Khoya Khoya Chand

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It is a bit difficult to review this movie. The genre is completely different from what we have seen for a long long time and only someone like Prakash Jha could have ventured into this experimental journey. The characters have been picked up from an assortment of actors ruling the marquee of show business in the fifties and sixties. Any movie buff of my age would have a lot of fun in identifying facets of the then superstars in the characters of this movie. I really wished that for once I could see a certificate “Any resemblance to any person living or dead is purely intentional and on purpose”.

The story is of a young actress (is actor more politically correct) Nikhat (Soha Ali Khan) who has been in the business since “she was fourteen” but finally catches the attention of the reigning superstar, superbly played by Rajat Kapoor. She starts tasting success after the customary round of the casting couch. The superstar merrily two times her. The other ethereal beauty is Sonya Jehan (Noorjahan’s grand daughter). While the cats are eyeing each other with feline disdain, in walks Zafar (I love this name) played by Shiny Ahuja. He is the intense writer from a wealthy family of UP who walks out of his house when the domestic demons that plague his mind torment him beyond acceptance. Sparks fly and amidst hushed gasps and passionate embraces a bond is formed which both liberates and constrains him & Nikhat. The pursuance of individual and artistic fulfillment leads to an inevitable chasm between the two. The eventual reunion and the conventional fate of all great love stories is what the rest of movie is all about.

The pace of the movie is slow and both the interval and the end descend quite abruptly but there are many joys in watching what’s in between. The art director has been faithful to the hairstyles and dresses of that era. Soha shows lovely glimpses of her mother’s innocent yet ravishing beauty. It’s after a long time that I saw actors using proper Urdu diction. It was a delight to the ears as was the music by Shantanu Moitra. The title song by Swanand Kirkire & Ajay Jhingran is hard hitting and jolted me out of my stupor and is still flying in the recesses of my clouded mind. “Kyuuuun, Khoye Khoye Chand Ki Phiraq main talash main udaas hai dil…Kyuuun apne aap se khafa khafa zara zara sa naraaz hai dil” In fact the entire musical repertoire has the fragrance of the superlative music of the sixties.

Most of the movie gives you the feel of watching theatre. Movie making shorn of its glamour finds an accurate depiction. A word here about Saurabh Shukla. Damn, how could I forget him? This bottle of Planter’s Bride is pretty potent. (Before my first drink I think it was called Blender’s Pride). Kallu Mama strikes again with a fantastic portrayal of the crass Punjabi producer. For all those familiar with the colloquial Punjabi his abuses were a riot. Some were refined and some were not. There should be a law against censoring Punjabi abuses in movies. I mean where else would you be able to enjoy the best of the rustic literature we have to offer.

Rating: I loved the movie because I am a dreamer and a romantic. Most people won’t. Does that mean most people are not what I am? I do hope so!!