Customer Reviews

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... [VHS]

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

This is the first Bollywood movie I have ever watched, so I do not have a basis of comparison with other Bollywood movies. I believe this is a good thing, because watching it, I was not caught saying, "Well, this wasn't as good as Asoka", or, "This is a rip-off of such-and-such". I saw it for what it was--a fun 3 act musical that keeps you glued. The music is infecting (I just bought the soundtrack because of it), the storyline, while predictable, is enjoyable, and once you realized it was a musical the song and dance numbers didn't feel as strange. If you hate musicals, you will hate this film, but for everyone else, you really should watch it.

It's interesting that so many of the reviewers of this movie have Western names. It looks like Bollywood is starting to gain a non-Indian following in America, and why should we be surprised? Bollywood is fun! Unlike most of the dreadful foreign films that art house lemmings go into raptures over, Americans like Bollywood films for their inherent entertainment value, not because some elite of turtleneck-wearing professors or New York film critics discerns genius in the muddled hallucinations of some Italian gasbag. In Bollywood, Americans can enjoy the kinds of movies that Hollywood used to produce, while learning about a different culture. Of course, the main thing we learn about that culture is that Indian people frequently break out into song and perform lavish dance routines in the street, but still, there are fascinating nuggets of cultural education here. Besides that though, the subject matter of Bollywood films have a universal appeal: love and marriage, family problems, tradition and modernity- and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham has those themes in spades, along with some catchy tunes ("Say Shava Shava" for one), spectacular dance numbers and good clean fun. This movie is a bit long, but still a great introduction to Bollywood for non-Indians.

What Can I say about the movie popularly known as K3G? It has a massive star caste. You don't get to see the legendary Amitabh Bachan,SRK and Hrithik Roshan in one film. The story thought quite filmy is different from the ones I've watched. It has its own inertia. There are many scenes in this film that made me go numb. I saw this film in my early-late teens and I must say it came as a jolt to me.

It's a family based drama. Easily the best Bollywood has ever put out. Karan Johar wins all respect for the kind of emotion he seeks to and manges to bring out in not just the characters but the audience too. I never heard anyone talk ill of this film simply cause its flawless. Now Now Now...if I had to describe the film to someone I'd say its about a father , a step son and a son. One very underlined motive behind this film is family values.

I've seen previous films like Hum Aapke Hai Kaun and Maine Pyaar Kiya and a few others. With all due respect, I thought they were corny,overbloated and pointless. They tried to appeal to the mass audience and did but they never really struck any emotional chord with me. K3G has simple scenes that are so brilliantly directed that they actually brought a tear or ten to my eyes. I felt there was something wrong with me. Maybe it's the absolutely subtle niceness I noticed in a few characters.
Hrithik never acted as good as he did in this film. There's this nice boyish non rebellious energy in him that leaves me confused.

Jaya Bachchan was surprisingly good in the film. I have never liked her acting. Kareena Kapoor is good for her role.Kajol , who I for some reason held some contempt again delivers a great performance as a wife stuck between inlaws and her hubby. The introductions to the characters of Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik were just outstanding.

A very well thought out film. I noticed quite a few people cry shamelessly at the absolute feeling of being benighted in a lot of people who watched this film. Me for one.

I can go on but I can't quiet comprehend the level of film making karan johar streched this film to. "Kaal" in comparison is very disappointing.

This film stars the Legend of Bollywood AMitabh BAchchan and The Superstar of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan. Alongside Amitabh's reallife wife Jaya Bachchan in a magnificent role. This film will apeal to anybody who likes bollywood Film. its very Fun and emotinally entertainingly Heart warming. One Actress who almost ruined it with her ridiculouly unnatural acting in the film Kareena Kapoor. Otherwise.. Great 4 Bollywood Fans

This is a wonderful movie that we watched and shared with others four times during the first week we had it. The only problem we had with the movie is that it is a double layer movie. On some of our DVD players it would skip sections which was extreemly annoying. When we found which player would play it without skipping we had an extreemly enjoyable time. Some scenes were a bit sensual even though it has a PG rating. The rating is close though. It didn't seem like the movie was as long as it says. It goes by quickly. It does have an "intermission" in the middle which is good. The only reason I wouldn't rate it five stars is the technical aspect of the disk. I wish they'd put it onto two disks.

I'll admit, this was one of the first Bollywood films I had ever seen, but even after seeing a half-dozen others it is still my favorite. Drenched in luxurious locations and colors, this story of a family torn apart by love, pride and stern tradition is a real treat for the jaded American palate. It takes a while to willingly accept the cultural differences in plot and motivation - a son defying his father's choice of bride to choose his own is not something that would destroy a family in the West, but by the end of this movie you might find yourself getting teary-eyed too over the family's anguish.

