Okay a bit of an exagerration but I cant help but rave about this movie.
Farhan Akhthar makes a sensational debut with this ground breaking film. I dont think a film about three close male friends and exploring the depths of thier relationships over time has ever been seen in Bollywood. Atleast recently that is.
The plot revolves around Akash, Samir and Sid. Three close friends in Bombay. The film tracks thier frienship over time, thier various relationships, thier estrangement and finally the culmination of thier friendhsips. I really would not like to reveal any more of the plot as I am sure that there may be still a few who have not seen the movie.
As such, perhaps the most positive aspect about the movie is its realism and contemprory theme. For once, the lives of our generation are represented with some degree of realism. The relationship of Akash, Samir and Sid is not the typical filmi sort of frienship. It is with shades of gray and not as over the top yet there is a feeling of closeness. More-so, most of us can relate to the charectors of Akash, Samir and Sid. We have all seen them somewhere before and perhaps are a bit like our friends. Also, Farhan Akhtar’s scores in showing that young people’s lives are not only driven by love, dance parties, marriage and music. There are careers involved as well unlike the make believe world of Yash Chopra and Karan Johar. As such, Dil Chahata Hai addresses several issues such as friendhsip, love, sex as well as lonliness and isolation and on a very deep level. Perhaps the greatest scens in the film is where Samir played by Saif tells Akshaye Khanna that the reason he has not asked Sonali Kulkarni out was because he was lonely and was scared of losing his only friend. It is moments like this that truly set Dil Chahata Hai apart from the rest of Bollywood.
Dil Chahata is also backed by a strong and energetic screenplay. The first half laced with humor oozes freshness and has the audience in splits. Each charector and relationship is developed very well. In fact the screenplay handles the very sensitive albiet contraversial Akshaye Khanna Dimple Kapadia track with umost senstivity and subtelty in a manner. Full marks to Farhan Akhthar. Even the aamir-priety track and saif-sonali track are handled with aplomb. More-so, the narrative with its use of flashbacks is very effective.
More-so, Farhan Akhthar truly shows he is definately going to be one of the most prolific directors in India. DCH was a difficult film to make with so many charectors, complex charecterisations and an unconventional narrative. More-so, it was not an action packed tightly bound script and hence alot depended on his directorial abilities and boy he scores. Right from the script, to the overll look of the film, to the technical shots and song picturisations Farhan manages to carry of each with aplomb and giving it a unique style of freshness. Here is one director who knows when to have rapid editing cuts and when to keep long shots and still camera movements in emotional scenes. This is a mistake even the likes of Sanjay Leela Bhansali make for instance in Devdas SLB had rapid editing shots and intruding camera movements in emotional and intense romantic scenes which marred the overall audience involvement and effect. Farhan gets all this right.
As such the music is terrific with all the tracks being standouts. Background music is effective as well. To top it all the songs are extremely well picturized. Woh Ladki Hai Kahan is garunteed to have you in splits while the playful ditty in jaane kyon is very catchy. Koi Kehta in a nightclub scenario is done with utmost aplomb. More-so, the placement of the songs in the film is perfect, no sudden dream songs to Switzerland.
Among performances it is Akshaye Khanna as Sid who steals the show with his intensity and subtelty. This is not to discredit Aamir and Saif who have turned in stellar performances. Among the female leads Dimple Kapadia is very effective in her complex charecterisation as a lonely middle-aged divorcee while Preity Zinta looks utterly geourgeous and acts with finesse in her small role. Sonali Kulkarni has limited scope but is very natural. The supporting cast is also terrific.
In terms of technical values, the film is just flawless. Cinematography manages to attain the balance between gloss and reality which is a change from the fantasy over the top feel of K3G. Special mention must also go to the costume and stylists. All the actors and actresses have been given new looks and they all look great.
Overall, I think DCH is one of the best hindi films seen in recent times. I am sure some people will disagree by calling it self indulgent and too elitist. My response is that check out K3G which is the epitomy of self-indulgence. It is in fact almost obnoxious.
If you have not seen this movie, I would reccomend strongly that you see it. You will not regret it.