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VEER ZAARA (2004)
The star-crossed romance of Romeo-Juliet has fascinated the audience for eons.Directed by the King Of Romance himself,Yash Chopra's cross-border romance entrails the unfortunate love story of an Indian Air Force pilot Veer and a Pakistani woman hailing from a rich political family of Lahore, Zaara who are separated for 22 years. Saamiya-a Pakistani lawyer, finds Veer in prison, and upon listening to his story, tries to get him freed.A majestic tale of two people, whose love for one another crosses into the realm of inspirational devotion,the film is an emotionally charged intense love story with unpredictable plot twists along with mature performances by SRK,Preity and Rani.Veer and Zaara…two names detached by the wraths of religion…two forms estranged by miles of expansive distance…one soul joined by sacrificial love…one existence….
Imtiaz Ali's directorial debut shrugged off Bollywood convention and created-surprise, surprise-characters who spoke and behaved so much like us that we were charmed. Viren is forced meet Aditi for an arranged marriage but even though he refuses the match, they secretly become friends. As things get complicated and both get engaged to different people they realize they've fallen in love with each other.Abhay Deol impresses in a confident debut while Ayesha Takia is charming.A sweet yet simple film with ordinary characters in ordinary situations,it's one of the few romantic films which are realistic and relatable.Given this and the melodious,well-choregraphed songs and witty dialogues,the fact that this excellent film failed at the box office is an abysmal shame.
As simplistic as a film can be involving the age-old "girl meets boy"concept,yet the razer sharp dialogues, sublimely romantic songs and Imtiaz Ali's masterful direction makes JWM a fuzzy and warm film that you wrap around on a winter evening.Avoiding clich, the screenplay rustles up a bunch of pleasant surprises in the form of some unforgettable scenes that stay in your head long after you've left the cinema.What finally makes the film work are the sparkling performances by it's two leads. Shahid Kapoor as Aditya, leaves an indelible impression with a performance that is understated and mature.And no other actress could've played Geet the way Kareena Kapoor played her in the actress's career defining turn as a boisterous chatterbox. Uninhibited,zesty and spontaneous,she brings alive the character with the candour that actors rarely invest in their art form and is quite simply the soul the film. No wonder then that six years on,people are still quoting and rewatching it again and again.Definitely the most iconic love story of the decade.
A wedding film produced by YRF is a creepy four hour long soap opera prospect.It was a surprise then,when Maneesh Sharma ditched all the clichs of a rom-com and made a refreshing and rather well-made film.Unlike the giddy lot of Bollywood heroines Shruti is a no-nonsense,ambitious girl who decides to become the best wedding planner in India.She meets the uncouth and lazy Bitoo,and despite their contrasting personalities they set up "Shaadi Mubarak"promising to not mix pleasure with business.However the inevitable happens and they fall for each other creating a rift.Ranveer Singh's spectacularly unhinged and confident debut as the street-smart Bitoo and Anushka Sharma's believable spontaneity along with the impressive cinematography,witty dialogues,first rate screenplay and the realistic set up makes BBB a master of it's genre.
A Karan Johar story directed by Nikhil Advani, Kal Ho Naa Ho is perfectly packaged entertainment. For all its geographical inaccuracy and handkerchief-endorsing climax, KHNH packs in enough perk, punch and pizzazz to be dismissed as run-of-the-mill fluff.While it does contain a snazzy club number,a grand wedding,and beautiful NRI's with perfectly polished hair and clothes,it also evolves formula and comes across as being heartfelt as it narrates the story of uptight Naina who falls for her neighbour, Aman-a terminally ill patient trying to play matchmaker for Naina and her friend Rohit.Be it the snazzy camerawork capturing New York City's throbbing rush, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's lilting score, SRK-Saif Ali Khan's bulls eye camaraderie, Preity Zinta's bespectacled vulnerability or the crisply-written scenes wherein the humour is consistently witty & urban.
Sure I've seen the videos on Youtube from which Barfi was "inspired" which are far too obvious to just be a coincidence.But since cynicism is the last thing Brrrfeee has to offer,let's say that you've barely skimmed the surface of this soulful, sublime, cinematic experience.A love story entailing the journey between a deaf and mute man and his relationship with two girls-Shruti & the adorable Jhilmil-an autistic.With the top-notch cinematography capturing the picturesque locales of 1970s Darjeeling & most importantly Anurag Basu's taut non-linear screenplay and heartfelt treatment of a sensitive issue like disability,aided by Ranbir Kapoor's terrific impulses,Priyanka's unexpected awesomeness and Ileana D'Cruz's mature debut makes Barfi a warm, beautiful quilt you don't want to let go of.But be warned,this isn't cinema that excites or terrifies rather it leaves you with a powerful emotion-"Happiness".
