Review: Dil Kya Kare (minor plot spoilers)
R. Bharat Rao
will detract from your enjoyment of the film, but if you are paranoid
about
spoiler, read no more.
Mahima Choudhary & Ajay Devgan are a happy-happy-joy-joy couple,
with their delightful 7 year old daughter -- actually, the child actress
deserves special mention. While she is annoying in parts, overall the
director does a good job in extracting a reasonable performance from
her. (In most Hindi movies, you feel like banging your head against
a wall, when you see how children are depicted.)
The only cloud on their idyllic life is the mysterious "auntie" who
keeps visiting their daughter and giving her expensive gifts, when
they are not around. Has she got kidnapping in mind? Her name
is "Nandita Rai" and neither Ajay nor Mahima have heard of her.
Well, as is obvious to anyone who even bothered to see the credits,
Kajol is "Nandita Rai", and being Kajol, her intentions are certainly
well-intentioned and mean no harm to the child. And its when Ajay
returns home and confronts her that the situation is set up..
There is a major plot twist about an hour into the movie -- and even
though its totally far-fetched from a believability standpoint, I'm
willing to accept it. Because its a basic premise that you have to
buy, else the movie won't make sense. However, there are several
other plot holes and well-known cliche devices.
The picture does keep you guessing about what's going to happen.
Contrary to usual fine acting, its Ajay Devgan who lets this film
down by providing a very ambivalent wishy-washy performance.
(Thats how his character was written.) And even Kajol is quite
lack-lustre. While she does impress me with her ability and
willingness to go up against beautiful women and be seen as drab
in comparison (first half of "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" and virtually
all of this film"), she just didn't bring any passion and will into her
role. And just when you think the film has resolved one
way, the end leaves you guessing. And there was one decision
made by Ajay at the end, which just is flat out impossible to
accept -- as I said, too many plot holes.
Mahima Choudhary is simply gorgeous -- not quite the staquesque
beauty of an Aishwarya Rai -- but a knock-out figure (which she
displays to full advantage), and she brings a lot of passion
to her role, especially her scenes in the second half as the wronged
wife. She certainly steals the acting highlights in this film, despite
going up against two much more acclaimed actors. Chandrachud
plays Ajay's friend who has coveted Mahima for a long time, and again
he is nothing special -- wavering between being loyal and opportunistic.
The songs are quite unspecial -- except for the title number, which
is reasonable. My wife's opinion, and one which has a fair amount
of truth, was that the film would have worked a lot better with
Kajol as the wife, and Mahima Choudhary as the "other" woman.
The movie is not a total waste. Mahima Choudhary, is of course,
very easy on the eyes, and actually has potential as a fine actress
(I hereby reverse the opinion I formed of her after "Daag"), and..
There is one dance sequence, where Ajay first dances with Kajol
on the dance floor (and while I *love* Kajol's acting ability, some
one please tell that girl that she can't really dance), and then again
dances with Mahima in their bedroom --- that scene is one of the
most sensual and erotic I have seen in recent Hindi cinema.
All said and done, wait for this one to come out on video, or
rent (don't buy) the DVD.
Bharat
--
R. Bharat Rao, Adaptive Information & Signal Processing Dept.
Siemens Corporate Research, 755 College Rd, Princeton,NJ 08540
E-mail:bha...@scr.siemens.com, Ph:(609)734-6531(O) -6565(F)
"These opinions are mine, not those of Siemens."
subina khaneja
whether Ajay Devgan is feeling sorry for Kajol or is lusting for her. Only
at the end does he resolve the issue without giving any indication
throughout the movie of a man torn between two choices. The rather awaited
movie leaves a flat taste at the end since it fails to carry the viewer to
any emotional high or low. The only charcter which has a strong identity
and depiction is Mahima's.
R. Bharat Rao
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subina khaneja wrote:
You said it -- even the end is very unsatisfying.. When he makes the
mad dash back to the train station to see Kajol leave, does that mean he
really does love her, but because of his sense of duty to his wife, he
will sacrifice his love?
Or is he just saying "thanks" to her for leaving the child?
I couldn't decide if he 1) really loved Mahima (based on what he said
in the script) 2) really loved Kajol, but was obligated to stay with
Mahima because of all the sacrifices she made (based on the ending),
or didn't really give a damn either way (based on his acting:-).
Mahima's character and acting was superb, I do agree....
And why did he agree to give up the child anyway? Was he just
sorry for Kajol, or did he love her, and realizing that she had
nothing now, wanted to give her something at least.. Anyway,
that part is completely unsatisfying.. As a parent, I know that
*nothing* would allow me to give up my child... period.