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Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham

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KABHI KHUSHI KABHIE GHAM (Sometimes Happiness, Sometimes Sorrow) boasts as sparkling a dream cast as Bollywood can ever hope of putting together. Director Karan Johar reunites with his three stars from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (Shahrukh Khan, Kajol, Rani Mukerji) and then, for extra flavor, tacks on Amitabh Bachchan, his wife Jaya Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan, and Kareena Kapoor. In India, brother, that translates to some megahuge star power. That cast alone is enough to guarantee a killing in the box office (which is in fact what happened). And, as predictable as the sun rising in the east, Kajol and Shahrukh Khan's chemistry retains its potency.

When you tune in to a Bollywood flick, brace yourself for tears and laughter, get ready to drown in vivid colors and over-the-top musical numbers. Chances are, you may even scoff at the sheer overwroughtness of the story. KABHI KHUSHI KABHIE GHAM, coming out in 2001, offers the quintessential Bollywood experience. There's nothing so new about this story, which revolves around a younger son's vow to return his long vanished brother back to the fold, after a decade of estrangement. The film follows the expected beats and clobbers you over the head with maudlin family histrionics. What makes it work are the terrific performances of the actors.

Caste and breeding matter to Yashvardhan "Yash" Raichand (Amitabh Bachchan), the proud, unbending patriarch of the powerful Raichand family. So the whatsis hits the fan when Yash's marriage plans for his adopted son Rahul go awry, because Rahul (Shahrukh Khan) has already fallen in love with Anjali (Kajol), the daughter of a lowly sweetmeat shop owner. That Anjali is vivacious and captivating means diddly squat to Yash, who just can't get past the notion that her station in life falls so far beneath expectations. When Anjali's father dies unexpectedly, leaving her and her younger sister Pooja orphaned and alone, Rahul decides to marry Anjali on the spot. This, as expected, enrages Yash all to bits. He and Rahul exchange words, the result of which is that Rahul is disowned. He bitterly departs, never to return. Ten years pass.

Even though Hrithik Roshan is featured in the framing segments of the film's first half (which is mostly a long flashback to what happened ten years ago), his presence is really felt in the second half. It's pretty funny, to look at this good-looking, all-muscly dude, that the character he plays, during childhood, used to be called Fatty. Fatty's real name is Rohan, Rahul's obese younger brother. Present day finds Rohan the best player in his cricket team, and I'm guessing he's implemented a good, good diet. Rohan, having been so young when Rahul left, has never gotten a full recounting of the rift between his brother and his father. When, on visiting his grandmothers, he finally learns the truth, he promises to find and bring Rahul and Anjali home to reconcile them with their father. His search leads him to London.

Not for one nanosecond do I think that KABHI KHUSHI KABHIE GHAM improves in any way on KUCH KUCH HOTA HAI, which is one of my favorite Bollywood films ever. But KABHI KHUSHI KABHIE GHAM has got its moments. First of all, the lush cinematography dazzles the bejeesus out of you, offering many stunning images and striking compositions and instantly assuring the audience that everyone involved in making this film spared no expenses and effort. There are ten songs here, some of which are impressively lavish productions, with "You Are My Soniya" and "Bole Chudiyan" showcasing Hrithik's dancing mojo. And, of course, there's that sweeping and evocative theme song. Although, I do vaguely resent that in "Suraj Hua Maddham" (the number set in Egypt) one could hear the strains of the theme song from KUCH KUCH HOTA HAI (Is it a rip-off or an homage?). Note too that the names of the lovers in both KUCH KUCH HOTA HAI and KABHI KHUSHI KABHIE GHAM are Rahul and Anjali (and that, in these two movies, they're played by Shahrukh and Kajol). Coincidence?

The film's second half mostly takes place in London and focuses much on Hrithik Roshan as he begins his subterfuge and ingratiates himself to an unwitting Rahul and Anjali, having passed himself off as the brother of Pooja's friend (Pooja, remember, is Anjali's younger sister, with whom Rohan has come clean and asked for help). Pooja is played by Kareena Kapoor, so it's no wonder that she's grown up smoking hot. Kareena does her shallow, perky bit, and it's a bit annoying, but this film's not really about her. Hrithik, on the other hand, is very good, especially when called on to produce unshed tears, an acting conceit which Shahrukh had long ago perfected.

