Cast:Jimmy Shergill, Irrfan Khan, Karan Khanna, Konkona Sen Sharma Ayesha Takia, Ratna Pathak, Saroj Khan, Ravi Baswani, Paresh Rawal, Boman Irani, Suhasini Mulay
Director:Naseeruddin Shah
Release Date-21st July , 2006
Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota works so well because Naseeruddin Shah has targeted the final product at an intelligent audience, and taken many commendable risks along the way. He knows we’re sick and tired of all the unreal cliches seen and nauseam in countless Bollywood trash the past few decades. So this one’s told with maturity and realistic drama .The film has four parallel stories running along with it..
Konkona Sen Sharma is a young bride trying to make her way to America to be with her husband Jimmy Shergill, who’s gone back to his job in LA just days after their marriage in Mumbai.
In another story, young student -Karan Khanna is a brilliant but poor student who’s already got admission into a prestigious university abroad. But he’s hardly excited, nor appears to be too keen on going because of a lack of funds and an incapacitated father. Almost overnight, almost magically, all his problems get sorted out and he finds himself flying out to a brighter future.
In second story Salim Rajabali (Irrfan Khan) is the stockbroker . He’s besotted by the much older but sensuous Namrata (Suhasini Mulay). Even as he involuntarily gets involved in a killing, he discovers that she has been cheating on him. Before the shattered man can gather his wits, his mother (Saroj Khan) forces him to pack his bags and flee the country before he’s implicated further.
And in another story, Paresh Rawal, a small-time organizer of cultural shows in the US, must confront his feelings for old flame Ratna Pathak Shah, when she approaches him with the request to include her daughter in his troupe.
Rare is it that a director understands each of his characters and their motivations so well, thereby enabling us to mirror ourselves in each of them. Be it Konkan’s pain, a confused stokebroker, or a failure student, we’ve all been there before in our lives, but never seen it on film. And Naseer knows! All the four stories have been woven in the narrative with that rare maturity .
It’s undeniable that the director chose a talented cast so that each would fit perfectly into their respective roles. But to their credit, no one, not even the character artistes, falter a single scene.
Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota is a landmark film for Konkana Sen, who proves her supremacy yet again. The actress goes through this difficult role with precision and proves the fact that she is the best amongst the current lot.Jimmy delivers his career-best performance.Ratna Pathak is excellent.
Irfaan conveys a lot through his expressions and that’s where he triumphs. An actor par excellence, he essays this complex character with flourish.Ayesha Takia looks natural and emotes with utmost conviction, showing a marked improvement over her previous performances. Boman Irani is wasted in an insignificant role.Karan Khanna is just about okay.
It’s a shame that a film Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota like is being ignored for the most part. Hopefully, this admirable film will be discovered by people through word-of-mouth and reviews, if not through the non-existent publicity.