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Rahul
Reviews
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)
THE 1990's definition of the class Hindi film.
If you are reading this review to see if the film is worth seeing, where have you been hiding for the last few years?
This film is brought from the stables of Yash Chopra. As you may have guessed it is a 3 way story. Raj (Shahrukh Khan) is a modern Indian guy living in London with his father, played by Anupam Kher. He decides to go on a Eurorail holiday with a couple of his friends and easily gets his rich father's approval. Simran (Kajol) also lives in London but is of much more traditional upbringing, in part due to her strict father (Amrish Puri). Her father starts to reckon that it is time for her to get married. She has no option but to agree. However, she asks her father for the chance to see Europe once with her friends and Amrish Puri is not keen on this at all. Much persuasion follows and reluctantly he agrees.
As luck would have it, Raj and Simran and both of their sets of friends end up on the same train and visiting the same places in Europe. At first she detests him. However, she eventually becomes stranded in a remote part of Switzerland with him. All their friends are in the next location. Time passes, songs are sung and lo and behold the two begin to fall in love.
The first part of the film ends as the two characters are back in London with their respective families. Amrish Puri overhears Simran talking about the events of the holiday and hits the roof. He packs the bags and takes his family back to the small village in Punjab where they come from. Raj is spurred on by Anupam Kher who says if something is worth having, he must chase after it.
The second part of the film consists of Raj trying to win the trust and confidence of Simran's Punjabi family. It consists of several excellent comedy and song scenes. I will leave you to guess what happens in the end.
This film does not really warrant superlatives. It is better than excellent. It is as near perfect as we are likely to ever see. Like I say, if you have not seen this film, where have you been? The soundtrack is classic. Everyone knows the words to "Tujhe dekha to yeh jaana sanam" and "Mehndi laga ke rakhna."
The performance of the actors is first class. This really is the film that took Shahrukh to superstardom. Kajol also gives an incredible performance. This is the role that really made her name and deservedly so. Anupam Kher does a top comedy role and all the other actors have put in a magnificent performance.
This really is a "feel-good" movie. If you have not seen it yet, make it your next priority to see the film. If you have, watch it again! This film, along with Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and more recently Kuch Kuch Hota Hai are the quintessential 1990's definition of excellent Hindi cinema. Take your family, as refreshingly, there is no sex, bad language or violence in any of the three films.
Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998)
Comic return to form for Amitabh
This is a David Dhavan slapstick comedy starring Govinda as usual but also Amitabh in his third come back film after Mrityudaata and Major Saab. Although the other two have not been so succesful, I think this one will be. Govinda and Amitabh star as two police inspectors under the auspices of their senior, Anupam Kher. The beginning part is very reminiscent of the Will Smith film Bad Boys. Basically, the two heroes are sent to investigate a series of murders which have involved the bad guy Paresh Rawal. For a string of reasons, one of the main witnesses (Ramiya) will only speak to Pyare Mohan (Govinda) but at the time only Inspector Arjun (Amitabh) is available, so Amitabh has to assume the identity of Govinda's character and take the lady to Pyare's flat where he has to pretend to be Pyare. Obviously as a result, the real Pyare has to go to live in Arjun's house, where Arjun's mother and younger sister live. To spice matters up Govinda is in love with Arjun's sister (played by Raveena Tandon) and Amitabh is not at all pleased by this.
All seems to be going well until just before the interval when Bade Miya (Amitabh again in a dual role) and Chote Miya (Govinda in a dual role) arrive. These two are petty theives from the village. Inevitably, confusion ensues as the two sets of characters are mistaken. Our inspector heroes are suspended for a string of misdemeanours which they have not been a party to and they cannot understand why! All of this leads up to a climactic ending.
This film is very funny. It won't change your life or make you think but it will definitely keep you entertained for its duration. Amitabh is on top form. His comedy is up to Don or Laawaris standard and his dancing is great. He may not have the muscles of Sunny or Shahrukh but he is convincing in his action scenes. Govinda, however, is fantastic. He is now a master of this type of role after the likes of Raja Babu and Coolie no 1. Our female leads do not have much to do, but there is a very welcome guest appearance from Madhuri, including the song "Makhna". This is a treat for film fans as it is the first combined screen appearance of Amitabh and Madhuri.
In short, I highly recommend this film but only to those who watch films to be entertained rather than educated or to have their lives changed!
Naseeb (1981)
An all time classic
This film is a gem. It has to certainly be an all time classic for people of my generation who grew up in the 70's and 80's. To those who live in England, it is of special significance as it was shown on Channel 4 a few times in the mid and late eighties.
I cannot begin to describe the story as it is quite complex. It basically involves a lottery ticket and how it changes three friends. The story continues into a heroes versus villains struggle and ends, as usual, with good winning. However, just listen to the cast list. Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor and Shatrughan Sinha are our main three heroes. Kimi Katkar, Reena Roy and Hema Malini are our heroines. "Good guys" include Pran and Amjad Khan. Villains include Kader Khan, Shakti Kapoor, Prem Chopra, and of course Amrish Puri in a commanding performance as "Don." As if the film were short of film stars, there is an EXCELLENT film sequence for the song "John Jani Janardan" (a classic for the age). It involves various actors and actresses in guest appearances, including Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor, Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra, Simi and many many others.
Other songs in the film are also extremely memorable. In particular, the final picturization "Rang Jamake Jayenge" is an instant classic.
What can I tell you about this film if you have not already seen it? It is a classic. Apart from all the above, Amitabh is on TOP form. This film is unprecedented in the number of top stars that have appeared in it. Although the story is not novel, it works. Songs are fantastic. If you haven't seen it yet, make it a priority. If you have, it's time to watch it again...
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)
An excellent film - well worth watching.
This film continues the tradition of the romantic family comedy started by HAHK and DDLJ. I dare say it is just as good as either of those two. It stars Sharukh Khan as Rahul (a favourite film name of his these days!), Kajol as Anjali and Rani Mukherjee as Tina. The film starts as a flashback with Rahul at Rani's funeral. We learn that she has died after giving birth to a daughter (confusingly, also called Anjali). The film then goes forward eight years before flashing back to college days with the excuse that Tina has left her daughter Anjali with a set of letters. It is now her eighth birthday and Tina proposes to tell her all...
The film then proceeds to a typical Yash Chopra three way love story. I have to admit, more than one tear came to my eye during this. The interval arrives with young Anjali promising her deceased mother that she will unite Rahul with the other Anjali. The rest is typical Hindi romantic stuff. However, don't let this put you off. This film is excellent. It warrants comparison only with DDLJ and HAHK, not with weaker recent offerings such as Dil to Pagal Hai. The costumes are top class, the songs are the best I've heard in a long long time and the story is very strong. I feel as if I would recommend this picture to EVERYONE, from kids to great grandparents. Also, Rani Mukherjee deserves special mention for a very strong first performance.
If you decide to take the time out to watch this film, you WILL be richly rewarded. Oh and by the way, did I mention it is incredibly funny too?