Review: Chalte Chalte
Aditya Basrur
theatre is packed 20 minutes beforehand (in Auckland). The throng I had to
work my way through to pick up the tickets was huge and unyielding. But I
managed to get the tickets in the end, and wait for a further 15 minutes in
various uncomfortable positions. I think I smelled chole bhatura, butter
chicken, and lamb biryani on the breath of various people around me. Not
especially pleasant. A few youngsters were using the opportunity to gain
cheap thrills by pushing close to young ladies around them. (I was
disgusted, and a little cramped.) The same youngster started saying "No need
to push, we're all Indian" when the doors opened. I'm not sure what that
meant, or why that was funny. When we went in, it turned out that the cinema
had oversold. People were sitting on the stairs and plastic chairs had to be
brought out to accommodate extra numbers. My view was partially obscured as
a result.
The beginnings, then, had not been auspicious. The film itself, however,
turned out to be quite enjoyable. I don't want to divulge too much of the
story, so I won't. I was hooked by the first ten minutes or so. The use of a
group of friends as a narrative device was interesting, and added its own
share of comedy. I did enjoy the rural and inner-city settings, though. One
thing that I've often found irritating about Shah Rukh's movies in the past
is that there's no continuity from one scenario to the next. (For instance,
in "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham" he leaves his father's house on bad terms. 2
years later, he's driving a Mercedes and living in Mayfair.) His character
this time was more simple and working-class (which created its own issues in
the storyline).
The storyline itself was reasonably satisfying. I wasn't irritated, as I was
in "Armaan", by unbelievable plot twists or certain characters who did
things that make us shudder. The movie is essentially the story of a
marriage and its ups and downs. I think it's a more real portrayal of
marriage than I've seen in most Hindi movies - "Saathiya", I guess, comes
close. The first half had many very funny moments, with characters who added
beautifully to the mix. Johnny Lever's drunkard, who might appear
superfluous at first glance, was actually woven into the script very well.
Sequences with policemen and dhobi-wallahs were very nicely done. The second
half was the serious, 'business-end', of the movie. I liked the fact that
'THE event' (the turning point of the film, which I've come to expect in
Hindi films) wasn't incredible or unexpected. This helped make it and the
subsequent events all the more believable, and perhaps gained some sympathy
from the audience.
I didn't have too many issues with the acting. Shah Rukh, I think, has
problems with pulling off the serious or angry segments to a credible level.
I don't think this is necessarily a fault. His comic moments were very nice.
There was a genuine attempt to portray emotion. It came off in parts, in
others it did not. Thus even some of the moments that were *meant* to tug at
the heart-strings became comic, which was a pity. My main criticism would be
that these emotional moments weren't entirely believable as a result.
Rani Mukherji, on the other hand, I thought was quite stunning. She's fast
becoming my favourite actress (call me an idiot if you will, I don't care
...). Her costumes were very good throughout the film. Her hair looks great
when lighter brown and in the right light. I'd never realised her eyes were
so light - I had a long time to gaze into them tonight. Her facial
expressions were nicely done. I was thrilled to see her in a meaty role. Oh,
and her portrayal of Priya was quite good. Hers is the character who goes
through the major emotional roller-coaster ride. She has to balance her
husband's expectations with her own, and the added baggage of coming from a
different economic background to her husband. She verges on the clicheic
nagging wife at times. The overall impression I was left with was of a
three-dimensional character, though. To me, she carried the film. I'm not
sure how I'd compare this to 'Saathiya' (I saw it a few months ago now).
Rani was the reason I went to watch the movie. She did not disappoint.
I've touched on some of the supporting cast already. Lilette Dubey (who I
remembered from 'Monsoon Wedding'), was close to convincing as the bitchy
aunt. Raj's (Shah Rukh's character's) coterie of friends were at times
interesting, at other times funny. Their roles were extremely limited,
however. They did what they had to. Satish Shah was all right, I guess. He
did add some comedy, and played a role as the voice of reason in Shah Rukh's
life. Jas Arora was rather wooden, I thought. Again, his role was limited.
