Veer-Zara

Come Saturday morning (the day after Diwali) and Mr Hubby and I found our way to Gaiety, Bandra for the matinee show of Veer Zaara.

Tickets aren’t usually a problem at this ’’heritage’’ multiplex of 7 theatres, since the black marketeers there ensures that you can buy a ticket in black for a decent Rs. 80-100 for any film, any show!

So we were a bit surprised that the black rates for Aitraaz were just Rs. 60! I asked the blackwala who was peddling tickets for both films, ’’Kyun bhaiya...Aitraaz achchi nahin hai kya?’’

’’Nahin nahin picture toh bahut achchi hai...par kya hai na...Shah Rukh ka picture laga hai toh kisi ko Aitraaz dekhne ka nahin hai!’’

Such is the magic of Shah Rukh Khan, who’s back in the cinema house for the third time this year...this time coupled with the magic of Yash Chopra.

So....how was the film?

The answer is simple....if you like the ’sarson’ ke fields, the chiffon sarees blowing in the breeze, the larger than life portrayal of characters, swoony romantic scenes and the scenic beauty that’s so characteristic of a Yash Chopra film, you’ll love Veer Zaara.

But what sets the film apart is...

• The ingenious way of treating the ’Indo-Pak’ subject and the genuine attempt to improve understanding between people of the two nations

  
  




• The fact that Preity Zinta’s got an opportunity to do more than giggle her way through the film

  
  




• King Khan of course, who despite his confessions that he ’sleepwalks through romantic roles now’, has done a splendid job

  
  

and of course,

like this girl sitting next to me commented during one scene, ’’Man! Yash Chopra can bring romance even in a scene where they’re immersing someone’s ashes in the river!’’

Need I say more...?

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