Yeh Album Hai Hit Hit!
Finally, the album we've all been waiting for is out and it doesn't disappoint! There's something for everybody. There's some typical Punjabi/Arabic, some Reggae/R&B/Hip Hop, some Electronic/Dance, some Pop/Rock, even some Sufi, and some rural/rustic Indian styles – a lot of fusion and variety.

Something that stands out in this album is its lyrics, which suit each song individually; they are completely different in style and flavour.
Sahir Khan – the Movie Star’s songs have the typical flowery poetry used in Hindi film songs. Marjaani has typically Punjabi, "hero" like lyrics. Love Mera Hit Hit has Southie-inspired fast, wordy lyrics. The Ae Aa O lyrics are flashy, International and grand, and You Get Me Rockin & Reeling has quite a bit of urban rap and English lyrics. All these perfectly represent the music that we see today.
On the other hand, the lyrics to the songs on Billu the Barber and his friends are more simplistic, yet with more depth.
They aren't loud, "filmi" and over the top like the Sahir Khan songs' lyrics, they are more honest, modest and heartfelt.

This clear differentiation between the types of language used for each of the main characters, shows how the ordinary person has a more interesting and pure love story, deeper than what you hear in even the most romantic movie song lyrics. While the movie star in his movies expresses his love by saying that his lover has got him "Rockin & Reeling" and given him "A Wonderful Feeling" with a lot of fancy rap and rhymes, the ordinary man says that he finds his wife lovable the way she is - the way she chews her fingernails, or the way she talks.

Coming to the actual music, Marjaani and Love Mera Hit Hit are clearly the tracks that attract you first and stay with you the longest.
Marjaani -10/10
This is one of those catchy songs that instantly grab your attention, right from the first beat. Sukhwinder, once again has created a chart-topping song with his melodious voice and energetic singing. Sunidhi supports him fantastically with her equally powerful and dynamic singing. This song has an interesting blend of Punjabi and Arabic styles, with a unique mix of traditional instruments and percussion. If you hear the background sounds closely, you hear a constant lower-pitched hum with every line, even more in the chorus, which gives an extra depth and hold to the song. The song on the whole is very BIG, larger than life, with grand quality.
Love Mera Hit Hit 10/10
This is another catchy number in the album, which captivates you with its powerful techno beats and rhythm, combined with interesting, softer flute elements. Neeraj Shridhar’s unique voice and singing leaves a lasting impression, followed by Tulsi Kumar’s remarkably velvety and pleasant voice (different from her usually shrill tone). The rapid recitation of the unusual lyrics makes the entire song sound exciting and even repeatable to the listener. This song transports you as you get involved with its lyrical plot and unique sounds.
You Get Me Rockin & Reeling - 7.5/10
This R&B/Hip Hop number is purely for lovers of these styles of Western music. It has catchy beats, a pleasant melody and a more relaxed or "chilled out" feel to it. Neeraj Shridhar is once again rendering a style he does best in. Though the rap portions could have been better spaced, or perhaps kept to a minimum, the song still has a pleasant quality. The Video Edit version featuring Dominic along with Neeraj is better, as Dominic has a silky, smooth and stylized voice, ideal for such a tone and setting.
Ae Aa O - 8.5/10
This "SUPERSTAR" song wonderfully represents Sahir Khan - King Khan. Not only does it portray him as the Superstar of India, but also as this larger than life, unstoppable force; this demigod (that Indian movie stars are often made into). KK does a wonderful job with his strong voice and great range. The guitar and drums are loud and intense, and the cheering voices of the chorus singers create a sense of excitement, and perfectly represent a scene at a live concert.
Jaoon Kahaan - 8/10
This song stands out in the album with its emotional and rather somber tone. Rahal Fateh Ali Khan is famous for his soulful ghazals and Sufi-styled ballets, and once again he makes an intricate melody sound natural and effortless. Apart from the strong beats, the unique part is the poetry, which is in a way, philosophical.
Billoo Bhayankar - 9/10
It is almost unbelievable that Pritam could have composed such a song, as he is known to make the most modern-styled and fast music. The simplicity and innocence of this song makes it endearing. All the instruments and beats used are rustic and simplistic, yet vibrant and pleasant to the ears. Additionally, the voices used are fresh. Ajay Jhingaran is wonderfully hilarious with his funny pronunciation and lively voice. Raghuveer Yadav stands out with clever dialogues in the climax, where he urges the village folks to refer to Billu as, "Billu Barber" with respect. The fact that the song has a strong North Indian dialect and colloquial language does not stop it from being appealing to everyone.
Khudaya Khair - 8/10
The lyrics are simple and sweet, and the singing is mellow and soft. With this song Soham has shown that he can sing even the most simplistic songs beautifully. The melody is similar to that of You Get Me Rockin & Reeling, perhaps depicting a comparison between a movie love story and a real life love story, since Khudaya Khair is completely in contrast to its "cool", R&B style. This is perhaps not a chart-topper like some of the other songs in this album, but a nice treat for lovers of traditional Bollywood love songs. The second version featuring Abhijeet is perhaps even better, especially for those who love this singer’s soulful singing.
Remixes
Despite it having too many remixes (2 each for every Movie Star song),the album works because each remix has good qualities of its own, and all of them can be listened to during various occasions and in different settings. They all cater to different sections of listeners.
While Marjaani (Electro House) by Sukhwinder and Sunidhi has tremendous techno beats, the Kilogram Balkan Mix has international (Middle Eastern) sounds, and this time features KK and Akriti Kakkar instead. Also, Love Mera Hit Hit (House Mix) is faster and high energy, and Love Mera Hit Hit remixed by DJ Chetas and DJ NYK has some interesting rap portions. These two main track’s remixes are probably the best out of the lot.

