’’Kal Ho Naa Ho’’ is a definite reminder of ’’Anand’’, but, to a great extent, a failed one. It’s not that ’’Kal Ho Naa Ho’’ is bad, but nowhere compared to Anand. I can’t analyse this movie in isolation, it necessarily has to be analysed in conjunction with ’’Anand’’. The concept is same. Shahrukh Khan has tried replacing Rajesh Khanna, and Saif has tried replacing Amitabh. But, the writer has messed up completely in the storyline. It is a confused amalgamation of unrelated ideas. Some salient features of the movie are:
Projection of Shahrukh as an Angel.
Projection of love as being different from friendship.
Projection of Indians as a respected lot in America (a white lie).
A subtle attempt at endorsing Homosexuality.
The simplicity of presentation - this is the main difference between ’’Anand’’ and ’’Kal Ho Naa Ho’’. ’’Anand’’ revolved around a very cute and simple life of a dying man, without any exaggeration of his goodness. There was no forced attempt to project Rajesh Khanna as an angel. Rather, acceptance of his goodness was almost subtle. And, moreover, he never devised strategies to help others, in other words, never played with anybody else’s life. Whatever interference he made in other people’s life, was within the realm of accepted natural behaviour. Shahrukh devised strategies enormously in ’’Kal Ho Naa Ho’’, to the extent of showing others lowly. Also, almost uncontested acceptance of the powers of Shahrukh by Saif was degrading. In ’’Anand’’, Amitabh emerged as an individual. In ’’kal Ho Naa Ho’’ Saif was almost non existent, almost a puppet in the hands of Shahrukh. However, Saif’s performance in the movie was excellent, but that’s secondary. On comparing the character of Shahrukh and Rajesh Khanna, Rajesh Khanna’s character is a complete winner. And, that’s because of simplicity of behaviour. Someone who is dying himself, can’t be dying to make a difference in other people’s life, that too in the most michaelivian manner.
If a movie is made by Johar’s or Chopra’s, love has to be projected as something mysteriously different from friendship. But, the fact remains that a person loves his/her friends/associates/family/mankind alike, though in different proportions. So, the relationship one commonly refer to as love is nothing but a strong liking for someone else, who, in the highest probability, should be a close friend only. I feel representation of love as being mysteriously different from friendship as a distortion of reality. Unfortunately, in this movie, the idea has been totally confused. Priety marrying Saif in the end is perfectly alright, but this has been made to look like a forced compromise. It’s perfectly alright for Preity to have liked (or loved) Shahrukh more than Saif, but what’s the big deal? You don’t love only one person in your life, nor do you have to necessarily marry the person u love the most (determining whom u love the most is not that easy). Anyways, I don’t know how can a girl marry an Angel? One can only love him. Am I wrong?
In ’’Anand’’, nothing like this has been even remotely attempted. Anand revolves around just one central idea.
When will we, the Indians, understand that no American gives a damn to our culture, our values etc etc. Audeince vulnerability to chauvinism has been exploited excellently in the movie. We need to understand this fact that foreigners don’t like Indian culture for the way of life. The foreigners like Indian culture for the hard assets that charcterize Indian culture i.e. the monuments, the attire, the architecture, the art, and the food too. I have no doubt about it that Americans mock at Indian lifestyle, and that is what’s pertinent. That is what we hold today, hard assets are the things of past.
Subtle attempt at endorsing homosexuality!!! What was the need to do it? Anyways, if it has been done then it’s fine. Not important enough to deserve attention except a passing remark.
All in all, the movie is good. Direction is good, acting is also good, but I feel, too much has been tried. The producers are earning money so I can’t say much. But, I am damn sure that the movie can’t touch the heights of ’’Anand’’