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This year it seems Shahrukh Khan’t do any wrong. Considering that the movie suffers from a severe disease of Nostorycarcinoma the brains at Red Chilly Productions have pulled off an unlikely coup. Farah Khan has presided over the marriage of two classics Karz and Madhumati and in the process created a sequential narrative with predictable ends. However full marks to her for the flawless execution of this copied/palgiarised/inspired piece of fun. I wonder how many of you have seen the original classic “Reincarnation of Peter Proud” from which Karz was “inspired”. Bollywood never copies, it’s always inspired, Mind It.
Now why I did like the movie? It’s actually a celebration of an era in Hindi movies namely the 70s when the gross, the inane and the hamming jet set were the name of the game in Bollywood. Rajesh Khanna was driving the nation hysterical with his “adaas”. God, how did we ever tolerate him? Every movie had the same story with an apology of a difference here and there. Clothes were as loud as Shotgun Sinha’s dialogues. I even spotted SRK wearing outfits similar to RK’s in Hathi Mere Sathi (an all blue shirt/pant rig). Since the hair was worn long careless flicks of the head to remove the locks of the hair from the face have been done with panache.(Psst, I have to do it all the time now). Bell bottoms make a comeback. And the drive of SRK to become a Hero one day is reminiscent of a zillion stories of millions who nurture stars in their eyes. There is also this nonchalant portrayal of a latent desire of every male to attain the dream girl of the silver screen. Our hero is lucky but only just.
Now this leads me on to debutante heroine, Deepika Padukone. I hope I got the name right otherwise Dhoni will probably hit me over the long on for a mighty six. Well Papa Parkash, kya shot mara hai yaar ! His baby is a stunner. Big beautiful eyes, long slender legs, the neck of a gazelle and eyes and a smile to die for. I repeatedly fell in love. I really wished that she should have been given a larger role. Considering all her assets she deserved better. What a waist, I mean waste.
The movie also reminded me of Norman Mailer. May his recently freed soul rest in peace. In his classic book "The Naked and The Dead" he invented the word fug as a substitute to the original four letter obscenity to cater to the conservative sensibilities of the 1940s. Farah Khan got "inspired" to have SRK constantly mouth "What the fish" in the movie. The language English is obviously not her forte but what the fish happened to the taste of the educated SRK who despite his six packs can’t hide an ageing face. He has however gone about his job with clinical efficiency. Shreyas Talpade is finding his feet and will go a long way. Apni Chandigarh product Kiron Thakur Singh (I prefer her maiden name) is of course outstanding. But the surprise package was Arjun Rampal. He was always a good eye candy for girls but here he has acquitted himself well in the male version of Simi’s role.
There are two aspects of the movie which are both novel and endearing. The techniques of the movie making have been shown with refreshing candour. The mock making of a South movie was a particular delight. So Yanna Rascalla, the gross hamming has been done with élan. Secondly the visual presentation of the entire production staff dancing away at the end is a very thoughtful gesture to the unseen contributors.
How do I rate the movie? Without doubt it is going to be amongst the top grossers of the year and in the movie trade jargon it is “Paisa Vasool”
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