To conclude, the album has something for everybody and so Yeh album hai Hit Hit! 9/10

Suri Mein Rab Dikhta Hai <3 *spoilers included*

Is it fair to say that Surinder Sahni - an average, working class, ordinary and rather boring man is the most romantic lover in the world? Yes, it is. Surinder (lovingly known as Suri) is the new face of love in Indian cinema, who makes all the most loved characters of Raj and Rahuls of the past decade seem like ancient history. The story of Suri and the love of his life Taani is a treat for everyone who believes in love. Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi is a one of those movies that makes you laugh, cry, and totally forget about your personal worries and troubles, and transports you into a completely different world; a world full of love, music, happiness, and most of all, of hope.

"There is an extraordinary love story in every ordinary jodi"
In today’s Indian cinema, where filmmakers are busy trying to conjure up either incredibly "hatke" films with strong socially relevant messages and themes to bring about a change in people’s views, or the typical commercial, "formula films" that are bound to be guaranteed hits, it is refreshing to see a simple yet spectacular love story of just the guy next door.
The story of Suri begins when he agrees to marry a beautiful girl, Taani, due to some unforeseen and tragic circumstances. Taani, the girl he fell in love with the minute he set his eyes upon her, brings a spark to his routine, monotonous life, and he feels as though all his wishes have come true. However, even though she makes it clear that she is not capable of loving him or anybody, Suri still accepts her wholeheartedly and hopes to one day receive her love. Rab Ne…’s simple yet magical plot unfolds when after days of sadness and getting accustomed to her new life as a housewife, Taani’s inner spirit rises again when she sees an advertisement for a local dance competition "Dancing Jodi". Suri being the caring husband he is, is pleased to let Taani pursue her one passion in life, dance. This is when the fun begins. Suri, who is desperately craving to see Taani as her old laughing, dancing, happy self decides to change himself into "Raj" – the epitome of hero-ness. With the help of his dear friend and stylist Bobby, the bespectacled, moustached, Suri changes his physical self into a "macho", free-spirited, dynamic one so that he can see Taani as her true self and join her in her passion, by becoming her dance partner.
The entire film is based on one simple concept, "There is an extraordinary love story in every ordinary jodi", and shows that most people in the world are simple-hearted, perhaps even boring, but their love stories are always exceptional and special – love makes even an ordinary life extraordinary. Even with all the flamboyance of Raj, the grace and grand spirit of Taani, and the intense, deep love of Suri, the story feels real, as if you actually know these people, and as if you are them.

*Ordinary people, extraordinary lives*
Taani: She is a sweet girl, who is full of life, loves to dance, and genuinely loves life. Her life seems to be going perfectly and she seems to enrich the lives of others around her with her beautiful spirit. However, in just a few hours she loses everything – her fiancé, her father and her whole life, when she sacrifices her happiness to make her dying father happy. Actually, the realism in her character development is that unfortunately, most of the times we see how people like Taani, who are always energetic and optimistic, happen to get hurt the hardest. It’s rather strange, but the ones whose stories we hear in real life even today, are the ones who actually overcome the sorrow and bad times in their life and emerge as winners.

Suri: He is a simple, plain, boring, shy, and really uninteresting guy, with a heart of gold. Despite his unattractive appearance and unappealing, working class life, he is satisfied with who he is and always stays true to himself, to the extent that even though he totally transforms into this "Raj" character for Taani, he still insists that he wants Taani to love Suri for who he is, and not for the "Raj" in Suri. Whatever he does, even if it is the craziest thing in the world, like fighting a Sumo wrestler to win a couple of tickets to Japan, he does it with a lot of love and sincerity. Suri’s love for Taani is limitless, and until he realizes that his own love is that endearing, he does everything in his power, even physically changes himself, only to make Taani happy.

Raj: Raj is Suri’s alter-ego, the result of Suri’s idea of Bollywood Heroes like Raj and Rahul (exemplified in the history of Indian cinema, cleverly, by Shah Rukh Khan himself) and Bobby the barber’s knowledge of being "Cool" and "Macho". He is rude, obnoxious, rather irritating, but he is who Taani confides in and eventually whom Taani falls for (both to his delight and dismay).
---
Raj Kapoor (a "filmi" name that Suri came up with in the heat of the moment) is Suri’s idea of whom girls want to be with. Raj is something Suri wants to be but can’t. Raj says everything in the open, without even thinking twice. He says, "I Love You" to Taani in the most magnificent way and doesn’t care if she can’t return his love. He even flirts with her openly and actually admits to it. That's why Suri expresses himself through this lie, through Raj. There was no way he could do that though his own ordinary self. Suri's love is far more extraordinary than he himself could ever be...therefore, he becomes someone else, becomes extraordinary to express that extraordinary love. When Raj talks to the mannequin with Suri’s clothes, moustache and wig, you can clearly see the pity on his face for not being able to tell Taani how he feels, by being himself. He mocks himself; this is his way of making himself realize that if he, Suri, wants Taani to love him for who he is, he would have to show it to her himself.