Filled with lavish song and dance numbers, a beautiful cast (men and women alike) and the kind of 3-hanky Victorian melodrama we've long scorned in the US, this film is a treat. Certain aspects of the movie, such as the 3-hour length and long, loving shots of weeping mothers and brothers get tiring after a while, but invest the time and effort and you'll enjoy the whole package. A great first film (after Monsoon Wedding, which is a more realistic introduction to Indian culture) for viewers wanting the full-out Bollywood experience!

One of the Best Bollywood has produced
K3G was the very first bollywood movie i saw. Almost immediately you are dragged into the world of colour and beauty that is missing from hollywood films. The storyline surrounds a rich indian family and what happens when you follow your heart instead of what others want for you; in this case the patriarch of the family played by Amitah Bachan an icon in bollywood. Rahul, played by Shahrukh Khan who by the way gives an awesome performance- is the oldest son of the family and is all set to take over the family business when he meets and fall in love with Anjali(played by Kajol) the niece of the lady who raised him who is unfortunately from the ' wrong side of the tracks' so to speak. His father on the other hand has already chosen a wife for him and when he refuses and marry the one he loves he is disinherited and moves to London. All of this is told to his younger brother Rohan played by bollywood lastest sensation Hritik Roshan,by his grandmother ten years later. At this point the movie has lost its colour and good vibes as it show a family torn apart by the separation. The mother played by Jaya Bachan mopes and grieves for the son that was ripped from her side by her uncomprimising husband whose word is law in the family. Rohan sets out for London to look for his brother to try to repair the damage done to his family and to return the joy that was missing from his mother's life. Rahul now lives with Anjali and their son Krish along with her sister Pooja who later becomes Rohan love interest in London. Rohan reignite the friendship he had with Pooja and gained access to the house wrangling an invitation to move in with the family so that he can try to find a way to get them to come back home. This second half of the movie while not as fun and lighthearted as the first half show all the things Rohan does to get the family back together and at the same time his courtship of Pooja. The climax of the movie happens when he strategises a meeting between his parents and his brother in a local shopping mall. The reunion between mother and son is so poignant and heartfelt that you can't help but to be dragged into the emotional scene as their eyes meet after ten long years of separation. Yet still nothing is resolved as the father still won't bend. The grandmother dies and the location moves back to India. Here the mother tries once again to have her son and husband talk through their problems, after another refusal she stand up to him and tells him exactly what she thought of him,at the same time, Rohan is pleading with Rahul to come back atleast once to visit his mother, to end the rift that separates the family, to put a smile back on his mother's face. This leads to a meeting between father and song that is emotional but true to real life and can be parallel to other father son situations in everyday life. This movie took me through a range of emotions. You laugh at the lovebirds antics and fall in love right along with them; you'll hate the father for his stuborness and snobby attitude and grieve with the mother who loses her heart and joy which was her son but also cheer her along when she stands up to her husband. A bright and colourful movie that invites you into a family from the other side of the world just to find they are no different from you own. The songs will become favourites and you find yourself dancing along with them. The chemistry between the cast is electrifying as a well chosen cast rarely is. You will not be disappointed and this will become a favourite in your collection garunteed.

Also recommended: Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Diwane Dulhane La Jayenge, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Karun Arjun, Koi Mil Gaya

K3G was the first Bollywood film I saw, and my viewing it resulted in my thorough addiction to the genre. I spent almost four hours watching this family drama, the singing and dancing, and all the beautiful actors and actresses and was completely mesmerized by the sheer pageantry of the film. The so-so story is essentially two different love stories, set against the backdrop of intense family pressures and cultural issues unique to life as an NRI (non-resident Indian). As with all Karan Johar movies, there is plenty of crying and melodrama, but a happy ending. K3G is an Indian blockbuster that stars six of the biggest film stars in the Bollywood industry and features unusual, exquisite scenery and expensive, lavish costumes. The songs, in particular, are gorgeous eye candy.

My main complaint about this film arises from several years of watching Hindi cinema, in that the melodrama and pat dialogues of this movie become less moving and more annoying over time. However, I still recommend this movie as a nice, entertaining film and a fine overall introduction into the spectacle of Bollywood movies. While it's not one of the best for either acting or story (despite winning several awards in the year of its release), K3G is still a solid Karan Johar production that is easy to watch and likely to lead to a Bollywood addiction.

I am an avid Bollywood fan, and yes, though that may sound strange (since Bollywood films are typically stereotyped as plotless and pointless), it is who I am and I can't change it. Of course, that doesn't mean I'm not bored by the several, monotonous storylines of "boy-gets-girl". Of course, there are always a few exceptions that stand out from the typical trend. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham is a shining example. Karan Johar's direction is truly amazing, and the acting is unbeatable. If Johar had cast anybody else to play any of the characters in this film, I doubt it would have been the same. That doesn't mean the film relies heavily on acting. The plot and direction individually are enough to carry the film through. The cinematography is first-rate, and each camera angle seems to have a special, radiant beauty. Overall, a noble endeavor that has resulted in an awesome film. No wonder it was such a big success!