If the plot of Ta Ra Rum Pum is broken down into a few words, the key phrase would be ''underdog wins'', ''racing backdrop'' and ''family loyalties''. They could also apply to Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar - though there is not too much similarity between the new film and the popular 1992 Mansoor Khan movie.

Films about losers winning are always liked by audiences if done well-the more recent examples being Lagaan and Iqbal, also set against sports backdrops. Go back a bit and there''s the Rocky-inspired Boxer.

Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar was a well made copy of the Hollywood film Breaking Away, but Indianized so well, that nobody minded clearly overage actors playing school kids.

In the hill town of Dehradun , there is a running rivalry between the elitist Rajput School and the middle class Model School, which takes on a more virulent tone when it''s time for the annual cycling tournament.

Sanjay (Aamir Khan) and his older brother Ratan (Mamik) study at Model School; their father Ramlal (Kulbhushan Kharbanda) wishes to beat the uppity Rajput boys at the next race, and pins his hopes on his obedient and hard-working son Ratan. The younger boy is a good-for-nothing brat, who is a disappointment to his father. Still, the simple, tomboyish Anjali (Ayesha Jhulka) has a secret crush on Sanjay.

Shekhar (Deepak Tijori) is the champ from Rajput school, who looks down his nose at the Model boys. And then there''s the sexy Devika (Pooja Bedi), the object of desire for the town''s boys. Sanjay asks for trouble by wooing the rich girl, pretending to be a wealthy dude himself. He is exposed very soon, dumped by her and ridiculed by Shekhar and gang.

Before the crucial race, Ratan is beaten up badly by Shekhar and his buddies, and with a broken leg there''s no way he can compete. Ramlal''s dreams come crashing down, since he has no hopes from Sanjay, the black sheep. But a truly repentant Sanjay slogs, finally wins the race, makes his father proud and also gets back Anjali''s love.

Even though Sanjay''s win was a foregone conclusion, the obstacle-laded race and the climax were still nail-biting. That''s the beauty of the worm-turning formula-it gets the audience rooting for the guy who fights seemingly insurmountable odds and wins. If the losers are rich snobs, so much the better! The film is a bitter-sweet coming of age tale, as well as the story of love, friendship and family triumphing against adversity.

Interesting Trivia:

Farah Khan took over as choreographer when Saroj Khan walked out and Pehla Nasha was the first song she worked on.

Pehla Nasha was the first Indian song to be shot in complete slow motion and the trend caught up subsequently with many films and music videos.

Mansoor Khan''s father Nasir Husain, himself a filmmaker of note, wrote the dialogues for this film.

Of the cast, Mamik has vanished from the scene, Pooja Bedi is a now a TV host, Ayesha Jhulka never made it big and does an occasional film and play. Deepak Tijori has become a filmmaker. Deven Bhojani who played a sidey is now a TV actor-director and stage star.

Deven Bhojani also assisted on the film

Aamir''s brother Faisal Khan assisted on the film and also did a walk-on part.

Jatin Lalit hit big time with this film.

Jatin Pandit from the musician duo of Jatin-Lalit played a cameo as one of the performers in the annual college competition in the film.

JJWS won the Filmfare Award for Best Film.

Rating: * * * *