scindewriter Reviews

Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006)

Mindblowing

[9/10 · 24 August 2006]

I found KANK riveting from the first moment to the last. The theme is one which has been used before in Indian movies but this one makes it seem an entirely new venture. The treatment is fresh and witty. There is a wonderful mix of clever jokes, satire and excellent appropriate dialogue.The script did not have a word out of place. The film took you along on a roller coaster of emotion. The characters were all human and imperfect but with endearing qualities. The situation too understandable but the sympathies were definitely with the lovers.

But the film was much more than the words that I have used. It wrapped the audience in its embrace with its story which unravelled in wit and charm and against a background of New York lovingly portrayed. The train station was a perfect locale though always not always recognisably the Central.

The performances were very good especially Amitabh and Preity Zinta. Abhishek and Rani were good too though Rani cried a bit too much- but that could be Karan's over use of glycerine.

Shah Rukh dominated the film in a brilliant,nuanced, versatile performance given in a very difficult role. He is a cynic and a loser but he keeps the sympathies of the audience and his charm reaches out palpably. It is one of his best performances to date and what more can one say - Shah Rukh at his best is the very best of all. He is the man after one's heart-funny, witty, tragic and heartbreaking.

The music is amazing especially Mitwa movingly picturised on Shah Rukh. This should prove not only a box office super hit but also a herald of the new Indian movies though not many will come close.

Paheli (2005)

A Fairy Tale seductively re-told.

[10/10 · 7 August 2005]

Paheli is a rare film.Its beautifully mounted and photographed with amazing backgrounds and costumes - totally suited to the traditional tale. For me it re-created my sub continental childhood when we were brought up on stories of princesses and Djinns in fantasy palaces-romantic and emotionally satisfying. Some people have criticised the film as being too slow and incredible. Of course it is incredible because it is a fairy tale. But once the imaginative leap has been made and its premise accepted, the film is pure delight.

Shah Rukh Khan in his double role as the accountant to the core husband and the romantic spirit, is charismatic and romantic and riveting. Rani is the perfect beautiful bride, fully integrated into the world in which she lives so much so that she is completely thrown when the surrogate husband gives her the choice of keeping or rejecting him. So its a woman's rights film as well! But I just loved it on its own terms- a beautifully performed, beautifully produced, unusual film for our delectation.

Asoka (2001)

on viewing Asoka the series on television

[10/10 · 16 July 2003]

Recently I saw ASOKA as a tv serial and was as moved and impressed as I was the first time. It is a timeless movie which interests and charms and fills in gaps about a little known historical personality in a sympathetic and believable way.

Shah Rukh Khan is superb as the young Asoka particularly in the Magadha scenes and as emperor. It is a rare feat of acting. The love story is all charm.

In the series a number of scenes were added which added to one's enjoymentand also made understanding of some scenes easier. I hope it will be repeated on tv. Also I hope we can get a dvd of the fuller version.

Chalte Chalte (2003)

delicious entertainer

[8 July 2003]

After a long time here is a film which entertains,delights and leaves one gasping at the brilliant acting. There are brief tedious patches when Shahrukh Khan and Rani are not on screen but those are few and far between. The story is very everyday -boy meets girl, falls instantly in love and wooes successfully this girl who is bit out of his world. But the Shahrukh charm is such that one wonders how she could have contemplated even for a week the thought of marrying some other chap even if she knew him from childhood. Delightful wooing scenes, lovely songs, very charming and sexy marriage episodes followed by quarrels. These are so believable that the audience is left gasping at the audacity of the rows. Luckily a happy ending and one is left feeling good and satisfied. I shall be very disappointed if SRK does not win every award for this year's best acting. Cant wait to see other Shahrukh films due this year.

Asoka (2001)

Asoka is an internationally front ranking film

[10/10 · 6 May 2003]

On a third viewing on DVD I am confirmed in my opinion that this is not only the best historical film produced in India but that is as good as the best Hollywood films such as Gladiator and Braveheart. Both the latter films are not historically accurate but Asoka is as near the truth as one can get about Asoka most of whose history is also historical speculation. The film makes very credible narrative of the pre Buddhist phase of Asoka and his conversion. Kaurwaki is also a historical figure as she is the only queen whose name appears in Asoka inscriptions.

The film is beautiful and imaginative and has beautiful scenery and music. It follows the Indian cinema conventions in including song and dance sequences which appeal to audiences not only in the subcontinent but across the Middle East, North Africa and South East Asia.

Shah Rukh Khan is superb as the young Asoka. Especially well done are his sequences in Magadha with his brothers and father and his later scenes in war and the Kalinga battlefield with the remorse and repentance.I have certainly not seen anything in Indian cinema to compare with this. Laurence Olivier's Hamlet and Henry V come to mind. The film is worth multiple viewings and one should certainly own a DVD.

Ram Jaane (1995)

Riveting movie throughout

[15 October 2002]

I missed this film when it first came out and just saw it on DVD. The story line is very depressing though not really removed from reality.There is a great deal of violence and the usual overblown underworld but all that fades with the presence of Shahrukh Khan. In fact the great strength of the movie is the remarkable performance of Shahrukh Khan as the main protagonist. He is believable as a victim of circumstances who retains great moral strength and ability to fight back but also has pathos. He retains audience sympathy throughout. The heroine Juhi Chawla is rather weak. We can understand the obsession and love of the 'hero' for her but cannot make her out at all. We have to take her at her word that she loves Murli the good character and is just pretending love or affection for the hero. But there is no conflict in her emotions or evidence of what she really feels for the Shahrukh character. Is he able to get through to her at all? The ending is unsatisfactory in this regard. A film well worth seeing for the performance of Shahrukh Khan.

Asoka (2001)

Asoka is the most brilliant Indian film ever-

[10/10 · 4 September 2002]

This film has made the legendary figure of Asoka the Great immediate and personal. Most sub continentals know Asoka as a great but remote figure- after you see this film he is someone you understand , an extra-ordinary human being who achieved greatness by passing through fire. Shahrukh Khan is brilliant. Having seen his Bollywood style movies, this performance astonishes with its assuredness and its depth. It is a film which needs several viewings to fully appreciate it. The comedy bits of the Kalingans can be forgiven. Come on Shahrukh find some other historical roles!

The Devil's Own (1997)

This is a moving and absorbing film with a world wide resonance.

[24 May 2000]

The film seems to have given rise to extreme reactions which can be understood given the very controversial subject. But it is a lovely film. It has gorgeous lead actors. Brad Pitt's accent sounds fine to us here in Asia and who cares anyway. His performance was very moving. His character seems perfectly in keeping with the background shown. Harrison Ford is utterly believable. It is a film which will be seen with interest around the world. Congratulations Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford for giving us so much pleasure on the screen.