Monday, December 29, 2008

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi


Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi is from the same actor-director team that gave us Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and though they also gave us the disappointing Mohabbatein, there was some hope that the duo would recapture atleast some of the magic of their first film. That hope remains for the first half of Rab Ne as the film takes an interesting premise and sets up some intriguing possibilities. But the direction it takes in the second half is a huge disappointment and completely dashes those hopes. And then some.

Rab Ne feels like it is confused about its tone. Shah Rukh's unbelievable transformation and Anushka's inability to figure it out place the film in the realm of fantasy and make us settle down for some fluffy entertainment. But the after-effects of the transformation are handled with a seriousness that belies the film's light-hearted start.

The film starts of with two very likeable characters. Suri is a shy, introverted 'Average Joe' who has a lot of love in his heart but has trouble expressing it (this is superbly showcased in the scene where he wants to weigh down a simple note with a long-stemmed rose but then decides again it and goes with a decidedly unromantic bottle). He understands Taani's troubles and is willing to give her the space and time she needs to connect with him. Taani, for her part, has just lost the life of her dreams and is stuck in a marriage thrust upon her. She understands that Suri loves her and takes small steps(like showing up at the party his friends throw for him) to make him happy but is unable to open up her heart and love him the way he loves her - and the way he wants her to. These are characters we can wish will overcome their problems and live happily ever after.

Its amazing that by the time the movie ends, we have come to actively dislike the same two characters. Suri misleads Taani by transforming into Raj and then pretty much turns into a sadist as he pulls her in two different directions and tortures her as she struggles with her feelings. Taani, for her part, never reveals that she is married until the last moment, spends most of her time with Raj and contemplates eloping. So we never see if Suri and Taani are made for each other and never root for them to be together. Suri's friend, played by Vinay Pathak, ends up being the only sensible character as he voices our doubts and questions and just like us, is exasperated when Suri doesn't choose the logical and obvious path.

For a film that equates love with God, Rab Ne treats the subject with utter disdain. It sounds ridiculous when Suri mentally tortures Taani and then reminds us periodically, with short monologues about his love for her, that he is doing it in the name of love and to make her happy. And after all the doubts and misgivings and mental anguish, Taani's moment of enlightenment about the man she loves comes when she opens her eyes at the Golden Temple and sees who is walking toward her. There are a few scenes - like the hilarious one where Suri has 2 dinners or the one where Taani tends to Suri after he is hurt - that illustrate love but these are hidden under too many scenes of chauvinism, sadism and just plain stupidity.

Shah Rukh subdues his usual mannerisms and is wonderful as Suri. But he makes up for that by hamming it up as Raj and is completely irritating. He just seems too old to be playing the boyish, flamboyant character and gets on our nerves instead of being charming. Anushka is rather plain-looking but fits the role well. Dance Pe Chance... is very catchy and a real dance song. Phir Milenge... doesn't really fit into the movie but is gloriously staged and well-written as it pays homage to some actors from the past with lines made up of their movie names. Haule Haule... and Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai... are melodious numbers.

10 Comments:

At 4:48 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Fooh..I am glad that there are at least some sensible guys who think this movie has got a crappy plot. This is definitely one of your honest-to-the-core posts..way to go bb.

 
At 6:40 AM, Blogger Ganesh said...

An illogical,tough-to-believ yet not an entertaining film!:O

 
At 9:40 AM, Blogger D.E.V said...

the movie started off being realistic which was nice in the beginning but latter became so laud and clinched...didint't like the melodramatic portions at all and up to a point it was nauseating..The film looks fake as shahrukh's mustache..he just does not gell with that look...

 
At 9:56 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

superb movie

 
At 5:59 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

gr8 movie . and its sad that guys are looking for logic in the movie . come on yaar movies are for entertainment not for logic , if it is then we can find loop holes in every indian movie.

 
At 8:47 PM, Blogger Balaji said...

gal, thanx, though i did think that the plot was kinda OK but the implementation was messed up :)

ganesh, good summary :)

skanda, true. the melodramatic portions made us dislike the characters completely :)

anon, guess we'll agree to disagree :)

anon, its not that i look for logic (come on, i'm a rajni fan :) as i said i was ok with the plot even though it was illogical or unbelievable. but the direction they took it in was what i had a problem with :)

 
At 11:57 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Can we look forward to your review of the Hindi Ghajini?

 
At 10:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Blah Blah Blah
You suck

 
At 10:31 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

SRK
Shah Rukh Khan


Shahrukh Khan | Bollywood
SRK | www shah rukh khan
kingkhan | bollywood king




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At 2:08 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

i,
I am Shahrukh Khan, the king of Bollywood.
Catch me on http://www.shahrukhkhan.eu for lates movie and video.

SRK
Shah Rukh Khan


Shahrukh Khan | Bollywood
SRK | www shah rukh khan
kingkhan | bollywood king




Shopping | Mall
Buy | Send gifts to INDIA
Shopping Mall | Buy Online
Send gifts to INDIA | Anniversary Gifts to India
Send flowers to India | Send Flowers & Cakes to India
Birthday Gifts to India | Online Gifts India




Web Design Company | E-commerce Developer
Web Services | yahoo store web designer
e-commerce solutions | site development
web programmer | graphic design




Adsense Treasure | Abid's Adsense Treasure Website
Ready Made Website | Make Money Online From Home
Make $1000 Every Day from Google Adsense...
Make Money Online From Home With Adsense And Become Filthy Rich Like Me. Start Today!

 

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