A well crafted movie. Review on Kal Ho Naa Ho

Beautifully shot amidst the racy city of New York, (but why in NY is never really justified) with split screens and freezes, some very lilting music, the film has its moments of delight..

The story is about Naina(preity zinta), who has forgotten warmth, love and smiles. Her life is filled with bitterness living as she does in a dysfunctional family comprising a Catholic mom, Jennifer (Jaya Bachchan) struggling to run a restaurant, a Punjabi grandmother (Sushma Seth), a physically challenged brother who loves football and an adopted little sister, Gia, yearning for acceptance from grandma.

Everyday the kitchen is a battlefield with the mom and grandma fighting over everything, including blaming the adopted child for the death of the head of the family - Naina's father.

And no he did not die of a heart attack.

He killed himself. Which makes things even more difficult to handle. Naina has a hysterical neighbour friend, Sweeto, (one of the few she has) who lives with a coquettish elder sister (Lilette Dubey). The only other person who tolerates her is classmate Rohit (Saif Ali Khan) at the evening MBA class, a boy who

belongs to one of the richest Gujju families in New York.

He usually spends his free time trying to impress and date pretty girls. When the tears and insults get too much, this family kneels down and prays to god to send one of his angels (Shah Rukh)  to

bring cheer, laughter and love into this bitter sweet household.

The predictable happens. Naina falls in love with angel, angel at first sight decides that this is the girl for him for births hereafter, Rohit is casual but is actually in love with Naina. Not confusing really.

Isn't this what happens all the time?

As the film progresses, you have a lot of crying and sobbing scenes that gets to you and that is the film's undoing.But there are some funny moments as well.

For instance when khan guarantees that Rohit can make Naina fall in love with him in 6 days Or when Rohit proposes to Naina. Finally the performances

Shah Rukh obviously does what his director tells him to,

but that does not deter him for indulging in his usual grimaces and

the`oh so cute' expressions and mannerisms.He tries too hard to

impress,

Saif  has proved yet again what a wonderfully natural actor he is. Preity

Zinta does a good job.

The film is colourful and well made.The frames are

filled with vivid images of New York especially the sea's edge and

waterfronts The biggest asset of this film is its music  the songs kal hona ho and maahive are good in their picturisation as well as their melodies