England. But Hemu believes he is a victim of racism. He is not able to see that he is himself a racist. Having come face to face with his ugly reality from every sphere in his life, Hemu is left zestless.

Just like in cricket where one good over can be the turning point for a team, so also, the sun shines on Hemu with one call. Since all his other records are clear, Hemu is granted citizenship. He is no longer interested in it, until he sees that everybody who gave up on him have forgiven him and are all celebrating his happiness.

Saby aka Sarbjeet Singh [Kunal Kapoor] and Kashmira [Rimmi Sen]

Saby aka Sarbjeet Singh and Kashmira are the young flavor of the story. Their story is about the transformation from being laid-back, imprudent and being complacent in life to taking charge of it. Saby is an ambitious, struggling actor and a cricket fanatic. He works too hard to get his first break in the film industry. Only that his hard work takes form of poojas and havans to gratify gods and parties to entertain the producers and directors who can give him that break.

His recent fancy includes Kashmira, a gorgeous airhostess living in the opposite building. When he is not watching cricket, he keeps himself busy scouting on Kashmira with his binoculars. Kashmira is independent, strong willed, dog-lover and truly, a girl of today. In spite of early hiccups in their relationship, they end up getting married.

Life is not as hunky dory with Saby as Kashmira had dreamt. Early in their marriage, the two realize they are not cut out for each other –he loves cricket, she hates it, he sees no harm in getting work through poojas and parties and foolishness is all she sees in his ways, she loves dogs, he hates them! None of their solutions end up solving any troubles, all they do is push their marriage into deeper mess. Eventually, Saby gives up. He wants a divorce.

True realizations dawns on him when his dad lashes it out on him, making him aware that nothing in life comes easy. And to maintain something precious in life, one has to put in constant efforts and hard work. Like an honest player would, Saby, too, decides to take charge the situation and stylishly so.

All the stories have an essence of what makes a perfect team – Dr. Satyajeet and Madhav Anna’s story is about optimism and persistent effort – Hemu Patel’s is about working on your own strengths to be accepted rather than faking it – Saby and Kashmira’s story is about working hard and not being complacent for things you want.