Dec 03, 2003 01:03 PM
2815 Views
(Updated Dec 03, 2003 01:11 PM)
There can be only extreme reactions to the kind of movies Sooraj barjatya, Karan Johar or the Chopras make. Going by the reviews at mouthshut only confirms this.
Let me address the points the people have to say about BCJs (Barjatya Chopra and Johar) movies
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1) They are loud and over the top
For all those who find their movies over the top, mushy and ridiculous, I have only this to say. You do not go into the theatre expecting a Satyajit Ray or even a Shyam Benegal when you buy your tickets do you? You know exactly the kind of movies these guys make. This is not the first movie Karan has made a movie. All my friends who trashed Maine Pyar Kiya saw Hum aap ke hain kaun and later MPKDH....well? I have unashamedly loved the first two movies from the Barjatya bastion and almost all of the Chopra, Johar productions. I know exactly what I will be getting and in most cases, they dont disappoint.
They make India look like a mini Punjab and Gujrat
What else do you expect from people who are hardcore Punjabis or Gujratis/marwaris? It is like trying to ask why Rituparno Ghosh sticks to bengali or Adoor to the kerala culture. You cannot hold the BCJs responsible for projecting what they want to in their movies. It is their sensibility and it is not their fault if their movies are much better accepted and almost act as movie ambassadors from India to the rest of the world. The failure of other states to project their culture in the mainstream, however contrived should not take away the credits from these guys. I would rather have India being projected positively rather than movies which reinforce the idea of India being a poverty driven, dirty country.
They project the NRIs in an utterly retrograde manner
Most of these movies including MPKDH were bigger hits abroad than in India. Even mohabbatein which took a mini-beating in India did well in Britain. If the NRIs felt that they are not being portrayed well, why would they go and watch every other movie from the BCJs? I too agree about the uni-dimensional ways these guys look at certain elements but they know their target audience and they communicate well to them. How many directors in India can boast of that?
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The Story:
I am not going into the story in detail because a much better job has been done by all the guys who have posted the reviews before me. In summary, the movie is about a fatherless family headed by Jaya Bahaduri who is in constant conflict with her mother-in-law. She has a daughter, Catherine Kapoor (Preity Zinta), an unsmiling sad person wallowing in self pity. Catherine has a boyfriend, Rohit Patel (Saif Ali Khan) and life is a drag for Catherine till Aman mathur (Shah Rukh) appears on the scene. A guardian angel who can do no wrong, he brings the much needed
sunshine into lives of people around him. But all is not well with the angel...
The Performances:
All the lead charecters are first rate. Saif is adorable, Preity doesnt have much scope but she does her part well.Shah Rukh for once is not the hamster he is, although one does get a feel that he is itching to get into that mode all through the movie. The peripheral charecters are uni-dimensional but engrossing nevertheless. The timing and the chemistry between the charecters is perfect.
The music:
Not a classic but just the kind of music this movie needs. Sonu Nigam sings his heart out in the title song and ''Maahi ve'' and ''Time to disco'' is more Karan Johar than Advani. The choreography could have been much better though.
The screenplay and narration:
A little bit of trimming in the end needed apart, the screenplay is taut. I never realised it was time for the interval and in the second half, I was too busy with my handkerchief. Karan knows his audience. He knows how to make one go through the entire gamut of emotions in a single movie. How many people do you know who can do that? The comedy is slightly (?) crude but I am not complaining :)
The direction:
First rate. Mr Advani is not influenced heavily by the Johar style and has his own way of storytelling which is slightly subtler. For a first movie, he is way too good. Hope he keeps up the good work. However, parts of the movie looked like sequences from ''Rules..PKSF''. Coincidence?
My only grouse:
Kajol in a one frame sequence. It is such a tease. :(. Before I screamed Kajol, she was gone.
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My verdict: If you are going into the theater expecting something very different from the Johar stable, do not even bother. But if you liked KKHH and K3G, you will definitely enjoy this one.While it is sad that Sooraj Barjatya lost his maidas touch, it is heartwarming that Karan still retains his. Kyon ki Barjatya bhi kabhi Johar tha? For his next movie, Karan can be assured of at least one ticket. Play it again Karan!
