After a long wait I went to finally see the most awaited movie of the year with a top of the lien start cast, great music etc. Without mincing words, lets just say that while Kal Ho Na Ho is a decent movie compared to the trash turning out every friday, it is noway near a classic in any way.
The performances are the highlight of this well polished movie which in bits and pieces reflects the life of us indians in the US. However, what pulls the flick down is illogical sequences such as dances in the middle of the street, over dramatic side characters etc. While one enjoys the whole song and dance thing in hindi movies, must all film makers resort to making the whole street dance as though they have nothing better to do than jiggle away for the hero? On the performances Saif Ali Khan is the clear winner and Zinta is a close second. Preity brings polish to her character but I cannot understand why the director feels that by gulping down vodka lemon shots and jiggling one’s backside in a nightclub, you achieve nirvana. What is that about?
Another issue, Karan Johar actually wanted to make this movie with Kareena Kapoor. WHAT was he thinking? Thank God the deal didnt go through. Preity Zinta is a far better choice though one cant help but think what Kajol might have had brought to the table if she had agreed to be the lead star.
On Mr. Khan, its high time he starts experimenting with his roles. while one might have enjoyed, DDLJ, Dil to Pagal hai, KKHH etc from the Chopra/Johar stable, its truly high time he went ahead and played a role which is away from his usual norm. Its almost as though he has realized his limitations as an actor and thus tends to stick to making the same kind of movie again and again. Karan Johar needs to realize that Shahrukh is touching 40 and put him on a skateboard (one scene had him on it) with sunglasses and a hood simply projects him as a jackass wannabe teen idol. Think again before you don that hood Mr Khan.
all in all, the emotional quotient was high but what I enjoyed the most were the lighter moments between Saif and shahrukh, the Gujju cracks and a great performance by Jaya Bachchan. Nice going lads :-)