By Trade Guide, September 30, 2005 - 15:23 IST

In this era of new-age cinema, a majority of stories that seem to unfold on screen are revolutionary. But a few films [and film-makers] continue to rely on the age-old formula of the 1970s and 1980s.

VISHWAS - THE POWER OF FAITH is one of those films. Nothing wrong if you still believe in the magic of the bygone era, but the question is, are the moviegoers also hooked on to the cinema of yore? Or do they want a change?

VISHWAS - THE POWER OF FAITH comes too late in the day. The intentions to make a film on Mata Vaishno Devi are honorable, but the way director Kukku Batra treats the subject, it looks like one of those routine potboilers.

VISHWAS - THE POWER OF FAITH tells the story of a Muslim girl Kaynaat [Anandee Tripathi], who believes in Mata Vaishno Devi. Rahim Chacha [O.P. Kapur], Kaynaat's father, earns a living by taking the devotees on the horse to the temple of Mata Vaishno Devi. His only desire is to see Kaynaat married.

Rahim Chacha gets Kaynaat married to Afzal [Manav Vij], who belongs to the same profession. Afzal's horse is the only source of income and it dies one day. In a desperate attempt to find work, he bumps into a group of terrorists, who decide to take him under their wing.

The terrorists are hatching a plan to destroy the temple of Mata Vaishno Devi. The chief of the terrorist squad [Ahsaan Baksh] threatens Afzal that they'd eliminate his wife and kid if he wouldn't implement their plan.

Afzal agrees to commit the horrifying task of blowing up the temple. Kaynaat is shattered when Afzal confides the truth to her. Later, Afzal realizes his mistake and decides to save the temple from the terrorists.

VISHWAS - THE POWER OF FAITH starts off quite well with the first half-an-hour holding your interest. But the moment the focus shifts to the romance between the lead pair, it starts going downhill. Even the terrorist angle doesn't hold interest. Also, the climax is tame.

Kukku Batra's direction is old-fashioned. Bappi Lahiri's music is below the mark. Cinematography [Rafik Latif Shaikh] is alright.

Manav Vij needs to polish his acting skills. Anandee Tripathi performs convincingly. O.P. Kapur is okay. Ahsaan Baksh goes over the top.

On the whole, VISHWAS - THE POWER OF FAITH is below par.