*Har Janam mein rang badal ke khwabon ke pardon pe hum khilte*
The performances clearly elevate the simple story into something spectacular.
Anushka Sharma shines as the beautiful dancer and strong spirited girl, Taani. She is fresh with her expressions, has natural way of speaking and finds a great balance between dramatic acting and "realistic" acting, which is quite impressive considering that this is her very first acting experience.

Shah Rukh Khan once again excels in his portrayal of two unimaginably contrasting characters. As Suri he plays the everyman, with a routine working life, and as Raj he plays the flashy, fast talking, wannabe "hip" guy.
It is quite fascinating to see Shah Rukh, who is known as THE Raj/Rahul – sweet-talking, handsome, ultimate lover of Bollywood, in a completely different persona, as the simple-looking, reserved and gawky Suri, with a huge heart and endless love. It’s almost like he took this poster boy image and turned it inside out, removing the attractive and flashy exterior, and exposing his true, pure self. He makes you relate to both his characters, despite them being complete opposites, and he makes you empathize with them. The reason the movie works is not only because Suri is an "ordinary" person, but because he makes you feel like being ordinary is in fact quite special.

Apart from the two lead actors, Vinay Pathak stands out as Bobby Khosla - the overdramatic, sentimental, kindhearted stylist; Suri’s best friend and confidante. His comic timing and expressions are superb, and despite being a supporting character, Bobby turns out to be the most important link in this "love triangle between two people".

*Oh soneya dance pe chance maar le!*
The music in this movie plays a crucial part in the plot, and Salim-Sulaiman have done a brilliant job presenting the flavour of traditional Bollywood music blended with modern Western styles. Haule Haule shows the friendly and warm atmosphere of Amritsar with its melodious harmonium sounds and lovely lyrics. The choreography and camera-work, along with Shah Rukh Khan’s endearing expressions and dancing make this song one of the best presented songs in the history of Indian cinema. Dance Pe Chance, showing a determined Taani teaching the impish Raj to dance is delightful to watch, while Phir Milenge Chalte Chalte, featuring Raj as legendary Indian actors with five of the current top actresses is a treat for the regular diehard Bollywood fan.
Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai is soulful and spiritual, because apparently you see Raj serenading Taani and showing her a good time, but the viewer is able to see his real self Suri singing his heart out, while Taani is clueless about the truth. This bit of dramatic irony keeps you hooked to the story and also gives you a mixed feeling of happiness and pity for Suri. The fact that the song portrays "Rab" in Hindu, Muslim and Christian settings really depicts that "Rab" simple refers to the Universal Power, and the idea that seeing "Rab" in someone means loving them is a beautifully fresh concept that this movie presents for the first time. This song and this movie emphasize on the fact that true love is unconditional, oblivious to the petty differences created within humankind.

*Dancing Jodi*
Even though the overall concept and presentation were not flawless, the film definitely manages to capture the viewer’s attention from the very beginning to the very end. The few rough spots are seen when some sequences tend to drag slightly, and the part where Taani's realizes her love for Suri after she prays at the Golden Temple, which could have been developed further to make her decision even more dramatic and emotional. However, these tiny flaws are easily forgotten or overlooked because of the sweet moments in the movie, which you can relate to easily. Even the smallest gestures like Suri saying "Sorry" on a piece of paper, or beaming with joy when Taani gives him a home cooked meal in a tiffin box, the way Raj calls her "Taani-Partner", or even the way Suri buys a new car so that Taani can comfortably ride with him to the movies, take your breath away.

However, the climax "Dancing Jodi", and the sheer passion with which Suri and Taani dance, makes up and makes you forget about everything else in the world and just stare at the beauty and purity of this odd couple, which most of the viewers ultimately adore and end up identifying with. The magic is created not by the exquisite dancing and choreography, not by the heart-racing Dancing Jodi track, not even by the couple’s fantastic on-screen chemistry, but in fact, by the sheer passion reflected in Suri’s eyes. It was as though he had waited for this moment his entire life, had lost all his inhibitions, and was shedding his "Raj" exterior right in front of Taani’s eyes, baring his soul. Finally, seeing the tremendous happiness in his eyes when they win just leaves you speechless; it’s as though you yourself feel happy and proud for him, for his victory.

After thinking of Raj as the perfect lover for so many years, this one movie and one character make you feel as though this is true love. Surinder Sahni truly lights up the screen as well as your life, and makes you hope that every Raj out there has a Suri inside him. Suri mein Rab Dikhta Hai, yaara main kyaa karoon!
9/10

My Semi Review/Semi Analysis on the Most Ishtylish Movie of '07 *spoilers included*

Get your bellbottoms on, the 70’s are back in ishtyle!

Just when you think the world’s moving too fast and we’re heading straight towards the Jetsons era, two wacky and brilliant film buffs, Shah Rukh Khan and Farah Khan, give you a blast from the past.

Instead of talking about the storyline, the performances or the technical aspects, I’ll attempt take a look at some of the elements and themes of the 70’s that this movie presents so cleverly, while retaining the contemporary and modern style of filmmaking.