I don't think I'll go into how very good each actor here is (okay, Kareena Kapoor doesn't totally suck). As usual, what was initially meant to be some quick comments have diarrhead into this lengthy thing. I'll say this: the actors do earn their paychecks and all that good adulation, and Kajol remains the most incandescent star in Bollywood (sorry, Aishwarya Rai). And, here, Kajol is also very funny. KABHI KHUSHI KABHIE GHAM has flaws which critics can gleefully pick at, it's true. It's certainly hammy enough. But one of the best things I admire in Bollywood is that its films aren't afraid to show unabashed emotion. No romance is so romantic, no heartache so torturous as when expressed in Bollywood. This film features two love stories, that of Rahul and Anjali and that of Rohan and Pooja (which really isn't as well developed). But, at its heart, this film means to demonstrate the significance of family, of one's roots and ties, at least in Hindi culture. Or as Director Karan Johar's introductory quote goes: "It's all about loving your parents." While I enjoyed Rahul and Anjali's interactions, I found it almost as absorbing that Anjali so desperately longs for the blessings of her father-in-law. I do wish that Kajol and Amitabh Bachchan had more scenes together. As far as the scenes between Amitabh and Shahrukh, brother, they are intense, intense stuff.

Speaking of Hindi culture, there's one neat scene in which Kajol's character, exiled to England and often prone to nationalistic moods, is gratified to hear her young son singing the Indian national anthem at a school function. Just one of the standout moments in this film, which, by the way, is three and a half hours long. So you're gonna need a whole mess of hankies.

Note: Hindi with English subtitles.

Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) adopted son of a wealthy Indian family is disowned by his Father (Amitabh Bachchan) for refusing his arranged marriage and marrying Anjali (Kajol) a poor local girl. Brokenhearted, Rahul not only leaves the family estate, but leaves India altogether taking up residence in London, England.

Ten years later his younger brother Rohan (Hrithik Roshan) goes in search of Rahul in hopes of mending the breach between father and son and restore family unity. Rohan was only a small boy when Rahul left, so when they meet again in London Rahul has no idea who he is. Rohan introduces himself saying, "Ash, my name is Ash," using his Father's name to stir his older brother's memories of home.

So begins the deception. Pretending to be a college student named Yash in search of lodging he is taken in by Rahul's family. With his disguise firmly in place Rohan begins to work on Rahul's emotions and love for family and Mother India in an attempt to breakthrough the bitterness of the past.

'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham' is one of three fantastic Indian films produced in the last couple of years. While the other two, 'Lagaan' and 'Pinjar' are not normative Indian films, this one takes advantage of all the usual Bollywood formulas. However it does it so perfectly you don't care.

The sets and costumes are sumptuous beyond belief, while the music and dancing sways back and forth between mindboggling frenzy and sweet melancholy touching every human emotion imaginable. It doesn't get any better than this in Bollywood, or anywhere else for that matter!

I was told this film got poo poohed when it hit theatres, but I really can't figure out why! All the big names save a very few were there, and they were all great. The movie is a touch epic and crazy sweet, a tale about pride, honor and what you must do for love. Most of the songs are danceable fun, and the rest are at least entertaining.
Bottom line, if you like bollywood or have even the tiniest fan crush on anyone in the cast, you will enjoy this movie.
PS, I loooove you Kajol!

This was like two movies in one. This first half was fantastic! The second half was a bit cheesy, but was still fun to watch. In my opinion, Hrithik Roshan will never replace the great Shah Rukh Khan!

Of course, looking at many good reviews, we all know the movie was a great hit with a great storyline, so I'm going to focus and review more on the blu-ray side of things. This a great movie for the collection and now released on blu-ray, I had to buy it for the high-definition quality! I was un-sure as to whether this movie would truely be on blu-ray and had my doubts when Amazon put the blu-ray edition on sale. I received the movie 4-5 weeks after I placed my order and sure enough, it was the blu-ray edition! The high-def video quality is great and makes it all that much better and exciting to watch! Great High-Definition (Blu-ray) version of the movie!

The title, which means "Sometimes Laughter, Sometimes Tears," pretty much sums up Hindi cinema, and the film is inclusive in another way: it embraces the transition in style and content that was well underway in Bollywood when it was released while remaining rooted in India's time-honored film conventions and cultural values.

The family unit is held in sacred regard, and the bonds of love between parents and children are often stronger than any other--except when romantic love dares to take precedence, which is what happens to the Raichands, a spectacularly rich family in Delhi. Yash (Amitabh Bachchan) and his wife Nandini (played by Amitabh's real wife Jaya Bachchan) are the zillionaire parents of Rahul (Shahrukh Khan) and Rohan (played as an adult later in the film by Hrithik Roshan), who was unexpectedly born to them nine years after adopting Rahul. In the beginning, the family is full of worshipful love for each other, exemplified in the first musical number, the title track, in which they pray to the gods and bless one other while singing and dancing goes on around them.

The wealthy are a trademark subject of the director, Karan Johar, and he consciously winks at the audience with the film's ridiculous display of affluence. The Raichand's home looks like the manor house of an English lord on the outside (even though it's in India) and an Indian palace on the inside. For transportation, they use their own personal helicopters, which drop them off on the front lawn of the grand estate.

