We all have levels of saturation... a point till which we can tolerate certain things... just like Punjabi weddings and family life in Hindi movies (no offence but what about the rest of india !!!). thus we constantly look out for a break from the norm, a deviation from the ’’given’’ and this is why when superstars decide to do something different it strikes a chord with those starving for new elements and meets resistance from those who live and die for the song-n-dance routine.
THE FILM AND THE STORY :
paheli is diffrent.. based on the story ’’DUVIDHA’’ it brings alive the folk culture in Rajasthan. it narrates the story of Laachi..
a woman who is married off to Kisan, a money-minded rich baniya. but all her aspirations of a blissful wedded life crashes when not only does Kisan chooses work over her on the wedding night but reveals his plan of being away from home for 5 years thereafter on business. laachi’s life would have been a story of sighs and sorrows had it not been for a ’’mayavi’’/ ’’bhoot’’.
this bhoot had fallen in love with laachi. so when it learns that her husband was to be away for 5 years he took Kisan’s form and made a place for himself in his household .by revealing the truth about him.. the bhoot won over laachi’s heart who saw through this deception into the true love that the bhoot felt for her. laachi falls in love too and everything is happy till she is forced to choose between her real husband or her ’’mayavi’’ lover.
WHY SHOULD ONE WATCH THIS MOVIE ?
for one ... THE STORY... it is unique, well crafted and well-executed. through its complexities of narration and authentic language se the film paints a beautiful landscape of rajasthan that is very compelling.
THE ACTING... the film has stars like
shah rukh khan... Kisan/ mayavi
rani mukherjee... laachi
anupam kher, amitabh bachchan, juhi chawla, suneil shetty and rajpal yadav to mention a few.
shah rukha khan looses his ’’bigger than character’’ attitude to portray both the real kisan and the mayavi with aplomb. this time he definitely proves his acting histrionics and his eyes finally speaks of a conviction of emotions which was lacking all this time through.
rani mukherjee is at her very best (well may be not exceeding black.. but great work). as the silent, young, veiled, lost laachi she brings to life the pain, joy and confusion the protagonist faces. she is well poised and her acting epitomises what it should be to completely delve into a character.
THE MUSIC... the background score and the songs in the movie are quite different from whatever we have come to expect out of a hindi movie.with rich overtones of rajasthani folk music and indian classical the music is at once fresh and gripping. reminds me of ’’lamhe’’. I specially fell in love with the song ’’dheere jalna’’.
THE DIRECTOR... his name is amol palekar and I guess anyone who remotely knows him would know exactly the standard of work expected out of him.
WHO SHOULD NOT WATCH THE MOVIE ?
what??? you must be thinking that I have completely lost it... but let me explain please.
if you look into the recommendation levelthe film must be getting a meagre in and around 60%. does that mean that the film is not worth your time? .....
well frankly put may be the film was not made for you to see. although a commercial project.. the unconventional storyline, the mode of narration and the authenticity of the language nad music makes the film almost an art work.
it is not an average multiplex popcorn munching flick... the film needs you to get involved... you are then either hooked and enthralled or you loose interest and curse your fate for having bought the ticket.
so please, if you are in for an entertainer typical of hindi movie style please steer away from watching this. you should know your tastes better than anyone else.. please do not go there because everyone else is going.. then hate the movie and bad-mouth it.. be discerning and then decide. you owe yourself that and the film deserves it of you if nothing else.