TAKE ONE:

*The Hero
The Hero is what defines the movie. He’s an ordinary, hardworking man whom you start to love and respect right from the beginning. He just owns it, and without his chivalry, punchy dialogues, seductive yet boyish charm, and invincibility, there would be no movie at all. The tragedy, however, is that our love-struck hero does die, but still never gives up and comes back to finish the job.
Junior artiste Om Prakash Makhija is a dreamer, who has hopes of becoming a superstar even though all his hard work goes unnoticed everyday. He loves Shantipriya, talks to her posters, and thinks of her as his own. When he does eventually get to meet her on one beautiful occasion, there’s no stopping him there and he gradually wins her over with his sincerity.
He also does everything in his power to save her; he jumps into fires to rescue her, defends her in any given situation, and still loves her and only has the best wishes for her even when he finds out that she’s married to someone else. That’s what a true 70’s hero does. He loves unconditionally, he learns to stand on his own feet, he sacrifices everything, and he fights the world - just for his heroine.

*The Heroine
She is the force that inspires the hero to go to great lengths and achieve the impossible. Superstar Shantipriya, Om’s true love is divinely beautiful, intelligent and loved by the whole world. She’s the ultimate dreamy girl that all women want to be, and that all men want to be with. Yet despite all the glamour, fame, adoration and love that she receives, deep down she’s just like any other ordinary girl who wants to be loved and cherished. Her only fault was to wish for true love in an industry full of facades and deceit, and thus, just like a classic 70’s drama, tragedy strikes and she is left betrayed and literally shattered.

*The Sidekick
He’s the support system behind the hero and the cupid who does everything in his power to bring his best friend closer to the girl of his dreams. If it weren’t for the lovable Pappu Master, Om might have never been able to be friends with Shanti, or even catch her attention in the first place. He was the one to steal the premiere tickets for them where Shanti took notice of Om, to get them a part in Shanti’s scene in which Om saved her life, and to arrange the sets for the couple’s first evening together.
The loyal sidekick is the one who makes the hero’s dream a reality.

*The Maa
She’s the most crucial aspect of a typical 70’s movie. Bela Makhija is the beloved, saintly, loving, doting “Maa”, who wishes and prays that her son will be the most successful person on earth. She is someone who just knows that her son will one day be the biggest star. Whatever Maa says does come true, even if it takes more than one lifetime. When she ties the sacred thread around Om's wrist (like all filmi Maas do to protect their sons, besides feeding them kheer) she says that it will get him closer to his dream, to Shanti. At the Dreamy Girl premiere, it was that very thread that Shanti's saree got stuck to. That thread really did bring Om close to her. Maa was right.

[This emphasis on the mother’s words, duas and her love for her son are rarely presented effectively in modern day Hindi cinema. This quality of 70’s cinema is essential to Indian culture and its belief system. A lot of importance used to be given to family bonds and relationships in those times, more so than it is today. ]

*The Villain
He is the most hated, loathed, and cursed part of any movie. Mukesh Mehra, the hotshot, suave, handsome and “daching” producer has some personality, but with a heart made of stone. His dashing personality is what fools everyone to thinking that he’s a good man too. Even Shanti, the heroine, falls for him and he completely takes advantage of her innocence. He will do anything and hurt anyone to get what he wants. All he cares about is his money, his reputation, his lusts, his business, and his life. He not only destroys the biggest movie that was in production, but also his own wife and unborn child, without batting a single eyelid.

*****
So unfortunately, the poor heroine couldn’t make it. She was brutally killed by the man she loved, the resilient hero too died in spite of fighting till the last minute to save her, and the villain got away with this terrible crime… So sads ending!

But wait…
Yeh ‘The End’ nahin. Picture abhi baaki hai, mere dost!

TAKE TWO:
Our hero is reborn with a new life, new parents, a new personality and a new identity.

*A New Hero
Instead of the Elvis-inspired sideburns, big-collared, checkered jackets, and sweet boyish charm like our original hero, our new millennium hero has a long, messy hairdo, loose-fitting, trendy jeans and t-shirts, and a rude, brattish charm.
Om Kapoor, aka O.K, is a rich, pampered, irresponsible, arrogant star-son, who couldn’t care less about his work or anyone around him. He thinks that he “is the king of the world” – something that he did in his previous life (but for the right reasons).

The funny, but unfortunate reality is that our hero Omprakash, the passionate, good-hearted guy whose biggest dream was to become a big star, sacrificed his dreams for his love when it come down to choosing between saving the love of his life and fulfilling his dreams. The sincere, hard working man tried and tried until his death and got no reward for his efforts. It is only until he is reborn as a "Kapoor” that he gets all the appreciation, love and fame that he had once dreamed of in his previous life....even though he didn't really deserve it now.

[Om Kapoor's character is almost like a metaphor, a slap on the face to all the various star-children that we see today who exist as stars only because of their parents' legacy.]

Makes you wonder if only Omprakash’s parents had been successful superstars instead of just junior artistes, he wouldn’t have had to die with his dream and his love unfulfilled.