The usual fairy tale Bollywood film ends with the lovers getting married followed by a title card that reads "happily ever after." Saathiya sings a different tune rooted with more realism. The beauty lies in the fact that it embellishes this theme with the same escapist flair and deeply touching vibrancy that characterize the tradition of Indian cinema.Vivek Oberoi and Rani Mukherjee star as young lovers who brave familial odds and get married, only to discover life ain't a fairytale which feels immensely relatable.While A.R.Rahman's gorgeous musical score suits the well-structured narrative of the film.Vivek Oberoi shines brightly as the confused and frustrated Aditya while Rani Mukherjee's ravishing screen presence and sensitive portrayal of the sensible but impulsive Suhani marked a turning point in her career.
Set against the turbulent period of the 16th century when the Mughal Emperor-Akbar is consolidating his empire through unorthodox alliances including marriage to a spirited Rajput princess-Jodhaa,it starts off as a long-drawn history lesson but at the end of it your money is well spent as Ashutoush Gowariker's opulent historical romance bewitches you with it's scale and grandeur.The grand musical score of the film,splendidly staged action scenes and grand battles with opulence oozing out of it's every pore,puts Jodhaa-Akbar in the grand old category of epic films from days of yore.Hrithik brings to life Akbar as his charismatic and muscular presence fills the screen with gravitas while whipping up excellent chemistry with Aishwarya Rai who's never looked this stunning before.The moral of the story-tolerance for all religions and love conquering all-is a message that modern India can resonate with.
A cocktail of the heart of a John Hughes teen film and the narrative structure of Forget Paris, this film had the most conventional rom-com story of all:that of best friends eventually discovering they're in love.Yet Abbas Tyrewala's candid and relatable direction of friendships, fibs and falling for the obvious draws a distinctive line between films trying to be innocent and those which are saccharine and overdone,giving us a film that is charmingly nave.It's aided by a fantastic ensemble,consisting of a charming Imran Khan,the angsty Prateik Babbar,the spirited Genelia D'Souza,the spectacular Ratna Pathak Shah and three awesome cameos.This along with A.R.Rahman's snazzy soundtrack will be sure to put a smile across your face no matter how ludicrous the climax is.As far as "feel-good" films go,it really doesn't get any better than this.
Other than introducing the world to the chimera that is Vidya Balan,Pradeep Sarkar's grounded adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's 1914 Bengali novella,was a treat for eyes. Unlike the 21st century adaptation of Devdas,the opulence of Parineeta lay in it's well-fleshed out characters and deft plot.Lolita the poor girl next door falls in love with the rich but childish Shekhar in a classic story of love, economic boundaries and social divides.The attention to detail is marvellous with Bengali life and social issues at the turn of the century being reproduced to a stunning effect-from the toy train in Darjeeling to the vintage car driven by Shekhar,soulful melodies that echo of Rabindranath Tagore,perfectly staged Moulin Rouge with a cameo by Rekha.A luminous Vidya Balan infects the film with it's heart and soul to show that a star has arrived while Sanjay Dutt and Saif Ali Khan are equally capable in their roles.
An inspired though charming film,Hum Tum borrows heavily from the classic rom-com When Harry Met Sally.And although it doesn't quite have the edge of it's superior original,Kunal Kohli's fresh direction injects bursts of wit that give you contended feel at the end.The film follows the encounters of Karan and Rhea over a period of 9 years until they, after several years and various meetings, become friends and finally fall in love at the end of the movie.The various stages of their relationship are accurately portrayed through the ingenious medium of animation.Saif Ali Khan's charming performance as a flamboyant playboy who matures over the years and Rani Mukherjee's effervescent, buoyant turn as Rhea is what makes this film a seemingly unspectacular yet harmlessly enjoyable date flick for both gals and guys.