Yash wants Rahul to marry Naina (Rani Mukerji), a family friend, who has all the class and breeding required to fit into the Raichand household. But Rahul loves Anjali (Kajol), his nanny's niece, a brash and boisterous lower-class girl who runs a sweet shop in the chaotic, colorful Delhi neighborhood of Chandni Chowk. Opposites attract, after all, and when Anjali's father dies, leaving her and her much younger sister Pooja (played as an adult by Kareena Kapoor) with no one to care for them, Rahul defies his father and marries Anjali. The stern authoritarian patriarch promptly disowns his favorite son for what he considers to be an unforgivable betrayal. Rahul and his new wife and sister-in-law move to London. When Rohan grows up, he sets out to reconcile the two enormous egos that split up his happy family.

The superb melodrama is as thick as honey and as darkly sweet, but the film is a whopping three-and-a-half hours long and the interminable musical numbers (there are 10) may test the endurance of all but die-hard Bollywood fans.

- The Bollywood Ticket: The American guide to Indian movies (Subscribe: The Bollywood Ticket)

I enjoyed watching this film, and I have to say I was impressed by the pretty packaging. Ususally one-disc releases of movies don't have very fancy boxes. This one was nice and had a slip-over. The movie itself was just as I remembered it from when I saw it years ago more or less.

The quality of the picture on the dvd while playing didn't impress me much, though. It almost looked like VHS at some parts, and more often than not it made me feel like I was watching a movie projected at a theater rather than a movie properly compressed and adapted for dvd. There were little black lines upon occasion, nothing truly distracting, but if you're expecting a really HQ copy of the film, this may not be the dvd for you. If you just want to see the film again because you liked it a long time ago and kind of missed it (as I did) then it's probably right up your alley. It's watchable, and it has english subtitles, although I have to say I've edited fanfiction with less typos in it than those subtitles had at times. All the same, it was an over-all enjoyable experince, and I'm pleased enough to have my copy. No real problems.

The movie itself is a good story. It's about an Indian family that is torn apart when the oldest son (who is actually adopted) marries a woman from a lower class after promising his father he would wed the woman he picked out for him. The son is disowned, and hurt at 'being made a stranger again' leaves the family for ten years thinking that his father can no longer love him. His younger brother, now grown up and college-aged, wishes to bring the family back together. He eventually does so, and there is a romance between him and his sister-in-law's little sister, Pooja, who was a sort of friend/bully of his as a child. Over-all, it's very cute, and well worth watching at least once. A nice film to have around when you have some spare time. Save it for day when you have a few hours on hand, or else watch it bit by bit, though, because it is pretty long.

Stellar production, a talented director and cast and a hefty budget won't make up for a weak storyline, something American cinema has yet to learn. I guess it helps to have something like the Ramayana to draw on as they did in Kabhi Khushi Khabie Gham (a little sadness, a little happiness) is how I think that title translates. Just when I was about to give up on this movie, it shifted into another gear.

The father of an insanely rich Indian family is a good man, but a traditionalist. He adopts a young boy and then has a son of his own. His adopted son is extremely loyal to his father and follows his every wish. His father sets him up for an arranged marriage with the daughter of a close business associate. The daughter is breathtaking, intelligent, in love with him, what could be better?

The trouble is, he falls in love with a cute little girl from a lower social station who is sweet, sassy and loads of fun, a woman probably closer to his pre-adoptive social class, unless I miss my guess.

Naturally, father disowns him, etc. etc. A movie of lesser goals would end there, but this one is just getting going. If you invest the time in it, this film rewards your patience.

Lovely film.

I own my copy from a store I brought it from not here. Anwyays that aside, this movie is SOOOOO touching about family and the bonds we share. It goes into the depths of each character and how each one struggles to overcome and move forward in life with hope and wisdom. ITs A TEAR JERKER...so have ur hankies ready. The music is beautiful, Kajol, Shahrukh, and Amitabh are amazing in this film. Once you begin watching this, you won't be able to move away from the screen..its sooo good! I loved all the characters!! Also if it helps, if you want to buy quality indian movies try [...], and also try [...], these are pretty good n safe! some other ones I LOVE: Kuch Na kaho, 3 Idiots (5 stars) its that good!!!, Rang de Basanti, Swades, No Entry, Dil Mange More, Hum Dil de chuke sanam (my fave)...u will looove these movies, good luck!

This was the first Bollywood movie I ever saw and it's a favorite. It is very dramatic and over the top--but it is a classic family love story. Ultimately, it is a happy film. The colors are fabulous and the film is very welcoming to its viewers. Be prepared though--the main background music used gets heavy and far too redundant. That is the thing that annoys me the most--this music will get stuck in your head for days. But I can overlook that because it is so charming over all. Also be prepared for the character Pooja--she is ridiculous, and she's supposed to be this ridiculous--but I think they could have toned that down a bit.