*A New Heroine
When OK finds about his previous birth (due to various flashback episodes, a strange old woman calling him her son, and finally seeing the villain face to face) his immediate mission is to avenge his Shanti’s death. He looks for a girl who could pretend to be Shanti’s ghost and scare Mukesh, forcing him to confess his crime.
What came as a shock to OK was coming across a complete look-alike of Shanti, his new heroine.
Sandhya a.k.a Sandy is OK’s biggest fan and her dream was to meet him and work for him. She’s the new age, bold and beautiful, bubbly, ditsy yet confident girl, who won’t take no for an answer. She works relentlessly to transform her clumsy, trendy, “cool” self into the elegant, poised, eternal Shanti, just for OK – her dream man.
The new heroine is the girl of today who, despite her childish obsessions and hopes, has the maturity of a woman to take on dangerous challenges with confidence.

*The same loyal Sidekick
Pappu Master is still the same loving, loyal man even with the gray hair, simple clothes and slight paunch. He was the one to take care of Om’s mother after his death and support and comfort her in all her misery. He not only looks after her, but 30 years later, still tries to make her understand that her beloved son is no more. When he finally realizes that Om is back, he immediately accepts and loves him and becomes his strength, once again, in his mission.

*The same doting Maa
Maa is still the same, even though her hair has grayed and she has become weak but loud(er). She had predicted, “Mera beta jaroor hero banega” (“My son will definitely be a hero”), and 30 years later, her son is reborn as superstar Om Kapoor. When Om innocently used to talk to his “love”, Shanti’s billboard, she had told him that his face will one day be on that billboard. In his next birth, Om Kapoor is seen standing in front of that same billboard, which instead has his own poster on it. She had said that he will one day meet Shanti, he not only meets her but repeatedly saves her life until his death.
When the depressed mother fights the whole world, shouts and cries for Om, she is mocked and known as the crazy old woman (“Psycho Mummy”) who claims that superstar OK is actually her son, but once again, she is still absolutely right and OK really is her Om.

The same ol’ Villain
Sadly, nothing can stop this horrible man from changing his dirty ways, not even the remorse of killing his own wife. In the 30 long years after committing the unthinkable crime, he shamelessly lives the rich and luxurious life of a top Hollywood producer. He still doesn’t care for anyone but himself and continues to use people for his own gains. The typical, merciless villain of the 70’s, and now in the new millennium, is what keeps the audience glued to their seats until justice is served and the hero destroys him.

*****
Sab Gol-maal Hai

Om emphasizes on the idea of “The circle of life” as he tries to intimidate Mukesh by bringing him to the same location where Shanti was unfairly killed. Om says that since Mukesh’s life had been abruptly stopped with the accident on those sets and the movie Om Shanti Om was never completed, he should start his new project, the new Om Shanti Om in those same sets, to complete his circle of his life – pick things up where they were left off. Mukesh slowly begins to panic when he’s taken back to the same location where he had committed the crime. The circle of his life ended as he was punished for his sins in that same place.

Those sets not only signify the circle of life for Mukesh, but also for Omprakash, whose life was destroyed there. Until his death his life was those sets and the people there, and when he is reborn as OK, fate brings him back to that same place to shoot a movie, even though the sets had been completely destroyed and abandoned, with not a soul in sight. It’s as though those sets had been waiting for 30 whole years to be used by Om, their most loyal dweller, again.

Another person, whose life revolved around these sets, was Shantipriya, whose soul lingers around even after death, just get justice and be freed.
Interestingly, the huge chandelier, under which her body had been buried alive by Mukesh, was the cause of her murderer’s death, as he too died exactly where he had killed Shanti.

*****
Karma is a really sweet deal for some, and for others it is life changing or completely destroying. The good are always rewarded and the evil are always punished, despite the intermissions of life and death.

Omprakash Makhija protected his love until the point where he was completely helpless. His death stopped him from saving her life, but his innate goodness and desire to be with Shanti and to see her happy was so strong that it forced his soul to be reincarnated, because of which, in his new life, he brought justice to her and freed her soul.

Om wanted to be the biggest superstar and even in his simple life as a mere extra, a nobody, he worked extremely hard (even more than the actual stars). His love was pure; he was Shanti’s biggest fan and wished only good things for her. His love for her was so deep and real that he would immediately sacrifice his life for her, without a moment’s thought. Since his tremendous efforts to save her from dying went in vain, he was rewarded in his next birth.
Now, he is the biggest, most adored star in the country, and Sandy, almost an identical image of his Shanti, is his biggest fan.

Contrary to Omprakash, Mukesh Mehra is a bad man, who thinks he has gotten away with the horrific act of killing his own wife for his own profit. He actually feels proud of doing it so smoothly and then becoming a famous, successful producer to make it to Hollywood. Even though he wasn’t punished when he initially committed the crime despite Omprakash’s efforts, his bad karma did manage to catch up with him 30 years later in the form of Om Kapoor and the same Shanti. Her ghost had been waiting for 30 years to punish him, but is only able to do so with the help of Om. The wronged souls of the hero and heroine help each other in seeking justice, as it’s payback time for the villain.

Karma makes sure to settle everyone’s accounts of deeds eventually because,
Janmon ki, karmon hi hai kahaani jisse…kehte hain Om Shanti Om!”

