Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna is a magnum opus movie boasting of a multi-studded star cast of Bollywood - the King Khan Shah Rukh, Big B and small B and the pretty ladies Prity and Rani. I waited for almost a year for this movie. I sat with my morning tea and bade myself a good night’s sleep listening to the riveting and leg-shaking sound-track of this album as I ran the countdown to the release of this movie in the theaters. Being in the US of A (where we cannot watch Hindi movies as much in theaters) and also being a big fan of Bollywood movies this was no less than the Soccer World Cup final event for me that I had been waiting for. A once in a while event, a Shah Rukh and Abhishek Bacchan movie (what else could I ever wish for, two goodies in one package).
Finally the day arrived and I pretty much galloped over to the theater with my friends to catch the first possible show so that I could be among the elite few who are among the first few to watch the movie.
The movie opens with the heart-throb of millions- Shah Rukh Khan. Oh how much I loved him as he makes the final penalty shoot to win – Victory! Then steps in Prity Zinta, ravishing as ever. We see them precariously step onto a melting frozen lake - their husband-wife relationship, making sure they do not slip anywhere. A little crack that seems to widen throughout the progression of the movie. SRK aka Dev crushed by his disability and aggravation to having failed to make it big in his career turns into a frustrated man whose male ego is time an again hurt as his wife continues to scale higher in her career. Emotionally hardened due to his incapacity and lack of quality time from his ever-busy wife, Dev Saran evolves into a man who would be very hard to call ‘not despicable’ for his ugliness of attitude.
Then we have another ‘happily’ married couple, Abhishek and Rani. Their relationship is no more than that of a compromise on the part of the girl and is held together by one and only – Amitabh Bacchan aka Sam. Abhishek is an amorous husband who time and again makes protestations of his love for his beautiful wife. But the wife doesn’t have a single spark to reciprocate his love. Why? Was she ever in love with him to have agreed to marry him? Was it just a compromise? Aren’t all marriages to some extent a compromise? How could she never feel even an iota of love for the ever loving husband? These were the many questions crossing my mind as I sat on the edge of my seat wondering what’s going to happen next. Is this going to be another Hindi movie where all misunderstandings are removed and will it have the “they lived happily ever after” end ? Rani’s incapacity to have children distances her from Abhishek, not that he is holding her responsible for it. His love for her never seems to waiver.
Circumstances bring Dev and Rani together and as good friends they set out to help each other to mend their marital relationships that are falling apart. But what happens is completely contrary. In the process to help each other there is a spark for each other. Is it going to be another extra-marital affair movie? Hasn’t Bollywood churned out enough of them already? Arth , Silsila and now KANK! Nevertheless each one a classic in their own right, time and era. What has KANK to offer though? I was still thinking.
Old-school of thought still made me think. I wish their respective marriages hold the test of time and never fall through. Marriages are made in heaven. Are all these thoughts just good for the books? Indian traditions mean work on your marriage no matter what. In this modern age and time when relationships don’t last more than a flicker, will these do? I had another one and half hours to go by before all my answers could be answered. Oh well unanswered. I still had no clue. For the sake of beautiful cinematography, foot- tapping numbers, and gorgeous saris of Rani, I decided to hold my questions for a little bit more.
Nevertheless love happens and soon Dev and Rani realize they have come a long way. Their marriages are only name-sake relationships. “Family is family” formula of Dev was no longer working. They were meant to be with each other not with their lawfully wedded spouse. Abhishek and Prity unaware of this celebrate the misunderstanding that their marital bliss was finally working out. Their respective spouses had finally shown love for them. Meanwhile Dev and Rani realize that how much they need each other and soon also realize that this is not right. Oh finally Indian traditions come to play. Thank you god for reminding Karan Johar to reflect them somewhere in the movie.
