Wow!
The first thing that?ll strike you about this movie is that it has a story. It?s a well-written, well-planned story full of not only great romance and love but also the twists and surprises that make watching the movie a treat instead of a chore.
I?ll tell you only part of the story to interest you in the movie so you can still go and enjoy all those surprises. The movie has a good star-studded cast but doesn?t look like crowded, every person is so suited for his or her role.
First the story, part of it, then my comments.
The story starts in a Pakistani jail where Rani Mukherji, acting as a young Pakistani female lawyer Samiya Siddiqui, has come to see Shah Rukh Khan, ex. Indian Air Force Pilot Veer Pratap Singh, who is spending his life there imprisoned as an Indian spy. In his 22 years in the jail he has never uttered a word to anyone. However, when Samiya talks to him, he talks to her (not surprising, it?s explained later, why he talks to her and tells her his story.)
His story, in flashback, is quite fascinating. He is an IAF pilot working in Rescue. He risks his life everyday to save others? lives. Preity Zinta, Zara Hayat Khan, is a young, unmarried, beloved daughter of a Pakistani family, living in Lahore, Pakistan. The next turn is that Zara?s family servant, Bebe, respected and loved by the family like an elder, dies. Her last wish was to have her bones scattered in the river in Kiratpur.
Our heroine takes on this mission and without telling anyone she comes to India and gets in trouble when her bus falls overboard. Our hero is in on the rescue operation and while he?s rescuing her he falls in love with her charming face. The story progresses through some very romantic, small but meaningful events and he asks her to spend a day with him before going back after her mission is complete. She agrees and here we see a nice Punjabi village at its best.
Two days later when Veer is going to drop Zara off at the station he has every intention to ask her to marry him....but they run into a guy who turns out to be her fiancé. Yeah..that throws a spanner into the works and here you hear some very well-written, meaningful dialogues delivered very effectively by Shah Rukh. Anyway, Zara goes back to Pakistan and preparations for her nikah begin in the earnest but she can?t forget Veer (Song: Main yahan hoon yahan hoon yahan hoon yahan). A heart-broken Shah Rukh goes back to work, until one day he hears from Zara?s maid, Shabbo, Divyaa Dutta. Immediately he resigns from the Air Force and goes to Pakistan. The encounter takes place in a Dargah and boy what a moment when Zara throws caution to wind and runs into Veer?s arms! (Song: Aaya tere dar par deewaana).
Then starts the conflict ? family against love, materialistic motives against pure hearts. But this story progresses unlike any other you?ve ever seen. Very real-worldly, very practical and still touching and inspiring. Nowhere does the movie drags on without a story. In fact, I feel like this movie is based on some novel. Hindi movies generally don?t have enough story to last the whole movie.
Soon after Zara?s nikah to her fiancé the flashback ends and story moves in the present. It always keeps you interested, thrilled and romanced. This is one movie which transports you into a different world!
All the actors have played their parts very well except when Shah Rukh has to play the old Veer. According to the story he can?t be more than around 50 but he acts like he?s 70 or something and fails at it. Preity has done better at playing old Zara though still not the best of performances. As young Veer, SRK is good; handsome and charming. So is Preity ? attractive, lovely, enchanting. Rani has done very well, as young, independent Paki girl; inexperienced yet confident lawyer. Rest of the cast are established actors and have performed really well.
In the end, after the court?s verdict, Shah Rukh reads out a poem he has written and it seems like he?s taking revenge for 22 years of imprisonment. Whoever has really written that poem can be very useful to Indian secret services for torturing foreign spies! :)
Music is quite good; good enough to buy the CD. My favourite songs are ? Main yahan hoon yahan hoon, Aisa des hai mera, Aaya tere dar par deewana.
Photography and scenery are well-suited to the situations and appeal to the eye. Situations have been developed well and kept realistic. One thing that bothered me in the movie was the ease with which everyone was crossing the Indo-Pak border at their whim. But considering the influential people and situations involved, I am willing to overlook this slight issue. There was another slight logical flaw regarding an Imam-jamin but to discuss that I?ll have to discuss the story and I don?t want to spoil it for you.
In more than once places the story is touching enough to moisten your eyes and almost the whole movie is romantic enough to make you hold your girlfriend?s hand. Oh yeah, don?t go see this movie with anyone but your mate; girlfriend, boyfriend or spouse is a good choice. Otherwise some very close friend of the opposite sex. I watched it with my girlfriend and I am damn glad of that fact!
The movie has dialogues which are well-thought-out and meaningful, not overly dramatic. I like dialogues that can be delivered without shouting. The director has done a really great job but that was expected from Yash Chopra, no?
The costumes in the movie look like they have been chosen with great care and attention to the character. I was especially impressed by Rani Mukherji?s attire; as an independent yet conservative girl she looks pretty and professional at the same time.
So, overall verdict for the movie is ? great! There?s a central theme to the story and there are enough small incidents to entertain and interest the viewer. Go see it! But not alone!