Starring Hrithik Roshan in the lead role of the masked crusader, with a supporting cast consisting of Priyanka Chopra and Rekha, this is a sequel to “Koi Mil Gaya”. Also present is Naseeruddin Shah as the arch villain.

Rekha discovers that her child is not only precocious, but may be in possession of supernatural powers (inherited from his late father). Determined to protect the child from the fate that befell his father, she disappears into the Himalayan wilderness along with him. The years pass, as Hrithik is brought up in a pastoral idyll. This is where things stand until that fateful day when an expedition of adventure tourists venture into the area. The story - in common with many other Hindi movies - suffers from an over long introduction, and is somewhat slow to get off the starting block.

Hrithik saves the life of Priyanka – and (quite predictably) falls in love with her. However, she works in the media, and has to return to her home in Singapore; but not before she has caught a glimpse of Hrithik’s extraordinary abilities. Our hero is heart broken, and cannot be consoled. Back in Singapore, Priyanka (abetted by her traveling companion) promises her boss that she will do a story on Hrithik. The problem remains as to how Hrithik is to be lured to Singapore? Hrithik is given the impression that a marriage proposal is on the cards, and he sets out full of hope.

Hrithik and Priyanka decide to visit a circus in the city. Unfortunately, the circus tent catches fire, and numbr of persons are trapped in the blaze. Determined to conceal his identity (and his powers), a masked Hrithik rescues those trapped inside. And thus, the legend of the masked crusader – named Krrish - is born.

The villainous Naseeruddin Shah - the archetype of the mad scientist - is also headed for Singapore, where he hopes to inaugurate a revolutionary new computer. With this computer, he hopes to be able to look into the future – and change it to his own advantage! When Hrithik learns of these villainous plans (from a renegade security officer), he is determined to thwart them. More so when he learns that Naseeruddin Shah may have been responsible for his father’s death…

However, things are not as simple as they seem, for Naseeeruddin Shah has peered into the future, and seen his forthcoming death at the hands of the masked crusader. He is determined to unmask (and do away with) the masked crusader before he can thwart his nefarious plans.

The film borrows liberally from both the Batman and the Superman franchise. However, it is closer in spirit – and conception – to the Superman series. However, as Mukesh Khanna’s Shaktiman has (successfully) shown, there is really no need to borrow from foreign sources, as our own mythology contains numerous references to supermen with super powers. Perhaps the director had an international audience in mind. Perhaps. What is more difficult to understand is that the director and the cast fail to meet the standards they had set (for themselves) in their first movie “Koi Mil Gaya”.

Perhaps, with the presence of a star cast, and the success of the original, they have taken the success of this venture for granted!

Krrish is an entertaining movie, but it is not an outstanding one. Where it scores over the dubbed version of Superman is that the dialogue is in Hindi, and the hero is someone we can all relate to without difficulty. The music is catchy, but not good enough to make up for the shortfalls in the movie. Hrithik – we’ll forgive you this one, but the next one better be good!