This was the last straw on the back of the camel for me. Here poor Abhishek and Prity party all night celebrating their disbelief that their spouses are back in love with them, while the other two enjoy marital bliss outside of wedlock!!! I hated KANK at this moment and Shah Rukh for his misdemeanor. I had had enough by now. Yet I could not leave just yet. The movie was still to go on and my questions were still lingering.
Finally Dev and Rani go on a guilt trip and realize their moral responsibilities towards their marriages and decide to return home. They just don’t return home pretending to be what they are not, they return as epitomes of honesty. They had decided to confess their adultery to their better-halves. Times have changed; I thought as Prity did not pray Dev to stay back or forgive him. She throws him out of the house. Dev shows no remorse and leaves after apologizing to his son (yes he has a son too) for not being with him as he grows up. Rani is also sent away by her husband who is a complete wreck by now. She shows no remorse and just asks his permission to leave and is gone.
Rani and Dev notify each other that their respectives spouses have forgiven them and they are living a happy life now. Aha…I wonder… how thoughtful are they to tell each other that they are doing fine. Never did they care for the emotions of their spouses as they cheated. But most definitely they care for their soul mate. What misery it would be if you found your soul-mate after you got married? Lord bless all those singles out there waiting to get into an arranged marriage. I prayed as I waited for the culmination of this larger than life drama.
Time passes and Rani and Dev find life in separate places. Three years go by Abhishek and Prity find new partners and get married. Rani finds out about it and is deeply pained that Shah Rukh lied to her and punished himself. And here you go- a hindi movie after all- Abhishek sends Rani to Shah Rukh. Go my “best man” go find your love.
This was too much to handle. Does this or will it ever happen in real life? An ex- sending his/her ex- to find their love. A love that had broken their relationship and shattered apart everything. How could this happen? What sort of love is this being defined here? I was full of loathe and disgust for the characters of Shah Rukh and Rani. I never want to watch their movies again.
Instead of expecting my earlier questions to be answered I found new questions. Will they ever be answered?
I thought they would never be since all I read were negative reviews of the movie. Two weeks later I receive a phone call from a good old friend. He had just watched the movie and wanted to share his perspective with me.( I must mention why. I had proclaimed the movie to be an utter waste and Shah Rukh to be the ugly guy to him). I was not ready to let anything shake my stand. That phone call is what did not let me sleep. I could not but stop thinking. Why didn’t I like the movie? Why did I never think of it the way he did? So here I am 3am in the morning putting my thoughts down in black and white.
Hence my FIRST blog.
Love. How can you define it? Here is one explanation. Love is the purest emotion to ever happen. When it does happen to someone, they are the luckiest people. When Abhishek and Prity could move on in life and find equally gorgeous and loving life partners (I hope they would stay together for eternity), then why can’t Shah Rukh and Rani be together? They spent three years in a life that was no less than an exile. Why couldn’t they enjoy some happiness?
As much as I am torn between the old-school of thought and the new picture painted to me by the same movie, I could not but help pen it down. I think it’s time I can enjoy the remaining few hours of the night and get some sleep (another reason being I wrote three full pages of something. It must have really hit me. I could with a lot of pain-staking write one page worth report in college).
Enjoy and always think out of the box!
Finally the day arrived and I pretty much galloped over to the theater with my friends to catch the first possible show so that I could be among the elite few who are among the first few to watch the movie.
The movie opens with the heart-throb of millions- Shah Rukh Khan. Oh how much I loved him as he makes the final penalty shoot to win – Victory! Then steps in Prity Zinta, ravishing as ever. We see them precariously step onto a melting frozen lake - their husband-wife relationship, making sure they do not slip anywhere. A little crack that seems to widen throughout the progression of the movie. SRK aka Dev crushed by his disability and aggravation to having failed to make it big in his career turns into a frustrated man whose male ego is time an again hurt as his wife continues to scale higher in her career. Emotionally hardened due to his incapacity and lack of quality time from his ever-busy wife, Dev Saran evolves into a man who would be very hard to call ‘not despicable’ for his ugliness of attitude.