---------Chak De! India is a truly Indian film----------*spoilers included*
 
To be honest, at first, I just went to watch it because it's a Shah Rukh film, but I did have thoughts about whether I'll really enjoy it as much as the other SRK films. However, the complete sports film that I thought might not interest me as much, actually turned out to be one of the best Indian movies I've ever seen. It's presented in such a way that not only Indians, but even people of other nationalities will certainly feel a connection to the message behind it. Even though it has a very strong patriotic message about India, Indian women and Indian Hockey, it will, without a doubt, bring out the same feelings even in non-Indians. That's because of it's universal message of fighting for your honour, your nation and moreover, forgetting about all the sub-boundaries within your country or community, and coming together as a team. To see the bigger picture in life, basically.

The thing that touched me the most about the story was that Kabir Khan, a famous hockey player, and then 7 years later, the coach of Indian National Women's Hockey Team, actually lived in a small, middle-class locality with his mother. He didn't live in a palace or anything, even when he was world-famous, which, I think, is really interesting...because it's quite true. Sportspeople in India (other than cricketers and maybe, tennis players) are actually quite modest and aren't given the kind of publicity, money and endorsements like cricketers. This movie points that out clearly and also has many clever lines and parts that directly show how cricket is so over-hyped.

Another thing that really moved me was the way in which Kabir Khan is portrayed. He's not a bitter man, but he feels an overwhelming sense of sadness whenever he sees the national flag. It just reminds him of how he gave his life and soul for it and how it, in a way, betrayed him. The song Maula Mere and its tune are played in bits whenever Kabir sees the flag. He loves the flag and his country immensely, yet he feels sad that he is thought of as its betrayer. This sadness and this anger are what drive him to do something for it and prove to his country and to himself that he is not a traitor. This sadness and anger actually make him seem harsh, but in fact, he puts up a facade of being extremely strict, harsh, and even cruel, just to make the girls unite as a team and diminish all the racial boundaries that are splitting them apart.

The girls are so obsessed with their states, their language barriers and their reputations that they forget that they are actually going to play together as Team India, and Kabir reminds them of that with his tricky and harsh methods. He's like a strict teacher, who means well, but is still really hated for being that way.
It's not until the point where the girls realise that they actually have the capability to win, that they start to understand and appreciate the coach and his unusual (almost military-like) teaching methods.

This movie shows various types of personalities, like the type of people who just want to be the bosses, who get jealous of other people's success, the types that want to fit in and succeed, but are too passive to be heard, or the ones who just don't get other people and only think about themselves. All the characters have both good and bad sides, no one is just good or just bad.

One more thing I loved was the part where the men's team raises its hockey sticks in honour of the girls' performance. It really proved to me that this wasn't a male-bashing, feminist type of movie...yes, it was showing how women are so under-represented, especially in sports. It did show that sometimes women have to express themselves loudly and aggressively enough to be heard and respected, but men aren't trying to dominate all the time. It's just sort of a thought that has been passed on through ages, which limits women from even trying to fight to be treated equally as men. It's in the society's mentality that has made them feel unequal themselves.

It was quite ironic and sad to see how the whole of India had accused Kabir of being a traitor, insulted him, stripped him of his dignity and taunted him constantly when he had lost. Yet the same people started to praise him and called him the nation's pride when he won for the country. It really shows how people are with you in happiness, when you have won them a World Cup, but leave you completely stranded when your of no use to them. Perhaps that's why Kabir couldn't feel that happy when he won. He saw the two-faced nature of the world...

The girls were realistic in their acting. They looked like any average girls and had convincing performances. The most memorable characters for me were Bindiya Naik (the senior most player/bully), Preeti Sabarwal (the arrogant cricketer's fiance/ace striker), Komal Chautala (the tom-boyish, village girl), and Balbir Kaur (the hot-headed, big one). These girls were the major conflict-creators in the team, whom Kabir straightens out gradually. Other memorable characters were Vidya Sharma (the housewife who wanted to play/ captain and goalie), Molly Zimik, Mary Ralte and Soimoi. These characters brought a different type of freshness to the story.

As for Kabir Khan... well, he could not have been better portrayed by anybody else. Shah Rukh was OUTSTANDING (and I'm not just saying that because I love him, but because he has never been so convincing as any character, ever). He brought out the pain in Kabir, when he loses AND when he wins the finals so beautifully. The climax scene where India wins the World Cup was so powerful. It just gives you goosebumps! I had tears in my eyes. This was supposed to be the happiest moment of Kabir's entire life, yet you can't help but feel emotional, as you see him almost collapse, due to the intensity of what has just happened. He has WON, at last...after seven years, he has finally achieved what he had wanted all his life, he has overcome all that humiliation and wiped off the stigma of being called a traitor, but still, he's not able to withstand that feeling of happiness. He almost goes into shock.
His voice and his expressions have never been this strong. The way he shouts at the girls and makes them struggle almost scares you a bit, but you admire him for the same reasons.
Again, SRK managed to blow me away with his performance. He's just too good to be true!

