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A Film Review
A Film Review
- by Minhaj Arifin
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I am always a little scared to go rent an Indian film simply because of the titles. Imagine going to
a shopkeeper and saying: 'Beti No1 dedo'. Such a request can cause all kinds of problems. Or
saying to the shopkeeper: 'Mujhe Janwar Chahyai'. But such are the names of Indian films:
'Jaanwar', 'Beti No. 1', 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai'. It will be a cold day in July when I go to a
shopkeeper and say: 'Mujhe Kuch Kuch Hota Hai De Dain Please'.
Kabhee Khushee Kabhee Gham is a film about an Indian family who are so rich that they have
a helicopter. They are the 'Raichands' and they travel by air. This family is so advanced that they
have stopped using ground transport and feel flying is the only way to go. The Raichands like to
land in the front yard and emerge from a black helicopter... because we have to believe they are
rich and classy.
The head of the family is Amitabh who has two sons, Hritik and Sharukh Khan. Amitabh is so
proud of his family he feels the need to repeat the family name with emphasis on the letter 'R'
every three seconds: "We are the Rrrraichands". You ask him a question and he replies: "We are
the Rrrraichands". You offer him a drink and he goes: "WE are the Rrrraichands".... you tell him
the laundry is done and again he screams: "We are the Rrrraichands"... In case we forget a big 'R'
is also painted on their helicopter, in which Amitabh rides to work repeating the same words: 'WE
are the Rrraichands".
The younger son Hritik is a genius. He can write a whole email full of emotional details
by leaning back on his computer chair & just hitting the space bar repeatedly. He is a
fantastic typist who knows both technology and magic. We are told earlier in the film that
Sharukh Khan is adopted.
He is equally loved and has full access to the helicopter and returns home from college in
it. This family is very talented. Amazingly the mother can tell that he has arrived even
before he enters the house. In one scene she just knew that Sharukh had entered a mall
even though she was on the second floor. She could have been 'Employee of the Month'
at Radio Shack…where they could cut down the surveillance budget. But this is a
motherly sixth sense, one born out of love, affection and lots of time with nothing to do
all day.
The point is that they are rich and happy. Every thing is fine until Sharukh falls in love
with a girl from a humble neighborhood. She is Kajol who dances on the streets
whenever she goes out for groceries. Kajol lives in a fascinating neighborhood, because
outside her house all the neighbors are dancing...all the time. They never stop. There is no
reason for it. They are understandably unemployed, poor and just really really happy.
And they are Nice. Their availability is 100%. Because when ever Kajol steps out of her
house, the men and women form two perfect lines leaving the center space for her where
she performs Bhangra on the way to the market. The dancing neighbors follow her and
keep coordination singing all the way...making her every trip outside the home a most
memorable, musical experience.
Kajol's way of life and jolly neighborhood convinces
Sharukh that this is the girl for him. And so he marries her.
Papa Raichand tells his son Sharukh that he will not tolerate such a marriage. He feels
Kajol will never be classy enough for them: ' Voh Hamare Rivaj o Rivayaat kaise
samjhay gee?' For one thing she has a weakness for ground transport and this will lead to
problems. Imagine the husband traveling in a helicopter while his wife is on the road
going by car. A relationship with obvious highs and lows, one that is bound to fail, even
before it takes off.
Sharukh and Kajol move to London where they purchase a palatial home because
according to the director Indian currency goes a long way in Western nations. Here in this
palatial home Kajol's younger sister (played by Karina Kapoor) grows in to a
westernized girl. Her name is Pooja but prefers to go by 'Pooh' because she is very
stylish and western. I have never met any one called Pooh in America or England. (And I
am glad). But this is an Indian movie where reality is irrelevant.
Hritik grows up and goes to London to study and find his brother. He searches London by
dancing with complete strangers and pedestrians on the street, which is how we find
people, back home. I think this film has a clear message. No matter what the emergency,
dancing will solve it. I don't want to spoil the ending for you, so check out the film...and
remember they are the Rrrrraichands.
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