He is young and he is kewl. He is rich (though we are not sure what he does for a rather extravagant living but its okay) and loaded with oomph and glamour. Spontaneity is his other name. Throw a situation and he will sing and dance like a rock star. In short he rocks. He has the looks and a combination of plenty of green and grey cells – money and brains. At the drop of the hat he rushes to intrude in other people’s personal lives claiming to possess solution to their troubles. So he is like superman. Alas an intruding kind. But that’s not all. There is a dampener to all this jived up sequence. This guy has too less a time and is about to die. Ooooh! Actually Aawwww! What was God thinking? He must have done something really bad and highly magnanimous for being punished and glorified simultaneously.
There is more to this filmi pot pourri. This guy is so lucky he get’s to terribly overact in Yash Johar’s production and Nikhil Advani’s debut directorial stance Kal Ho Naa Ho (KHNH).
Curiosity kills the cat and Shahruk’s overacting leaves the audience gasping for more. For those wondering who this unlucky charmer {pun intended – he is actually lucky ( not shirtless like apna Salman but actually for KHNH, which predictably emerged a hit)} we are indeed talking about Shahrukh Khan. This dude plays a role almost near to God. He is bestowed with superpowers. He preaches incessantly and for a moment I take him to be a teacher. Especially during scenes when he teaches Priety Zinta (who looks absolutely fresh and lethally stunning through the entire movie) and Saif Ali Khan (he adorns a confused but dashing look) how to smile. A pathetic attempt that works. SK has a terrible tendency to overact in all his movies. Thankfully in KHNH we are spared of his stammering abilities.
Awesome or Awful? Now tell me this, why will anyone like to watch a movie again? And not just once but four or five times repeatedly. Obviously to be entertained again and again. Me too, but I had other objectives in mind. I wished to be doubly sure that KHNH is a flawless movie. And seriously to my glee I discovered KHNH to be strongly irresistible. It is a movie adorning the characteristics of a strong beer - Strikingly intoxicating and addictive. We find faults where there are none. I was looking for faults while re-watching KHNH – scriptural, in terms of acting, hypothetical assumptions, wrong message, etc., - I failed tremendously. KHNH is simply awesome.
DDLJ and KHNH are two blockbusters with an introductory similarity. Both begin with a voiceover. While in DDLJ the deep baritone of Late Amrish Puri introduces London to the viewers, KHNH uses Priety’s voice to cast the same magic again. This is how the movie begins –
New York…
Duniya Kaa Sabse bada sheher. The business capital of the world.
New York ki har saans, har dhadkan mein raftar hai.
Yahan logon ko hamesha jaldi hoti hai. Ghar se nikalne ki jaldi, office pahuchne ki jaldi, zindagi se hamesha do kadam aage rahne ki jaldi.
Yahan dheere chalne waalon ke liye koi jagah nahin.
Bharat se meelon door is sheher mein Hindustaaniyon ki koi kamee nahin. In fact kaha jaata hai ki yaahan har chautha chehra Hindustani hai…..
A rough translation of the above would stand as –
The world’s largest city New York is the business capital of the world. The essence of NY is its speed. Everyone here is in a hurry for all intend to excel. And here there is no dearth of Indians. In fact every fourth face is an Indian.
It can be said that the location of KHNH is as beautiful as the other details. Based on an Indian family residing in New York the viewers get to see a happening side of New York through this movie.
Whose movie is it anyway? KHNH has been projected as a movie that revolves around SK’s character (Aman). The success of KHNH is however collective. The role of each character is equally important and played effectively. So whether it is Jaya Bacchan playing Jenny, Priety Zinta as Naina, etc., each actor does a very good job. These collective roles and efforts is what KHNH is made of.
Imitating the west
While watching KHNH I could not help but notice New York as a clean and tidy city. Indians always claim that we have a tendency to imitate the west. I bet it’s a myth. Or why else would our cities remain so dirty! Take a trip to New York via KHNH and you will understand what I mean.
Songs
KHNH is a musical delight. Almost all the songs are close to my heart. Kuch to Hua hai is a romantic song and a story of almost every guy n gal in love. The title song Kal Ho Naa Ho is a blend of inspiration and romance. A song which can be listened time and again. It’s the time to Disco is a racy product and a kewl dance number. Tere maathe Joomar chamke is a song ornamenting the Indian bride. A beautiful song indeed.
I do not intend to reveal the plot or force you to watch this movie but KHNH is a philosophical entertainer.( Thankfully!!). We look and wait for big occasions for celebrating while life is about living each moment. Now is certain while tomorrow is just an illusion. Watch this movie with friends, family, teachers, students, boss, neighbor, girlfriend or boyfriend or whoever you like. But watch it soon, kya pata kal ho naa ho.