It would have been nice to see some more emotion nonetheless. I suppose some
mention of the songs is obligatory. I don't know much about film music - I
can just tell if I like it or not. I didn't find the songs in this film
intrusive. One of the playback singers for Rani's character was extremely
high-pitched, which was a momentary flaw. The dance sequences weren't bad -
Ms Mukherji's facial movements were rather well done.
So an overall verdict? Such things are always subjective, and I know many
here have strong views on Shah Rukh. I enjoyed the film, and I'm glad I
went. I certainly preferred it to 'Armaan', which also tried to portray a
real-life scenario but became irritating after a while. Here, you could
imagine such things happening to real people in 'real life', even if some of
minor parts of the romance were improbable. I think it's essentially meant
to be a comedy with shades of drama. I found it very amusing in parts. The
drama was at times convincing, at times not, but the story remained with me.
The overall production aims to tell the tale of a marriage and the problems
it can face. It's difficult to dispute that it does so with some aplomb.
The crowd for the later showing (11:30 pm) was again rather large. The video
and music store I go to across the road from the theatre had sold out of the
soundtrack (which I was looking to buy). I hope I don't have to contend with
such a swarm at the outset of the next Shah Rukh Khan movie I go to.
Warm regards,
Aditya [Who's the lead actress in "Qayamat", BTW?] Basrur
Cricketislife!
> . A few youngsters were using the opportunity to gain cheap thrills by
pushing close to young ladies around them.
Hmm...
> His character this time was more simple and working-class (which
>created its own issues in > the storyline).
SRK is very watchable in those roles. Aadi, seen his Raju Ban gaya
gentleman and even better 'Kabhi Haan Kabhi Na' where he is good and
that movie is very nice.
> Johnny Lever's drunkard, who might appear superfluous at first
glance, was actually woven into the script very well.
I am a fan of Johny Lever, so I think I might like this as well.
> I didn't have too many issues with the acting. Shah Rukh,
> I think, has problems with pulling off the serious or angry segments
to > a credible level. I don't think this is necessarily a fault.
Now Why do u think it is NOT a fault, if he was not credible? explain
please.
>> Rani Mukherji, on the other hand, I thought was quite
> stunning. She's fast becoming my favourite actress (call me an idiot
if you> will, I don't care> ...). Her costumes were very good throughout
the film. Her hair looks great when lighter brown and in the right
light. I'd never realised her eyes were so light - I had a long time to
gaze into them tonight.
OK Aadi, enough Salivating! That does it, I got to see this movie now!!
.
--
Direct access to this group with http://web2news.com
http://web2news.com/?rec.arts.movies.local.indian
Aditya Basrur
> "Aditya Basrur" <aditya...@hotmail.undergarments.com> wrote
>
>> I'd never realised her eyes were so light - I had a long time to
>> gaze into them tonight.
>
>
> rk-
So was I. Thought I'd whet the interest of the male readership all the same.
Aditya
Kamesh
Looks like we have a winner on our hands.
http://www.indiafm.com/reviews/03/chaltechalte/index.shtml
Kamesh
[I have to see it on Video/DVD]
yeskay
Aditya Basrur wrote:
>
> Rani Mukherji, on the other hand, I thought was quite stunning. She's fast
> becoming my favourite actress (call me an idiot if you will, I don't care
> ...). Her costumes were very good throughout the film. Her hair looks great
> when lighter brown and in the right light. I'd never realised her eyes were
> so light - I had a long time to gaze into them tonight. Her facial
> expressions were nicely done. I was thrilled to see her in a meaty role. Oh,
> and her portrayal of Priya was quite good. Hers is the character who goes
> through the major emotional roller-coaster ride. She has to balance her
> husband's expectations with her own, and the added baggage of coming from a
> different economic background to her husband. She verges on the clicheic
> nagging wife at times. The overall impression I was left with was of a
> three-dimensional character, though. To me, she carried the film. I'm not
> sure how I'd compare this to 'Saathiya' (I saw it a few months ago now).