The star-crossed romance of Romeo-Juliet has fascinated the audience for eons.Directed by the King Of Romance himself,Yash Chopra's cross-border romance entrails the unfortunate love story of an Indian Air Force pilot Veer and a Pakistani woman hailing from a rich political family of Lahore, Zaara who are separated for 22 years. Saamiya-a Pakistani lawyer, finds Veer in prison, and upon listening to his story, tries to get him freed.A majestic tale of two people, whose love for one another crosses into the realm of inspirational devotion,the film is an emotionally charged intense love story with unpredictable plot twists along with mature performances by SRK,Preity and Rani.Veer and Zaara…two names detached by the wraths of religion…two forms estranged by miles of expansive distance…one soul joined by sacrificial love…one existence….
SOCHA NA THA (2007)
Imtiaz Ali's directorial debut shrugged off Bollywood convention and created-surprise, surprise-characters who spoke and behaved so much like us that we were charmed. Viren is forced meet Aditi for an arranged marriage but even though he refuses the match, they secretly become friends. As things get complicated and both get engaged to different people they realize they've fallen in love with each other.Abhay Deol impresses in a confident debut while Ayesha Takia is charming.A sweet yet simple film with ordinary characters in ordinary situations,it's one of the few romantic films which are realistic and relatable.Given this and the melodious,well-choregraphed songs and witty dialogues,the fact that this excellent film failed at the box office is an abysmal shame.
JAB WE MET (2007)
As simplistic as a film can be involving the age-old "girl meets boy"concept,yet the razer sharp dialogues, sublimely romantic songs and Imtiaz Ali's masterful direction makes JWM a fuzzy and warm film that you wrap around on a winter evening.Avoiding clich, the screenplay rustles up a bunch of pleasant surprises in the form of some unforgettable scenes that stay in your head long after you've left the cinema.What finally makes the film work are the sparkling performances by it's two leads. Shahid Kapoor as Aditya, leaves an indelible impression with a performance that is understated and mature.And no other actress could've played Geet the way Kareena Kapoor played her in the actress's career defining turn as a boisterous chatterbox. Uninhibited,zesty and spontaneous,she brings alive the character with the candour that actors rarely invest in their art form and is quite simply the soul the film. No wonder then that six years on,people are still quoting and rewatching it again and again.Definitely the most iconic love story of the decade.
BAND BAAJA BAARAT (2010)
A wedding film produced by YRF is a creepy four hour long soap opera prospect.It was a surprise then,when Maneesh Sharma ditched all the clichs of a rom-com and made a refreshing and rather well-made film.Unlike the giddy lot of Bollywood heroines Shruti is a no-nonsense,ambitious girl who decides to become the best wedding planner in India.She meets the uncouth and lazy Bitoo,and despite their contrasting personalities they set up "Shaadi Mubarak"promising to not mix pleasure with business.However the inevitable happens and they fall for each other creating a rift.Ranveer Singh's spectacularly unhinged and confident debut as the street-smart Bitoo and Anushka Sharma's believable spontaneity along with the impressive cinematography,witty dialogues,first rate screenplay and the realistic set up makes BBB a master of it's genre.
KAL HO NA HO (2003)
A Karan Johar story directed by Nikhil Advani, Kal Ho Naa Ho is perfectly packaged entertainment. For all its geographical inaccuracy and handkerchief-endorsing climax, KHNH packs in enough perk, punch and pizzazz to be dismissed as run-of-the-mill fluff.While it does contain a snazzy club number,a grand wedding,and beautiful NRI's with perfectly polished hair and clothes,it also evolves formula and comes across as being heartfelt as it narrates the story of uptight Naina who falls for her neighbour, Aman-a terminally ill patient trying to play matchmaker for Naina and her friend Rohit.Be it the snazzy camerawork capturing New York City's throbbing rush, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's lilting score, SRK-Saif Ali Khan's bulls eye camaraderie, Preity Zinta's bespectacled vulnerability or the crisply-written scenes wherein the humour is consistently witty & urban.
BARFI (2012)
Sure I've seen the videos on Youtube from which Barfi was "inspired" which are far too obvious to just be a coincidence.But since cynicism is the last thing Brrrfeee has to offer,let's say that you've barely skimmed the surface of this soulful, sublime, cinematic experience.A love story entailing the journey between a deaf and mute man and his relationship with two girls-Shruti & the adorable Jhilmil-an autistic.With the top-notch cinematography capturing the picturesque locales of 1970s Darjeeling & most importantly Anurag Basu's taut non-linear screenplay and heartfelt treatment of a sensitive issue like disability,aided by Ranbir Kapoor's terrific impulses,Priyanka's unexpected awesomeness and Ileana D'Cruz's mature debut makes Barfi a warm, beautiful quilt you don't want to let go of.But be warned,this isn't cinema that excites or terrifies rather it leaves you with a powerful emotion-"Happiness".
