Entertainment at it's best. Review on Koi Mil Gaya

With a blockbuster like Kaho Na Pyaar Hai behind it’s natural that the expectations from Rakesh Roshan’s Koi Mil.. Gaya will be sky high. The release of the movie was preceded by massive hype, which has become mandatory for a big banner movie. Even before the film was released the trade experts has declared it as a Hit. Then there are talks of record-breaking advance bookings. Theatre owners are boasting that shows are full up to Tuesday. Some even boasted of a full-house week in advance. It’s a different matter that when I saw the movie today (Saturday) (got tickets in black) at least 50 seats were vacant till the end of the show even though there was a houseful board outside the theatre. Even our PM was invited to watch the film and after seeing the film he said to Hrithik “ Aap bahut Bade ho gaye ho”. One does not know in what context he said this but the print and visual media quoted this sentence extensively in the publicity campaigns. But the debatable point is – Is Koi.. Mil Gaya worth all the hype? The answer is NO. But the movie is definitely good and watchable. But if one is expecting a classic forget it.

REVIEW

Making a sci-fi movie has never been a tradition in Bollywood (unless you consider Mr. India as a sci-fi film). But Rakesh Roshan has chosen to tread this territory. While exploring a new genre, he's bound to meet with mixed reactions because Bollywood is replete with incidents of Hollywood inspired films either becoming hits or colossal flops. In Hollywood while making sci-fi films the thrust is on action sequences, SFX and destruction. Even though Rakesh Roshan’s Koi Mil Gaya is also a sci-fi movie (almost) the main emphasis is on human emotions and personal relationships. This film does not rely on the confrontation with the aliens but on the bonding between humans and aliens.

The target audience of movie is mainly the Kids, but adults should also like this movie.

The film has a relatively fresh storyline. Rakesh Roshan is a scientist who succeeds in establishing contacts with extraterrestrial life through a computer devised by him that can transmit messages to space. But his joy is short-lived as he meets with an accident leaving behind a widow Rekha and an autistic son Hrithik Roshan. Rekha brings up the retarded boy alone. Hrithik is always seen with a gang of kids. After a misunderstanding Preity Zinta also becomes one his friend (girl friend actually). One fine day, while fiddling with his dad’s computer Hrithik accidentally sends a signal to the space and an UFO lands in his hometown. One of the alien (Jadoo) is left stranded and is taken care off by Hrithik, Preity and the Kids. Courtesy Jadoo, Rohit, acquires super intellect and a muscular body with which he teaches a lesson to his computer teacher, bashes up the villain (Rajat Bedi), dances and plays basketball like a professional champion. In the end Hrithik and kids and Hrithik come together and save the alien from the villains who want the creature for their research.

Rakesh Roshan has given this film a full Bollywood style treatment. Rakesh Roshan knows the pulse of his audience and hence the movie is full of emotions, drama, comedy, villainy, friendship, songs and Romance. The first half is devoted in building up the characters and showcases the trials and hardships faced by the mentally retarded Hrithik. The emotional outburst of Rekha and Hrithik’s reaction after failing in “sixth standard” are the scenes that stands out in the first half. The second half has been overtaken by commercial considerations but some sequences do stand out. Watch out for the scene where the computer teacher insults Hrithik and the quick repartee by the just-became-intelligent Hrithik. Hats off to that scene. The basketball match is a fun to watch and will be mainly liked by the kids.

DRAWBACKS.

Being a sci-fi movie with the story of aliens as background they should have been given a lot more footage to the aliens than to the romance between Hrithik and Preity. The audience was there to see more of aliens and less of the regular Bollywood stuff. And this is the main drawback of KMG.

Jadoo is shown depending upon the sunlight for his power to work as is evident in the “basketball” and some other scenes. So how come Hrithik acquire powers even at night and even when Jadoo is not around.

Rajesh Roshan contacts aliens not with a high-tech but a normal computer. And this computer is in working condition even after 20 years.

“Jadoo”- the alien is not half as cute as ET and fails to evoke any fondness for him. Moreover the “Jadoo” could have been developed in India and there was no need to hire experts from Hollywood. And considering that it took eight months to create Jadoo, the end result was not worth it.

The guys who did special effects for Independence Day have designed the spaceship in KMG. But the SFX done in KMG is nowhere their work in Independence Day.

The villain, Rajat Bedi, troubling and beating a mentally retarded child for silly reasons defies any logic.

The two scenes where the villains on high-speed bikes are unable to catch up with the kids riding on handle-bar scooties are bizarre.

The climax of the film disappoints. Hrithik should have shown reverting back to his mentally retarded position once Jadoo goes back to the space. This would have enhanced the impact for sure. But who wants a sad ending in Hindi movies.

TECHNICAL CREW

Rakesh Roshan has handled the departments of direction, Story, Screenplay with aplomb.

Samir Arya and Ravi Chandran’s photography is soothing to eyes. The scenic beauty of Kasauli has been well integrated through the sceneries of Canada and Nainital.

Sachin Bhowmik, Honey Irani and Robin Bhatt have taken care that the screenplay is engrossing.

Editing is tight so that boredom does not set in.

The dance numbers, 'It's Magic' and Idhar Chala, are well choreographed.

Music by Rajesh Roshan is disappointing though the songs are well picturised. The songs are not intrusive and gel with the story.

PERFORMANCES

Rekha has given a good performance.

Johny Lever is loud but funny sometimes.

Preity is charming and does the role of morally supporting girlfriend to Hrithik.

The Six kids are entertaining, particularly the sardar kid (Bobby Bedi)

Prem Chopra, Mukesh Rishi , Rajat Bedi, and others are passable.

Hrithik as an autistic person is first rate. Just watch the scene where he confronts his teacher and boasts “Aap ne kaha tha na sir, apne baap se seekh kar aao, main apne papa se seekh kar aaya hoon”. The facial expression with which he says this shows that he knows what acting is all about. He has taken great pains in portraying the character and the effort shows. The award for Best actor is his next year unless and until dear SRK & Manikchand decide otherwise. The extra star is for Hrithik. I am not a fan of Hrithik but a good job has to be appreciated no matter what. Now I know what our PM meant by “Aap to bahut bade ho gaye”. Maybe he was simply praising his growth as an actor. Definitely.

Koi.. Mil Gaya does fulfill our expectations to an extent. But you are not fully satisfied while leaving the theatre. All in all KMG is a good film and an entertaining one. But while watching it please do not compare it with ET as that will only spoil the fun for you.

AMJAD K. MARUF