> Rani was the reason I went to watch the movie. She did not disappoint.
>
I wish somebody dubs her voice. Her voice is one of the reasons she is not
well liked. SOmebody here mentioned that her voice is exactly like the tone you
hear when you dial out from a PC.
But she's is improving a lot and I even liked her in Saathiya. Not at all
irritating like Raveena. A lot lot better actress than Aishwarya and deserves
to be the top actress in Bollywood.
Aditya Basrur
<snip
>> His character this time was more simple and working-class (which
>> created its own issues in > the storyline).
>
> SRK is very watchable in those roles. Aadi, seen his Raju Ban gaya
> gentleman and even better 'Kabhi Haan Kabhi Na' where he is good and
> that movie is very nice.
>
Haven't caught either of those. Maybe I should.
<snip>
>> I didn't have too many issues with the acting. Shah Rukh,
>> I think, has problems with pulling off the serious or angry segments
> to > a credible level. I don't think this is necessarily a fault.
>
>
> Now Why do u think it is NOT a fault, if he was not credible? explain
> please.
I'm not sure quite how to put it. I've seldom been convinced by SRK in
emotional/strongly dramatic sequences. On the other hand, I think he's a
rather good comic actor. His energy, which Taran Adarsh alludes to, makes
him ideal for slapstick sequences or even very funny dialogue. (When they
initially meet on the highway in this film, I found myself in splits.) I
will still likely go and see many of his films (as long as I have some
interest in the heroine, is what it seems to be panning out as :-) I would
like to see him focus on comic roles. This film has large amounts of comedy
in it. But if you look at Adarsh's review, he talks highly of the airport
breakdown scene. I didn't think much of this at all - I was laughing at many
points. He plays an intoxicated man in "Chalte Chalte" in a key sequence. In
contrast, I think he does this rather well. But the intensity of the scene
is carried by Rani. I guess I see him as being a bit like Adam Sandler. I
enjoy his films, I find him quite funny, but I don't rate him in serious
roles.
I read the review. I agree with many parts of it. I didn't think much of Jas
Arora in this film, and I've highlighted my views of Shah Rukh.
Aditya [Still waiting for information on "Qayamat". The lead actress there
looks quite stunning, BTW.] Basrur
yeskay
http://in.rediff.com/movies/2003/jun/13chalte.htm
Read the two reviews from India FM and Rediff. Totally contrasting.
Rediff says:
"Shah Rukh hams and haws his way through the film -- biting his lip,
crinkling his eyebrows -- it is oh-so-familiar. He is over the top,
especially as the inebriated Raj who confronts the estranged wife."
Taran Adarsh (IndiaFM), seems to be like Mo/Habshi. He goes on to say,
"CHALTE CHALTE clearly belongs to Shah Rukh Khan, an actor par excellence.
One actually runs out of adjectives and personifications if asked to describe
this performance by the actor. Clearly his most natural and likeable performance
since DILWALE DULHANIYA LE JAYENGE, SRK surrenders himself completely to the
script and delivers a performance that is bound to be a big hit with one and
all."
I wonder who is closer to the truth. Rediff, going by past reviews, seems to be
closer usually.
Kamesh
"yeskay" <yes...@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:3EEA0474...@nowhere.com...
> I wonder who is closer to the truth. Rediff, going by past reviews, seems
to be
> closer usually.
Rediff is bang on target if it says SRK hams and haws all along...Well he is
doing what he knows best.
Maybe the Sum of the parts is better then the parts themselves.
kamesh
Acid
>
> I wish somebody dubs her voice. Her voice is one of the reasons she is not
> well liked. SOmebody here mentioned that her voice is exactly like the
tone you
> hear when you dial out from a PC.
>
Why...I love her voice!:-) It's part of her charm. In any case, dubbing is
an atrocious solution. Only Indian (esp South Indian) and Chinese filmmakers
like to pull such unwarranted cheap tricks on their audience.
