Yep you read that right, Rab (god) does steal from others. I’m talking about this latest Yash Chopra film after their blunders (at this point, I really don’t have to name them because it’s known to everyone.)
So is there anything new that Adi Chopra offered this time after delivering cliches from his previous works, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayange, and Mohabbatein? While the former was cluttered with 90s love cliche films that were the craze back then, the latter had ripped off the famous English film, "Dead Poet’s Society" with SRK doing Robin Williams role.
This time? It’s a Huge lift and I mean HUGE lift from Mani Ratnam’s Tamil classic, MOUNA RAAGAM ("Kokila" Mohan, Revathi), and a dash of CHACHI 420 (Kamal Hassan, Tabu). By the former, you have Surinder Kapoor and his flashbacks/train scenes with his "arranged" wife. Like
Chandramohan and Revati in MOUNA RAAGAM, Surinder (SRK) and Taani’s charcters are very alike in terms of A-Plot. The B-Plot of SRK trying to be his "overacting" self while remain Surinder is
the same as Kamal Hassan’s objective in CHACHI 420. The C-Plot, the dance competition, is thankfully original (unless I can get a whiff of it from any other source, but for now...nothing.)
Storywise, it’s typical Yash Raj filmi fare. Guy is geeky and is a by-book guy, girl is bubbly and know-it-all. You then have the typical elder one get a heart attack, forcing the guy and girl to get into an arranged marriage. Then, they go back to guy’s hometown, where awkward moments are witnessed (like not addressing each other affectionetly and stuff.) Then the geek goes for makeover and stuff and well..then forms the story.
I’ll be honest, the story starts out okay. But later on, it becomes like MOUNA RAAGAM, CHACHI 420 and the C-plot all together. That’s where the "kahani" drags. Yet in the end, it turns out okay. The Music is one of the sore points of the film. I loved Haule, but as far as the rest blegh. Even the GHAJINI songs sound waay better than this.
Acting. SRK rocks as Surinder, the geeky husband who tries to be a good one. But as Raj, he hums it. New girl Anuksha stands tall and strong for a first time and doesn’t show any failure of dialogue delivery. Vinay Pathak simply rocks as Surinder’s best friend and stylist.
So is it worth the trip to Rab ne? Sure, if you like cliched Yash Raj fare. Otherwise, give it a miss and wait a week for Ghajini to come. But I’ll say this, Rab has indeed saved Yashji from his flop streak.