Thanx to mouthshut, I get an opportunity for being objective with karan johar and his films. though I dont connect with his scripts totally, I smile at his characters’ innocence, I sob at their heart wrenching pathos and his films leave all satisfied. with kal ho na ho, karan johar showed a great maturity as a screenplay writer and was much closer to life. and with his latest offing KABHI ALVIDA NA KEHNA, he has made more of a thought provoking film than a emotional one.
yes, like a typical dharma production film, KABHI ALVIDA NA KEHNA has its share of flaws. but whats so special about this flick is the authencity of itsc characters which takes it to a different level altogether. this time. the characters move us with their imperfection and weaknesses rather than their likeability.
having said this, karan johar has to take the blame for some really irrelevant and nonsensical sequences in the first half [ though he executed them really well, no doubts ]. the arjun’s football match was a bit overdone. besides, why would two people doubt their spouses’s fidelity just if they kiss each other which is ofcourse a casual way of greetiong someone in the U.S. ? these blunders notwithstanding, karan johar chooses a sensitive story and surprisingly enough, makes an "in-your-face" movie taking just the right amount of cinematic liberties.
but what the heck am I talking about ? this film definitely needs to be talked about its characters. SRK, oh sorry, SHAH RUKH KHAN finally justifies that the actor within him is not lost behind all those crooning girls, bath tub ads and stupendously amounted cheques. he, as DEV SARAN, a rude man displays just the perfect sort of imprudence and unhappiness in his role. for good measures, he gave some great mannerisms and gestures which are genuinely different from his RAJ-RAHUL sorts.
RANI MUKHERJI was just tailor-made for MAYA. her reticence, her demereness and her contradicting principles were completely justified with an excellent perfromance from rani. and yes, she looked so sensuos and pretty with her designer look saris. however, she was a tad irritating in the climax. what was very endearing was to see the immaculately romantic RISHI TALWAR played by AB BABY so well. he was really good. PREITY ZINTA as riya sustains her class after SALAAM NAMASTE and is very good. Amitabh bachchan is quite hilarious and is also very touching in his death scene. kirron kher was just OK.
coming to the other fine aspects of the movie, the music and the colour-scheme stand out. the milieu of new-york is very well captured with well handled frames and shot taking patterns. karan johar also got some great dilaogues once again which wont leave you even long afer the reels have run out. "MOHABBAT NAHI DHOONDOGE TO NAHI MILEGI" and "DO AJNABI, EK HAALAT, THODI SAMAJHDARI AUR PHIR DOSTI" are there to quote a few. THE score of the movie is ethereal. "MITWA" shows the magic of blooming romance perfcectly. one cant simply help humming it. it is the second best song this year after luka chippi from rang de basanti { surprised, aint you ? } the title track brings a lump in your throat when heard while watching the movie. "tumhi dekho na" is equally heart warming. "rock n roll" is a great foot tapping number and "wheres the party tonite" is surprisingly haunting and is very perfectly placed in the screenplay [ showing the diverse mindsets of the coulples ]. a great variety of music, I must say.
FARAH KHAN’s contribution to this film cant be missed out at any cost. MITWA was very well picturised. and TUMHI DEKHO NA can be a thing of great lesson for the upcoming choreographers. its idea was superb. actually I dont like unnecessary song sequences in a film but I dont have any complaints this time as they were placed very well.
karan johar also excels in creating some great moments. when DEV pours his heart out to MAYA at the station in the night, it is a sight to behold. and the first meet of dev and maya was quite interesting.
now the loopholes. the climax could have been executed much better. it was very FILMI and steroeotytped. and I must agree, some sequences in the first half were a bit ribaid and vulgar. maya entering her home with a hunter was really embarrassing.
never mind, KABHI ALVIDA NA KEHNA is quite entertatining and starkly engrossing. sorry if I am boring u all, but I simply cant have anything but praise for karan johar for ahving courage to be so unconventional.
and all of you who think this film is cheap, outrageous, let me tell you you are not mature yet. I am hardly 19 years old but could very well get the depth of the plot. now i know why india has been stuck as a developing nation for a long time now. I am afraid but KABHI ALVIDA NA KEHNA may not be a hit and may even miss its nominations at the award functions. { unlike any other karan johar movie } therefore, I dont recommend this film to all of you but only to them who have come of their age and have the courage to accept reality and the changing times.
YOUR CRITICISM AND DISAGREEMENTS LARGELY AWAITED
TILL NEXT TIME
HARSH