The cinematography is great, perfect for a sports film - fast, gripping and clear. The structure of the film is good too, as it first gives you a clear idea of the girls' personalities, Kabir's life and his pain, and then it just gets right to it in the second half. They just fight for it. They lose a lot, but learn a lot too, and ultimately overcome all the negativities that had held them back from performing to their best abilities.
The music is nicely placed. Maula Mere had the biggest impact, at least for me. It was beautiful, not just because of the lyrics, the singing, or the music, but mainly because of SRK's expressions. Chak De India also really goes with the spirit of the movie. Badal Pe Paon Hain goes nicely with the emotions of the girls when they finally get to spread their wings and go to a new, bigger place, to play for their country.
The only thing that might not appeal to everyone is the fact that a huge part of the movie is made up of hockey matches. It'd be great for a sports lover, but might become slightly monotonous for an average Hindi-movie buff, who might not necessarily like watching hardcore sports.
Despite this, the matches are shown in a very gripping way, which keeps the viewer interested. I would only take off half a point for that, because really, you have to HATE sports with a passion to hate this movie.

Shimit Amin really surprised me. I didn't expect an intense, former cop-drama filmmaker to make such an intense, patriotic, motivational movie.

Overall, my rating: 9.5/10
BEAUTIFUL movie. I call it a truly Indian movie, because it portrays the true spirit of India. At first, we fight a little, try to out each other, try to prove that our state/our race is the best, but when it's time to show the world, we fight and work together as a team.

Don is to die for!

Don is the best treat for all movie lovers. It has all the major ingredients to satisfy all your cravings – a story that keeps your mind ticking and your heart racing from the start to the end, action that makes you think twice before ever making any enemies, glamour that makes you envy the rich and famous, music that makes you dance like there’s no tomorrow, and the best of all, Shah Rukh Khan, whose sheer presence makes you believe that you’ve died and gone straight to heaven. Brilliant!

So, who is Don?

Let’s just say he is in fact the King! He’s much smarter than the average man. His mind is always working, and he knows exactly what each and every person around him is up to; and who better to play such a frighteningly powerful character but the King Khan himself! Shah Rukh IS Don! His every move and mannerism is so unique and memorable. Even the smallest details of the character’s personality, like the way he laughs while watching cartoons (with a childlike, yet rather frightening tone), the way he grins after doing something horrifyingly bad, or even just the way he walks so arrogantly, are done so ingeniously! SRK gives a completely new identity to the legendary character of Don.  It’s just unbelievable how the man as acted!

The music further enhances the beauty of the film, as they just add to the fun and glamour elements; yet all of them give you a weird sense of uneasiness, as you know something unexpected might happen, even though you’re enjoying yourself thoroughly. For e.g. “Aaj Ki Raat”, “Main Hoon Don” and “Ye Mera Dil” have a mystery element to them, since they happen during crucial situations. Even “Mourya Re”, which is a completely innocent and affectionate song, becomes extremely fast and as the beat and the chants get louder and faster towards the end, your heart starts to beat faster, until it all stops… with a bang.
Also, though a fun-filled and playful song like “Khaike Paan Banaraswala” makes you forget about all the complications of the plot and lets you enjoy whole heartedly, it does somewhat put you in an awkward mood and there’s still a mild sense of confusion, as at the back of your mind you’re still aware that Vijay and Roma are hiding from the authorities, and that anything could happen next.

The music definitely is the best, in terms of quality, entertainment value, and above all, the way it’s so superbly presented.

The action sequences are choreographed creatively. They are a blend of solid, cut-throat fight and shooting sequences, and cleverly handled marital arts and daredevil stunts. It’s something that appeals to everyone, including the people who aren’t big action lovers. Even though it’s violent and ruthless, it’s still exciting and fun to watch. The fight between SRK and Priyanka especially, is cleverly presented. Mind-blowing work!

Every little detail has been done with so much care. The cinematography is beautiful and what’s great is that the scenery and beauty of Malaysia has been captured so wonderfully, and the country is not just a prop. It actually is almost like a character itself, since all the landmark locations and the backdrop actually play a key role in the story. This is one movie that has done full justice to the beauty of the country by showing so many of its good aspects.

Even without all of the additional elements of great direction, a clear and precise screenplay, a stimulating background score, and a stylish look, this movie would have still been amazing. That’s because it has the most amazing performances by some of the greatest actors.

Boman Irani has delivered a wonderful performance, once again. He can really act! Priyanka has proven that she’s not just a pretty face, but can actually kick butt, literally! Her martial art stunts are aggressive, yet strangely graceful. Ishaa Koppikar, despite having a smaller role, has given a good performance. Her character Anita is shown as a very sophisticated woman, who loves and trusts Don so much that she lets him get close to Roma, just because it’s a part of his scheme to fool the world about who he is. Anita just silently watches and enjoys the whole charade. Arjun Rampal finally gets a chance to show his talent as an actor; not just as a model. His sincerity comes across clearly and finally, this performance will help him get the appreciation that he truly deserves.

And finally, there’s Shah Rukh Khan. He is God! He has once again proved that he can do absolutely anything and make it look amazing! On the one hand, he plays a ruthless, violent, merciless, evil genius who would do anything and kill anyone to get what he wants, and on the other hand he plays the most adorable, sweet and kind hearted, simple guy. In fact, it is quite unbelievable how he has played Don impersonating Vijay, who’s actually impersonating Don. When you find out the truth in the climax, you remain stunned for a few minutes before understanding what has actually happened. The way they reveal the truth is almost like they’re killing you slowly with small doses of bitter truth…It comes as a complete shock and it’s almost like Don rubs it in your face after you’re been badly hit with reality, by saying, “Don Ko Pakadhna Mushkil Hi Nahi…” with the deadliest, most evil laugh…

Pure genius!