Then we have another ‘happily’ married couple, Abhishek and Rani. Their relationship is no more than that of a compromise on the part of the girl and is held together by one and only – Amitabh Bacchan aka Sam. Abhishek is an amorous husband who time and again makes protestations of his love for his beautiful wife. But the wife doesn’t have a single spark to reciprocate his love. Why? Was she ever in love with him to have agreed to marry him? Was it just a compromise? Aren’t all marriages to some extent a compromise? How could she never feel even an iota of love for the ever loving husband? These were the many questions crossing my mind as I sat on the edge of my seat wondering what’s going to happen next. Is this going to be another Hindi movie where all misunderstandings are removed and will it have the “they lived happily ever after” end ? Rani’s incapacity to have children distances her from Abhishek, not that he is holding her responsible for it. His love for her never seems to waiver.
Circumstances bring Dev and Rani together and as good friends they set out to help each other to mend their marital relationships that are falling apart. But what happens is completely contrary. In the process to help each other there is a spark for each other. Is it going to be another extra-marital affair movie? Hasn’t Bollywood churned out enough of them already? Arth , Silsila and now KANK! Nevertheless each one a classic in their own right, time and era. What has KANK to offer though? I was still thinking.
Old-school of thought still made me think. I wish their respective marriages hold the test of time and never fall through. Marriages are made in heaven. Are all these thoughts just good for the books? Indian traditions mean work on your marriage no matter what. In this modern age and time when relationships don’t last more than a flicker, will these do? I had another one and half hours to go by before all my answers could be answered. Oh well unanswered. I still had no clue. For the sake of beautiful cinematography, foot- tapping numbers, and gorgeous saris of Rani, I decided to hold my questions for a little bit more.
Nevertheless love happens and soon Dev and Rani realize they have come a long way. Their marriages are only name-sake relationships. “Family is family” formula of Dev was no longer working. They were meant to be with each other not with their lawfully wedded spouse. Abhishek and Prity unaware of this celebrate the misunderstanding that their marital bliss was finally working out. Their respective spouses had finally shown love for them. Meanwhile Dev and Rani realize that how much they need each other and soon also realize that this is not right. Oh finally Indian traditions come to play. Thank you god for reminding Karan Johar to reflect them somewhere in the movie.
This was the last straw on the back of the camel for me. Here poor Abhishek and Prity party all night celebrating their disbelief that their spouses are back in love with them, while the other two enjoy marital bliss outside of wedlock!!! I hated KANK at this moment and Shah Rukh for his misdemeanor. I had had enough by now. Yet I could not leave just yet. The movie was still to go on and my questions were still lingering.
Finally Dev and Rani go on a guilt trip and realize their moral responsibilities towards their marriages and decide to return home. They just don’t return home pretending to be what they are not, they return as epitomes of honesty. They had decided to confess their adultery to their better-halves. Times have changed; I thought as Prity did not pray Dev to stay back or forgive him. She throws him out of the house. Dev shows no remorse and leaves after apologizing to his son (yes he has a son too) for not being with him as he grows up. Rani is also sent away by her husband who is a complete wreck by now. She shows no remorse and just asks his permission to leave and is gone.
Rani and Dev notify each other that their respectives spouses have forgiven them and they are living a happy life now. Aha…I wonder… how thoughtful are they to tell each other that they are doing fine. Never did they care for the emotions of their spouses as they cheated. But most definitely they care for their soul mate. What misery it would be if you found your soul-mate after you got married? Lord bless all those singles out there waiting to get into an arranged marriage. I prayed as I waited for the culmination of this larger than life drama.
Time passes and Rani and Dev find life in separate places. Three years go by Abhishek and Prity find new partners and get married. Rani finds out about it and is deeply pained that Shah Rukh lied to her and punished himself. And here you go- a hindi movie after all- Abhishek sends Rani to Shah Rukh. Go my “best man” go find your love.
