Refusing to be swayed by popular opinion that the movie sucks, I will admit quite confidently that I was entertained by this film. There were a lot of facets to the movie that I enjoyed, and a lot of other facets that I have chosen to forgive considering that (a) Its a Karan Johar movie and (b) Its Bollywood.
When one sits to watch a Karan Johar + SRK starrer + Bollywood movie , one must be ready for an emotional experience. If you refuse to be absorbed by the movie, it’s exactly what you will get – an unsatisfactory experience. I believe that the Director is responsible for only about 50% of your movie experience. The rest is really up to you.
[ Disclaimer – If you have not watched KANK and are planning to, stop reading here ]
What I really thought was impressive:
* A popular, mainstream director like KJ stepping away from the traditional ‘marriage is everything’ belief and actually bringing in a very bold theme : ‘ What if I find the love of my life after I’m married? ‘
Watching revered Idols like SRK justifying or explaining his extra-marital affair, was a pretty awesome thing . I am happy for Indian cinema, and this is the right time to attack the traditional Indian mindset. If India needs to change , this is the right way to go.
* Very realistic. Nothing too far fetched. And the human emotions were BANG on target.
When Preity Zinta hears of SRK’s affair -> Her first question is ‘Did you love her?’ .
When Abhishek hears of Rani’s affair -> His first question is ‘Did you sleep with him?’
The above two lines speak a great deal about the sexes . KJ couldn’t be more spot on.
* Amazing performance by Abhishek Bachan. WOW is all I can say about his acting. I was never a fan of his, but I think I will be keeping an eye for his movies henceforth.
* Great lines, great script. Every other line in the movie could be made the ‘Quote of the day’. Or could at least demand 5 minutes of your thought each.
* Great directing, great depiction.
Where the movie could have been better
* SRK – paled in AB’s shadow. He had a weak role.
* Dragging ending – It’s obvious that Rani and SRK will end up together. Get it over with!
* Big B shouldn’t have given Fundas . He was a playboy in the beginning, and should have continued that way. His role was unrealistic -> Being with hundreds of women, and giving love fundas to everyone as well as shedding a tear or two from time to time. Unrealistic. I was hoping to see this icon of indian cinema continue being a brash and perverted old man. But they redeemed his image by the time the movie ends. I was disappointed.
Overall, if you are the type who watches only thrillers / comedies , DO NOT watch. If you don’t mind the occasional drama , I think you will leave the theater satisfied.
Realm Of Randomness 
I soooo totally agree with you… faarkk..
exactly what you said, it was a given that this was gonna be a bollywood movie.. so ignore all the impossible coincidences, the sudden tear-jerking music, the exaggerated stuff…
the emotions were, as you said, bang on! man, that’s the best part of the movie. i love a movie for it’s realism, and especially emotional reactions, and this was so right there.. some differences here and there.. and the extra-marital love affair is so plausible, quite natural actually.. i liked all the acting, but maybe i should be applauding the director for directing the acting :).. i was hoping for an ending in which they actually return to their respective spouses…. it was unrealistic that you spend 3 years without making an attempt at reconciliation.. i thought that, give it a few months, the spouses would forgive them and all would be well.
And like most of these karan whoever movies, i come out feeling like i’m in love … but not sure with whom :).. maybe rani mukherjee :P
Comment by erw — August 16, 2006 @ 8:37 pm |
glad you liked it bro :) <br/><br/>Of course deep down everyone including me was hoping for a forgive- and – forget ending which would be quite rosy. But that would just be too cliched and would play right into the hands of one’s expectations of Bollywood movies – Return to the marriage, and happy ending. <br/><br/>Am very glad Karan Johar did not go down that easy path. I think in a way, he helped ‘strengthen’ the concept of marriage too … because he showed that even a single slip in a marriage ought not to be forgiven.
Comment by RAndomizer — August 18, 2006 @ 5:30 pm |
strenghtened marriage? i guess, in a way… but I think he did more damage than good… I mean, it’s like the americans, who live through marriages always knowing that divorce is an option, and statistically likely…. movies like this will encourage people to belive that divorce is not as taboo as society has led us to believe. which is not a good thing.. but, come to think of it, there are a good percentage of people out there (especially women) who are probably in very shitty marriages and really need a way out.
Comment by erw — August 21, 2006 @ 12:22 am |
yea i think he did strengthen the ‘concept’ , but did do damage by giving married couples the thought that ‘something else might be out there’ . <br/><br/>When I say he ‘strengthened’ it, I mean that the founding principle of marriage is that you have only each other and no one else. The minute that is broken, the whole concept ought to and should crash. And it did, for both the couples in the movie. <br/><br/>So i kinda liked that funda.
Comment by Randomizer — August 21, 2006 @ 5:20 pm |
hey dude. we don’t know each other. i’m not an MITian. but my room-mate is. Vikram Gill. i found your blog through his blog only.
Comment by intendo — August 22, 2006 @ 6:16 am |
I liked concept that if you are going to a KJ + bollywood movie you should set your expectations right. I liked Abhishek Bacchan. I liked some scenes.
Liked Abhishek and Preity much more than Rani and SRK. :) Which was interesting in a Kram_is_a_closet_conservative kinda way.
But when a movie is that long you better like some parts.
Unfortunately, most of the movie was painful. Glad you liked it though.
Kram
P.S: OTOH, I LOVED Omkara.
Comment by Karthik — August 28, 2006 @ 7:22 pm |
I completely agree with ur analysis…n the point erwin mentioned..”… like every KJ movie..i come out with the feeling of being in love..not sure with whom…”!!
Comment by malavika — September 2, 2006 @ 9:11 am |