Cricketislife!
> Cricketislife! wrote:
>> SRK is very watchable in those roles. Aadi, seen his Raju Ban gaya
>> gentleman and even better 'Kabhi Haan Kabhi Na' where he
>> is good and that movie is very nice.
>>
> Haven't caught either of those. Maybe I should.
Haan, u should esp Kabhi Haan Kabhi Na.. though the heroine is nothing
great to worry about in ur dreams,(the wife of shekar kaporr) but the
movie is good.
> Aditya [Still waiting for information on "Qayamat". The
> lead actress there looks quite stunning, BTW.] Basrur
Whats this Qayamat movie? not heard about it.
I think I will see this Chalte Chalte movie on a VCD. not too excited to
go to the theatres for it. Still havent seen Bhoot, shit!
Aadi, have u seen SHOLAY? if not catch up on dvd/vcd. I loved it. Just
saw after many years. Really good entertainer.
Baradwaj Rangan
> Aditya [Still waiting for information on "Qayamat". The lead actress there
> looks quite stunning, BTW.] Basrur
>
Are you referring to the upcoming Ajay Devgan film? The lead actress
-- the one who comes out of the sea in a bikini -- is ex-Miss India
Neha Dhupia. This film is supposed to be a remake of The Rock, only
this time Mumbai is being threatened by a biological weapon.
Also, Isha(a?) Koppikar is supposed to be playing a woman in love with
two brothers. :)
Acid
Kopikkar (Gopikkar) originates from?
"Baradwaj Rangan" <b_ra...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:c04b79a9.03061...@posting.google.com...
Shishir Yerramilli
> Sorry to digress from the topic, but can someone tell me where the name
> Kopikkar (Gopikkar) originates from?
Konkani ,from Mangalore.
Acid
"Shishir Yerramilli" <yshi...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:370a0b0.03061...@posting.google.com...
yeskay
What do you know ? You say KKKH > Sholay.
Kamesh
>
>
> What do you know ? You say KKKH > Sholay.
KKKH = ????
-k
[did you mean KKHH = Kuchh Kuchh Hota Hai ?]
Acid
entertaining for these films. Can I say that I enjoyed KKHH slightly more or
do I have to lie to make you happy?
"yeskay" <yes...@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:3EEDC81C...@nowhere.com...
Shishir Yerramilli
> I have to say, Konkanis seem to be unreasonably good looking! :-)
I assume you are Konkani!Who do you have in mind besides Isha and
ahem yourself(if indeed you are Konkani).If you are thinking of John
Abraham,many assume he is Konkani but he is in fact half Tamil(father)
and half Irish.
I think Jackie Shroff also has an Irish mother,or is it Dutch?I know
its one of these!Can someone confirm.I know his wife is half Belgian.I
dont mean to go all Deb Shankar or Satya over here but whats up with
the all whiteys in our industry?I am concerned about our image
problem.However blondie Karan Kapoor and his freakishly aquiline
sister Sanjana didnt quite make it in the industry.Though both
remained famous models for Bombay Dyeing I think.
Raghu Jetley
> I think Jackie Shroff also has an Irish mother,or is it Dutch?
No - his wife is 1/2 irish.
he is pukka Indian.
Aditya Basrur
> Sorry to digress from the topic, but can someone tell me
> where the name
> Kopikkar (Gopikkar) originates from?
There are certainly some Koppikars from my community, which is Chitrapur
Saraswat Brahmin. I seem to recall a friend of mine mentioning that Isha
was related to him - so she may well be a Chitrapur Saraswat.
Aditya
<snip>
Sydney Assbasket
Hmm.. I'm pretty sure JS is half Dutch.
I have six locks on my door all in a row. When I go out, I lock every
other one. I figure no matter how long somebody stands there picking
the locks, they are always locking three.
- Elayne Boosler
Remove "bination" to reply.