This was too much to handle. Does this or will it ever happen in real life? An ex- sending his/her ex- to find their love. A love that had broken their relationship and shattered apart everything. How could this happen? What sort of love is this being defined here? I was full of loathe and disgust for the characters of Shah Rukh and Rani. I never want to watch their movies again.
Instead of expecting my earlier questions to be answered I found new questions. Will they ever be answered?
I thought they would never be since all I read were negative reviews of the movie. Two weeks later I receive a phone call from a good old friend. He had just watched the movie and wanted to share his perspective with me.( I must mention why. I had proclaimed the movie to be an utter waste and Shah Rukh to be the ugly guy to him). I was not ready to let anything shake my stand. That phone call is what did not let me sleep. I could not but stop thinking. Why didn’t I like the movie? Why did I never think of it the way he did? So here I am 3am in the morning putting my thoughts down in black and white.
Hence my FIRST blog.
Love. How can you define it? Here is one explanation. Love is the purest emotion to ever happen. When it does happen to someone, they are the luckiest people. When Abhishek and Prity could move on in life and find equally gorgeous and loving life partners (I hope they would stay together for eternity), then why can’t Shah Rukh and Rani be together? They spent three years in a life that was no less than an exile. Why couldn’t they enjoy some happiness?
As much as I am torn between the old-school of thought and the new picture painted to me by the same movie, I could not but help pen it down. I think it’s time I can enjoy the remaining few hours of the night and get some sleep (another reason being I wrote three full pages of something. It must have really hit me. I could with a lot of pain-staking write one page worth report in college).
Enjoy and always think out of the box!
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1 comment:
Kudos for ur blog.
There are some anomalies which I found in KANK and wanted to address...
(1) Why was Bacchan acting like ths Casanova father who loves dressing like Snoop-Dog and annually announces how much he 'loves' his dead wife and the naked white women around him..
He finally dies of shock when he sees someone womanizing with his very own daughter-in-law. What was the point of having him in the movie neways?
(2) What was the problem with Rani Mukherjee? First she takes 2 years to decide if she should marry this wonderful of a guy, and then it takes her 2 years of marraige with him to realize that she is not in love?
Is she suffering from a commitment problem or something?
And finally when she does commit to someone, why SRK - a guy who is nothing as compared her husband in terms of accomplishments and character..I could see no point in why they would love each other at second sight (first sight was too short and endedup breaking SRK's leg).
SRK and Rani are without doubt the losers of the plot.
Apart from those anomalies, I could not help notice this pattern of roles SRK has been playing since the past few years:
I wasnt surprised with KANK and the fact that it was SRK who played the role he played.
SRK has evolved with time. Time and again we have seen him 'enjoying' women, excuse the language, and with KANK he has tried to take it to the next level.
In Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, poor Kajol was waiting to be picked up till Mr. Shahrukh feels lonely in life after his wife's death...
In Paheli he 'relishes' the company of a married woman by being a ghost and yes, this is justified as love.
It seems SRK is still an anti-hero then? In Baazigar he loves and kills Kajol and then its Shilpa Shetty's time..In Darr he is after Juhi Chawla, a girl who's engaged already. and there are these countless other plots that show how Bollywood has tried to glorify a distorted version of love using SRK's effective acting.
Why is SRK always around more than one woman in most of his movies? And why do we think he is a cool dude because of that?
Nothing against him - he is a terrific actor who does what the director says - but being the terrific actor he is, with scripts like KANK he can quite effectively convey the wrong message to the youngsters.
I hope he shows up in more movies like DDLJ rather than the KANKs and the Pahelis...otherwise we will continue to see news like this:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=20714
And Mr. Karan Johar, please stop reading La Infidelity and go back to your Betty-Veronica-Archie love triangles... eagerly awaiting one of those for ur next blockbuster!(atleast its entertainment)
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