On the whole, Don-The Chase Begins Again is a movie that makes being bad look so good!

So what’s the moral of the story? Don is to die for…literally! 10/10

September 10, 2006 - Best Day Of My Life

Today, September 10th, 2006, has been the best day of my life. I had been waiting all my life just to get a glimpse of my idol, and today was that day - the most magical day of my life. Even though that moment of joy and gratification lasted only for a few minutes, it was just so overwhelming and unimaginably special. I can't even begin to explain how blessed I feel!

My obsession for this one man has been growing since I was just a child, and today, I just cannot live without him. His story and his personality have touched millions of lives and now he is most appropriately called “King Khan”. Shah Rukh Khan, a middle-class, idealistic and ambitious man from a humble background moved to the city of dreams, Mumbai, India, to fulfill his late parents’ wishes and make a name for himself in the big city. He struggled day and night to find a few decent television and theatre roles, and finally when he got a chance to prove his talent, the people knew that a new star was born. He worked relentlessly with appalling honesty in a devious industry, full of two-faced backstabbers. After about a decade of being on the top and winning many awards and accolades for his splendid performances in some of the biggest blockbusters in Indian Film history, this man is still the same simple, honest, and humble man that he was so many years ago. Today, he is adored, idolized and worshipped by countless people, not just in India, but from all over the world; even in the most unexpected countries such as Madagascar. He is truly the best of the best!

 

And today, I saw him with my own eyes.

After two months of sheer frustration, stress, excitement, and anxiousness, I got my chance. After literally struggling to get tickets, calling up every single person who might have any information, registering for all kinds of online newsletters, contests, and information, and talking to thousands of friends and acquaintances, today, I finally got a chance to attend the screening of his outstanding movie at the Toronto International Film Festival.

 

The excitement really took a toll on me, as I couldn’t even sleep for the past whole week, and as soon as I reached The Roy Thompson Hall this morning, something happened to me, and somehow, I just forgot all about my sickness, lack of sleep, food and water, which had me exhausted all last night and all this morning. Perhaps it was the fact that I met so many other fellow devotees, who were speaking in various wonderful languages, all talking about the same person.

Later, as we were still waiting outside, I saw a huge crowd of media and press reporters, preparing for what they thought would be an ordinary “Foreign Film Event”. Little did they know that when the guests would arrive there would be complete and utter chaos. Then, after a couple of hours of standing and waiting like a herd of sheep eager to be let out of their pen, we impatiently stood there, waiting to get into the hall, where our dreams would finally come true. A huge, loud security official let us in, making sure nobody possessed any weapons, drugs or harmful substances of any sort. Then, again, all we had to do was to wait, but this time, to see our idols arrive and come out of their stretched Limousines, surrounded by their huge group of bodyguards.


After about five hours, the moment finally came, and we heard cheering, screaming and whistling from the massive crowds outside (whom we pitied earlier, for not being able to watch the screening like us lucky ticket-holders, but whom we envied at this moment, since they were the ones who got all the autographs, photographs, hugs and flying kisses). When they finally entered, I believe I truly witnessed the most astounding event of my life - People of all ages, shapes and sizes pushing, tugging, shoving and crushing each other, just to a get glimpse of SRK from up close and in person! Before this, I had always thought of bodyguards as severely overpaid and extremely useless people, but today, I actually thank God for those bodyguards, because of whom, my hero is still in one piece. It was fanaticism to the extreme, and I was definitely a part of the madness, as I too, pushed a few middle-aged out of my way, and kicked a number of teenagers and senior citizens, just to fight the rough, tide-like mob and get a bit closer to the love of my life. However, all my efforts went in vain, as the bodyguards quickly whisked the celebrities away to the screening hall, and the security pushed us back with all their might.
Amidst all that craziness, however, I did get to see him for a few seconds from up close. Even though I was in pain from being pushed and pulled from every direction, I felt as though time had frozen for that moment. It felt as though I went deaf to all the deafening noise, my eyes went blind to everything except him, all my senses turned immune to all the madness, and my mind went completely numb, in what felt like a strangely serene trance.

We quickly ran up to the theatre to get good seats (which wasn’t at all helpful, since the wretched press had invaded a major part of the hall) and waited with bated breath to see SRK come on stage. He came, cheerfully greeted the audience, and was his usual witty, smart, energetic and charming self.

As I was recording his speech, my hands trembled with excitement and pure happiness, and then as he was just about to leave the stage before the movie was about to be screened, something just hit me and I actually realized that He was actually in the same hall as me, breathing the same air as me. It was then that I realized that I was actually looking at the love of my life, the man whom I’ve loved since the age of five, my idol, my obsession, my mentor, my God - Shah Rukh Khan.

And before I knew it I burst into tears. I cried like a baby, and by that time, he was already gone. That feeling is indescribable, as I couldn’t decide whether I was more overjoyed about seeing him, or sad because I couldn’t get any closer to him. He was so close, yet so far away.

My mother, who was with me the whole time, looked at me with worried eyes, and asked, “What happened? Why are you crying?” And in a state of complete bewilderment, and with a true sense of gratitude and contentment, I replied back, “I saw my Shah Rukh today.”