Digambar Swami
"Sydney Assbasket " <drag...@aol.combination> wrote in message
news:20030616214935...@mb-m02.aol.com...
> >
> >Shishir Yerramilli wrote:
> >> I think Jackie Shroff also has an Irish mother,or is it Dutch?
> >
> >No - his wife is 1/2 irish.
> >he is pukka Indian.
> >
> >
>
> Hmm.. I'm pretty sure JS is half Dutch.
I am pretty sure JS is 100% human.
Thanks everyone.
DS
Sydney Assbasket
>
>I am pretty sure JS is 100% human.
>
>Thanks everyone.
>
>DS
>
Did I ever say he was part lizard????
Arjun Pandit
I dont say KKHH > Sholay, but I love Rani's voice.
Acid
"Shishir Yerramilli" <yshi...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:370a0b0.03061...@posting.google.com...
> "Acid" <ar...@indiamail.com> wrote in message
> > I have to say, Konkanis seem to be unreasonably good looking! :-)
>
> I assume you are Konkani!Who do you have in mind besides Isha and
> ahem yourself(if indeed you are Konkani).If you are thinking of John
> Abraham,many assume he is Konkani but he is in fact half Tamil(father)
> and half Irish.
No, I am not Konkani by hundreds of miles, but I do notice that certain
communities from the Konkan, Maharashtra and Karnataka region seem to be
very good looking, e.g. Isha Kopikkar, Amrita Rao - Konkanis, Madhuri Dixit,
Urmila - Maharashtrans, Sonali Bendre, Aishwarya Rai - Karnatakans. Not to
mention, a few Konkani friends of mine. No offence to anyone, just something
I noticed. I don't know anything about JA and never once thought he is
particularly Konkani or particularly white. He looks reasonably Indian.
I hope you don't think this is a 'white' issue, because I don't think any of
these ladies have any recent, traceable, 'white' (not counting Aryan)
ancestry.
Aditya Basrur
> yeskay <yes...@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> news:<3EEDC81C...@nowhere.com>...
>> Acid wrote:
>>>
>>> "yeskay" <yes...@nowhere.com> wrote in message
>>> news:3EE9D449...@nowhere.com...
>>>
>>>> I wish somebody dubs her voice. Her voice is one of the
>>>> reasons she is not
>>>> well liked. SOmebody here mentioned that her voice is
>>>> exactly like the
>> tone you
>>>> hear when you dial out from a PC.
>>>>
>>> Why...I love her voice!:-) It's part of her charm. In
>>> any case, dubbing is
>>> an atrocious solution. Only Indian (esp South Indian)
>>> and Chinese filmmakers
>>> like to pull such unwarranted cheap tricks on their audience.
>>
>> What do you know ? You say KKKH > Sholay.
>
> I dont say KKHH > Sholay, but I love Rani's voice.
I agree entirely. Rani's voice is fantastic. A little husky.
Sophisticated. It gives the sense of a woman of the world, a mature
heroine who knows what she wants. One of the best scenes in "Chalte
Chalte" is when Shah Rukh comes home early from work early, pretending
to be the neighbour. Rani plays along and says things like "my husband
stays really late at work" etc. Shah Rukh is shocked. Rani really steals
that scene. The way she plays the coquette is something to be seen.
I don't know why CIL needs kissing scenes when people like Rani grace
the screen. Everything you want, and more. In "Chalte Chalte", the shade
of cyan in which they dress her for the plane trip is fantastic. There's
something about her walk which speaks volumes. The swing of the hips,
the lilt of the brow ...
Aditya
Off to have a cold shower.
Cricketislife!
> I don't know why CIL needs kissing scenes when people like Rani grace
> the screen.
Arre Baba! Mine was just an curious enquiry which doesnt offset what u
have written at all, and btw wouldnt u love if ur hip shaking rani
indulges in a passionate kiss scene, classily made?
I would. If u dont u can stay in ur cold shower, doing god knows what!
Rani M had a kissing scene in Hey Ram with Kamal btw.