SAATHIYA (2002)
The usual fairy tale Bollywood film ends with the lovers getting married followed by a title card that reads "happily ever after." Saathiya sings a different tune rooted with more realism. The beauty lies in the fact that it embellishes this theme with the same escapist flair and deeply touching vibrancy that characterize the tradition of Indian cinema.Vivek Oberoi and Rani Mukherjee star as young lovers who brave familial odds and get married, only to discover life ain't a fairytale which feels immensely relatable.While A.R.Rahman's gorgeous musical score suits the well-structured narrative of the film.Vivek Oberoi shines brightly as the confused and frustrated Aditya while Rani Mukherjee's ravishing screen presence and sensitive portrayal of the sensible but impulsive Suhani marked a turning point in her career.
JODHA AKHBAR (2008)
Set against the turbulent period of the 16th century when the Mughal Emperor-Akbar is consolidating his empire through unorthodox alliances including marriage to a spirited Rajput princess-Jodhaa,it starts off as a long-drawn history lesson but at the end of it your money is well spent as Ashutoush Gowariker's opulent historical romance bewitches you with it's scale and grandeur.The grand musical score of the film,splendidly staged action scenes and grand battles with opulence oozing out of it's every pore,puts Jodhaa-Akbar in the grand old category of epic films from days of yore.Hrithik brings to life Akbar as his charismatic and muscular presence fills the screen with gravitas while whipping up excellent chemistry with Aishwarya Rai who's never looked this stunning before.The moral of the story-tolerance for all religions and love conquering all-is a message that modern India can resonate with.
JAANE TU YA JANNE NA
A cocktail of the heart of a John Hughes teen film and the narrative structure of Forget Paris, this film had the most conventional rom-com story of all:that of best friends eventually discovering they're in love.Yet Abbas Tyrewala's candid and relatable direction of friendships, fibs and falling for the obvious draws a distinctive line between films trying to be innocent and those which are saccharine and overdone,giving us a film that is charmingly nave.It's aided by a fantastic ensemble,consisting of a charming Imran Khan,the angsty Prateik Babbar,the spirited Genelia D'Souza,the spectacular Ratna Pathak Shah and three awesome cameos.This along with A.R.Rahman's snazzy soundtrack will be sure to put a smile across your face no matter how ludicrous the climax is.As far as "feel-good" films go,it really doesn't get any better than this.
PARNEETA (2005)
Other than introducing the world to the chimera that is Vidya Balan,Pradeep Sarkar's grounded adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's 1914 Bengali novella,was a treat for eyes. Unlike the 21st century adaptation of Devdas,the opulence of Parineeta lay in it's well-fleshed out characters and deft plot.Lolita the poor girl next door falls in love with the rich but childish Shekhar in a classic story of love, economic boundaries and social divides.The attention to detail is marvellous with Bengali life and social issues at the turn of the century being reproduced to a stunning effect-from the toy train in Darjeeling to the vintage car driven by Shekhar,soulful melodies that echo of Rabindranath Tagore,perfectly staged Moulin Rouge with a cameo by Rekha.A luminous Vidya Balan infects the film with it's heart and soul to show that a star has arrived while Sanjay Dutt and Saif Ali Khan are equally capable in their roles.
HUM TUM(2004)
An inspired though charming film,Hum Tum borrows heavily from the classic rom-com When Harry Met Sally.And although it doesn't quite have the edge of it's superior original,Kunal Kohli's fresh direction injects bursts of wit that give you contended feel at the end.The film follows the encounters of Karan and Rhea over a period of 9 years until they, after several years and various meetings, become friends and finally fall in love at the end of the movie.The various stages of their relationship are accurately portrayed through the ingenious medium of animation.Saif Ali Khan's charming performance as a flamboyant playboy who matures over the years and Rani Mukherjee's effervescent, buoyant turn as Rhea is what makes this film a seemingly unspectacular yet harmlessly enjoyable date flick for both gals and guys.
Pati Patni Aur Panga
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