Aug 16, 2006 01:52 AM
1615 Views
(Updated Aug 16, 2006 02:34 AM)
Released amid hype and hysteria this hot air balloon did not rise to the occasion.
Karan Johar,with his larger than life reputation, has lost his much touted Midas touch.Riding high on the wave of his earlier success, this time KJ has been washed ashore by this KAlaNK . Although,Indian culture & values are being eroded by western influences, sanctity of the institution of marriage still exists in Indian society. Indian married couples stay together,they dont stray apart! Scores of films have handled this taboo topic in a more sensitive manner -Ek baar phir,Arth,Silsila,Masoom,Paroma,etc.
KJs magnum opulence er ...sorry opus, on infidelity among the classes is hardly likely to find favour with the masses !
Set in New York,this story of two expatriate couples,with marriages which have reached a stalemate.In the case of Dev(SRK) & Rhea(Preity Zinta) it is because of a career setback ,following an accident.He is cynical, bitter,more so probably because his wife has a flourishing career (sounds familiar,doesnt it?).Rhea is portrayed as an ambitious & materialistic woman,who loves the creature comforts in life.( A kick on the rear to KJ for portraying a successful career woman necessarily as a cold & calculating one! ) The other couple has its own share of problems.An extra loving husband,Rishi(Abhishek Bachchan) paired with an indifferent wife,Maya(Rani Mukherjee) who doesnt feel any passion for her married partner.Further,as she is unable to conceive, she is portrayed as neurotic.(Another kick for KJ.) Every suhaagan is considered incomplete unless she bears offspring! Sadly,the stigma of infertility applies only to barren women.Infertile Indian males are let off the hook easily !Amitabh Bachchan plays Sam,(father of Rishi) a compulsive flirt.
Maya & Dev are drawn to each other and intimacy develops.
What ultimately drives a person to commit adultery? This grey area has not been handled in a mature manner.KJ has merely played to the gallery by sensationalizing forbidden love.
Neither has he shed more light on professional jealousy between married partners.The interpersonal tensions which develop when one partner(read wife) is far more successful,would have made an interesting sub-plot.Remember Abhimaan?
Some of the characters are as though taken straight out a textbook of psychiatry eg. Sam as a case of personality disorder & Maya as a case of obsessive,compulsive neurosis.However other characters do not ring true.The rest of the actors playing two-bit roles do not merit a mention, not even KJs lucky mascot Kajol !
This movie even lacks the mandatory dose of tasteful humour & has been stretched far too long.
And now for the bouquets. The sets are lavish & the locales wonderful. Music score too is somewhat good. But the icing on the cake is the couture.A pat on the back to Manish Malhotra,who has put together a great fashion show .Take your pick. For the guys its SRKs athletic togs & casual chic to the natty suits donned by Abhishek.For the older men,Amitabh is portrayed as the randy,dandy grand old man.And ladies,hold your breath.For the stylish behenji, Ranis with it coordinated look,complete with shoes,bag & jewellery will be a trend-setter for a long,long time.
Preity's power dressing will make every alpha woman drool & rave.
Although released with a U/A certificate,this film is not recommended for kids. The fashion conscious may watch it if they have plenty of time to kill.