Arjun Pandit
> Aditya Basrur wrote:
> > I don't know why CIL needs kissing scenes when people like Rani grace
> > the screen.
> > Off to have a cold shower.
> -----
>
> Arre Baba! Mine was just an curious enquiry which doesnt offset what u
> have written at all, and btw wouldnt u love if ur hip shaking rani
> indulges in a passionate kiss scene, classily made?
> I would. If u dont u can stay in ur cold shower, doing god knows what!
> Rani M had a kissing scene in Hey Ram with Kamal btw.
Are you really in Chennai/India? If so how have you missed the
publicity of the 17 smooches movie Khwaish that released recently and
also disappeared from the theatres quickly.
>
> .
Shishir Yerramilli
Sign up as another fan of RM.I also adore Rani's voice,its
incredibly earthy and sensuous IMO.
Cricketislife!
Are you really in Chennai/India? If so how have you missed the
publicity of the 17 smooches movie Khwaish that released recently and
also disappeared from the theatres quickly
I did remember seeing the promos though not much. I seem to have missed
Qayamat promos as well that Aditya keeps talking about. But ya, I am in
India all right, today isnt it Agneepath in Set Max at 9.00 pm?
JR
> >
> >Shishir Yerramilli wrote:
> >> I think Jackie Shroff also has an Irish mother,or is it Dutch?
> >
> >No - his wife is 1/2 irish.
> >he is pukka Indian.
> >
> >
>
> Hmm.. I'm pretty sure JS is half Dutch.
>
I thought his mother was Russian. In any case, I think his mother is
supposedly non-Indian.
JR
Aditya Basrur
> "Shishir Yerramilli" <yshi...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:370a0b0.03061...@posting.google.com...
>
> wah!!!. Shishir/Arjun Pandit and me agreeing on something.
> Rani must be truly great.
>
> rk-
I'm happy to accept the credit for bringing you together.
Aditya
Rani's #1 fan
Shishir Yerramilli
Some Konkanis have Portuguese ancestries,however probably of these
of these are Christian.I brought JA because many(not in RAMLI) though
thought he was so and I segwayed off into the whiteness issue.I dont
really beleive in this Aryan/Dravidian theories but to play the devils
advocate I will say that Aishwarya Rai is Tulu speaking from the Bant
community,which is considered Dravidian.Many historians including
Vincent Smith and Nilakantha Sastri consider Maharashtrians as
Dravidian.
Shishir Yerramilli
In the song "Tauba,hum hi to hain tumhare" ,at one point Rani very
sensuously bites SRKs ear and I was like "Damn ,thats a lucky ear!"
>
> Aditya
> Off to have a cold shower.
Shishir...also off to cold....oops...now I really now a shower ;-)
Acid
someone looks more Indian than another. But I do notice that many upper
castes do look different from the rest of the community. To some extent,
this lends a little credibility to AIT. I don't think there is so much
racial divide between North and South as there is between the castes all
over India. Correct me if I am wrong, but Aishwarya Rai, Kirti Reddy, Shilpa
Shetty, Hema Malini, Rekha are all upper castes in their respective
communities. Similarly, low castes from North India are seldom seen in
leading roles in Hindi films.
Cricketislife!
> In the song "Tauba,hum hi to hain tumhare" ,at one point Rani very
> sensuously bites SRKs ear and I was like "Damn ,thats a lucky ear!"
AGree! and her voice is ooh la la!
Listen her speak a few bengali lines in Hey Ram in the song 'Janmon ki
jwala' before Asha takes over. Really nice!
Cricketislife!
Agneepath is just started in Set Max btw, I am going to place myself
before the telly.
Kamesh
> Agneepath is just started in Set Max btw, I am going to place myself
> before the telly.
bummer ;-)
-k
Baradwaj Rangan
Chalte Chalte
Baradwaj Rangan
(C) The Economic Times, Madras Plus - June 19, 2003
Priya (Rani Mukerji) sees a stuffed toy, one of those prizes for
shooting down targets from a distance, in an amusement park. Raj (Shah
Rukh Khan) volunteers to get it for her, and you think he'll knock
down all targets because he's the hero. But his aim is terrible, he
readily admits he'll never be able to do it, and when he does finally
get the toy, it's through dogged perseverance and charm.
