Being an Indian, I am always baffled by the ignorance of Bollywood film makers about the globalization of cinema. I really really want to like these films and have refrained from commenting negatively on ANY of them just out of respect... but this one was the the straw that broke the camel's back. I apologize in advance for the scathing and sarcastic nature of this commentary and the sure-to-follow tirade about Bollywood film makers.
Re: The filmmakers. Do they really think Indians don't watch American films? (You reading this Mr. Mahesh Bhatt?) Do they really think that we can't tell when scenes are plain STOLEN from American films? There are at least three scenes in "Mujhse Shaadi Karogi" that borrow liberally from "Anger Management" starring Jack Nicholson and Adam Sandler. The film also samples scenes from "Meet the Parents" starring Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro. Their two roles are portrayed in this film by Mr. Salman "Do I take my shirt off yet" Khan and Mr. Amrish "Yet another film where I play a retired Punjabi Army General/Colonel who disapproves of my daughter's choice of spouse" Puri.
While the story is not an exact duplicate of either "Parents" or "Management", the characters in this film are so derivative, formulaic and clichéd that you could have thrown them in any Hindi romantic comedy. I wonder if the producers throw darts at a list of character attributes for "HERO ROLE" and "HEROINE ROLE" when coming up with plots. This film even has the overacting sidekick thrown in for comic relief... although I guess Johnny Lever had a scheduling conflict. Instead, they cast some other guy in a clever "double" role as twin brothers - An astrologer and his "twin"... uh... well... a thuggish motorcycle gang leader. (Yes, you read that correctly.)
Nothing "new" in this film - the usual sacharine acting which keeps the glycerine stock high in Mumbai... Those pathetic song-dance numbers which make one thankful for the existence of the Fast Forward button... and your garden variety soulless love-triangle storyline. I think the script would have had better use if they printed it on toilet paper. I can't believe some of these lines were said with a straight face by the actors.
Here's a question for you educated viewers: Is it any more irritating when a film soundtrack has to cue you how to feel? Every time Akshay Kumar does something slimy we are treated to the whispers of "Wicked Sunny!!" over and over (with another horrible attempt at "copying" 50-Cent's music from his hit "At the Club"). It made my teeth itch!!
I wish more films like the novel "Dil Chahta Hai" were made. At least the predictability factor is a little subdued in that film! Bollywood is the most prolific film producing industry - but it is evident that quantity is DEFINITELY not indicative of quality. And please, my Bollywood friends... stop copying formulaic American films and scenes. I think M. Night Shyamalan and Gurinder Chadha have demonstrated that Indians can be creative without "borrowing". This applies to film plots as well as soundtracks! I wonder if Roy Orbison is getting royalties for "Pretty Woman" from the "Kal Ho Naa Ho" songwriters.
To summarize, I would rather drink a quart of paint thinner than see this film again. It's disgusting, devoid of any true emotion and worst of all - it's "humor" is just artificial and derivative. I wanted to throw things at the screen and didn't laugh once. (I groaned plenty though).
Yes, perhaps I take some if this too seriously... I know the movie is just supposed to be "fun". It tries hard to be that... I know it's just a romantic comedy but I am beginning to loathe the complacence and mediocrity turned out by the Bollywood film industry which consistently underestimates the intelligence of its audience. I just had to write this. I refuse to hold Indian films to a different standard simply because they are Indian.
I'm really cheering for all of you in Bollywood to get it together and make something worthy of international notice. They should be making American versions of OUR films, not the other way around! Turn off MTV for new ideas and realize that the lead actress' navel is not a crucial plot device. Adapt some novels to the screen... scan our history and tell some of the truly endearing human stories.
Re: The filmmakers. Do they really think Indians don't watch American films? (You reading this Mr. Mahesh Bhatt?) Do they really think that we can't tell when scenes are plain STOLEN from American films? There are at least three scenes in "Mujhse Shaadi Karogi" that borrow liberally from "Anger Management" starring Jack Nicholson and Adam Sandler. The film also samples scenes from "Meet the Parents" starring Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro. Their two roles are portrayed in this film by Mr. Salman "Do I take my shirt off yet" Khan and Mr. Amrish "Yet another film where I play a retired Punjabi Army General/Colonel who disapproves of my daughter's choice of spouse" Puri.
While the story is not an exact duplicate of either "Parents" or "Management", the characters in this film are so derivative, formulaic and clichéd that you could have thrown them in any Hindi romantic comedy. I wonder if the producers throw darts at a list of character attributes for "HERO ROLE" and "HEROINE ROLE" when coming up with plots. This film even has the overacting sidekick thrown in for comic relief... although I guess Johnny Lever had a scheduling conflict. Instead, they cast some other guy in a clever "double" role as twin brothers - An astrologer and his "twin"... uh... well... a thuggish motorcycle gang leader. (Yes, you read that correctly.)
Nothing "new" in this film - the usual sacharine acting which keeps the glycerine stock high in Mumbai... Those pathetic song-dance numbers which make one thankful for the existence of the Fast Forward button... and your garden variety soulless love-triangle storyline. I think the script would have had better use if they printed it on toilet paper. I can't believe some of these lines were said with a straight face by the actors.
Here's a question for you educated viewers: Is it any more irritating when a film soundtrack has to cue you how to feel? Every time Akshay Kumar does something slimy we are treated to the whispers of "Wicked Sunny!!" over and over (with another horrible attempt at "copying" 50-Cent's music from his hit "At the Club"). It made my teeth itch!!
I wish more films like the novel "Dil Chahta Hai" were made. At least the predictability factor is a little subdued in that film! Bollywood is the most prolific film producing industry - but it is evident that quantity is DEFINITELY not indicative of quality. And please, my Bollywood friends... stop copying formulaic American films and scenes. I think M. Night Shyamalan and Gurinder Chadha have demonstrated that Indians can be creative without "borrowing". This applies to film plots as well as soundtracks! I wonder if Roy Orbison is getting royalties for "Pretty Woman" from the "Kal Ho Naa Ho" songwriters.
To summarize, I would rather drink a quart of paint thinner than see this film again. It's disgusting, devoid of any true emotion and worst of all - it's "humor" is just artificial and derivative. I wanted to throw things at the screen and didn't laugh once. (I groaned plenty though).
Yes, perhaps I take some if this too seriously... I know the movie is just supposed to be "fun". It tries hard to be that... I know it's just a romantic comedy but I am beginning to loathe the complacence and mediocrity turned out by the Bollywood film industry which consistently underestimates the intelligence of its audience. I just had to write this. I refuse to hold Indian films to a different standard simply because they are Indian.
I'm really cheering for all of you in Bollywood to get it together and make something worthy of international notice. They should be making American versions of OUR films, not the other way around! Turn off MTV for new ideas and realize that the lead actress' navel is not a crucial plot device. Adapt some novels to the screen... scan our history and tell some of the truly endearing human stories.