This sequence beautifully sums up the Shah Rukh Khan persona. When not
playing a stuttering psychopath, he's the urban male who doesn't need
muscles and machismo to get the girl. We've seen 'soft' heroes before
- Amol Palekar, Farooque Shaikh - but never a true-blue superstar so
much in touch with his feminine side, and it's refreshing.
But does he always have to cry so goddamned much? Aren't there other
valid expressions of deep emotion? Chalte Chalte begins airily, a
fairy-tale romance in which the hero falls for the heroine instantly
because there's an ajeeb si chamak in her eyes, and follows her all
the way to Greece - where she's getting engaged to Sameer (Jas Arora)
- to woo her into his life. But post marriage, the film is awash in a
sea of glycerine - Rani turns on the waterworks too - and by the time
you've seen Shah Rukh spluttering and, yes, sobbing, in the protracted
climax, you've lost any love you had for this feather-light feature.
Which is really too bad because Chalte Chalte has its moments,
interesting enough if not really inspired. It has a definite plus in
Rani Mukerji, who looks terrific and reprises her housewife role like
she's never heard of Saathiya. It has Shah Rukh who, as always, is
kabhi charming, kabhie hamming. It has catchy Jatin-Lalit/Aadesh
Shrivastava songs that lend themselves to energetic picturisations.
And, most of all, it has a well-etched battle-of-the-sexes premise.
Priya's family lives in Greece. Raj is resolutely middle-class. She's
a fashion designer who attends society dos where people wear Versace.
He owns a transport company and hobnobs with the blue-collar likes of
Satish Shah. She's a neatness freak. His place for things is wherever
they land when he flings them across the house. She's oh-so-propah.
He's... well, he's Shah Rukh Khan - impulsive, mad, a grown-up version
of a child who's had nothing but sugar for breakfast, lunch and
dinner. Essentially, she's from Venus and he's from Mars and the point
is to see if theirs is a match made in heaven or a mistake of galactic
proportions.
For a while, Aziz Mirza makes you care, with his empathy for the
underdogs of society that surround the leads - Nukkad buffs will
readily recognise players from, and events seeming right out of, the
series - and his ear for unforced humour. (When Priya tries to brush
off Raj explaining that Sameer is a childhood friend, he quips, "Ab
tum mujhe bachpan mein nahin mili to isme mera kya qasoor hai?") The
offbeat casting of Johny Lever as a drunk pining for a lost love is
precisely the sort of tragicomic Mirza touch that works wonderfully.
However, melodrama isn't the director's forte, especially when the
film turns into a Raja Hindustani-Saathiya combination with an
Aashiqui climax. Raj and Priya squabble, make up, squabble some more,
make up again. Yes, this is what marriage is like, but the events
causing the friction are so contrived that the resulting emotional
crises aren't at all affecting.
So when Priya tells Raj, "Tumne hamaari shaadi ka ek tamaasha kar diya
hai," the comment appears to be really directed at Mirza. He takes a
marriage and makes a heavy-duty spectacle out of it that's partly
endearing, mostly exasperating.
virenpratapsingh
As usual, SPOT on! couldnt agree more!
Few days ago I made a post about directors like Darshan brothers..you
replied to it I think too...anyway, what I was saying is, I thought
that the Darshan broithers, Satish Kaushik and Indra Kumar are the
kings of untoerable melodrama...but boy, Aziz Mirza overtakes them
here..well almost..
after a good and decent first half, I failed to understand what made
aziz mirza go that way...and that party scene or the one where he gets
drunk or the finale at the airport...full untolerable melodrama and
hamming too in those scenes.
I have to say, I hope after this people realize what a "treasure
trove"(using your words) Armaan really is...