Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (Chopra, 2008)

[raging]

LOL so true... that was my main issue with the movie, which pretty much is the basic premise of the movie... but I wanted Yash Raj to do well because they have made some good movies and their recent 'bad' batch cost them a lot of money and reputation...

sandeep whats hurts me the most is the film had some awesome potential ,how will this boring 40 plus unckle make his way into the heart of this bubbly 18 year old sad girl ,instead of showing us there gradual journey towards one another by showing how they grow fond or dependent on each other and adjust (something like she maturing because of his age and him bringing out the inner child of his because of her )what a film that would have been instead we see shortcuts like a dance competition and a filmi makeover .im with shariq now im never wasting another penny on yash raj again .

[sandeep]

sigh... you should have met aditya before... your story sounds so much better!

[ayaa1977]

Despite all what you would think of Shahroukh Khan, you gotta admit that the man knows how to choose the right projects. He is just like his rival Aamir Khan in this regard. Compare them to the third part of that triangle, Salman, and you will get the point. While he ruled the 90’s, it seems as he still dwindles there even though it is 2009. One hit followed by several flops, which is really sad. Sharoukh in the other hand knows his forte, he is a crowd pleaser. He knows what the trends and improves his game upon that. But if you break it down, he really is still doing the same sappy romance/drama/comedy. Simple fluffy harmless family-oriented massala, and in my book there is nothing wrong with that.

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi is no different, it is love story from the point of view of a 40-something ordinary boring man Surinder 'Suri' Sahni, Shahroukh Khan, an employee of Punjab Electric Company, who was struck by love the first time he lay an eye on the young beautiful and lively Taani, Anushka Sharma, on her wedding day. An accident happens and the groom dies. So when his mentor, the father of the bride, fell ill, his dying wish is that “Sory”, Shahroukh, marries his daughter because he knows that this honorable man would ensure her well-being. So they get married on a hurry, and he takes her back to Amritsar. The girl makes it clear to him that the old Taani is dead. She has no love to offer him, but she will try her best to be a good wife. However he wants her to be happy and her old self, so he tries his best to amuse her and make her forget her pain. When she asks him if she can enroll in a dancing class, he agrees, and he creates an alter-ego for himself, Raj, a man who can be her dream lover. She partners with Raj in the dancing class, and Raj tries his best to woo her. Would she open her heart again? And if she does, whom would she love; Sury or Raj? Is this really a match made in heaven? 

It is not ground breaking, and it is not even going to be a classic Sharoukh film, but it is a well-structured story, with an appealing lead actress. Newcomer Anushka Sharma did a very good and solid job in her debut film, unlike his pervious discovery Deepika Padukone in Om Shanti Om who was as wooden as wood can get, although she improved in her subsequent attempt Bachna Ae Haseeno. The story of the film is focused; there are no side plots and minimal number of supporting characters. It is beautifully shot; Aditya Chopra knows how to make a stunning looking film. The music numbers are well crafted. Holey Holey for example shot mostly in uninterrupted well choreographed long takes. It looked like a stand alone music video, and it was the first time I see that in a Bollywood film. Other music numbers were also well-done. Having said that, the songs themselves were not that good, aside from Tujh Main Rab Dikhta Hai and Holey Holey which are good but they are not exactly classic material. The film itself is 45 min too long, the story is way thinner than the running time, and it ends with the same cliché happy ending. But that is really ok to me; I knew what I was getting watching this film and I got exactly what I expected. I was not enamored by the film but I must admit it was a good watch, and I give it 3/5.

[sandeep]

wow ayaa, you are generous... I guess I was expecting something more than the usual cliche from Aditya Chopra... He is an intelligent film maker and I guess I was not satisfied with something so ordinary...

[ayaa1977]

wow ayaa, you are generous... I guess I was expecting something more than the usual cliche from Aditya Chopra... He is an intelligent film maker and I guess I was not satisfied with something so ordinary...

Allow me to disagree with you on that. You said intelligent filmmaker, but he only directed three films: DDLJ, a very charming film and a favorite of mine. It was the ultimate crowd-pleaser, but there hardly anything intelligent about it. And Mohabbatein which was mediocre at best. This is his third outing and it is the same masala. So I think I was being fair, but you on the other hand had great expectations. I would say that Aditya Chopra is a high profile hack in Bollywood, and I say that with love. 

[sandeep]

Dont forget that Aditya is the ghost in the Yash Raj camp, the man behind all of their productions, dhoom, dhoom 2, kabul express, Chak de India, Salaam Namaste, Hum Tum, Fanaa, Bachna Ae Haseeno to name a few.

It is known that his input for music, production, direction, lyrics, is invaluable, which makes him an all rounded intelligent film maker.

[ayaa1977]

Dont forget that Aditya is the ghost in the Yash Raj camp, the man behind all of their productions, dhoom, dhoom 2, kabul express, Chak de India, Salaam Namaste, Hum Tum, Fanaa, Bachna Ae Haseeno to name a few.

It is known that his input for music, production, direction, lyrics, is invaluable, which makes him an all rounded intelligent film maker.

So you mean he is to blamed for Neal and Nikki, lol. As for myself, I would hold him accountable for a tangible role, i.e. director, writer, etc. This "jack of all trades" title is too elusive for my taste. Anyway, I don't think I was so far off with the score I gave it, 3/5 is hardly far away from your 2.5/5 Sandeep. I like making it simple, 2.5/5 means that I am "on the fence" regarding this film, but since I liked it, I had to tip the scale in its favor, you know what I mean?

So in conclusion, as I director, I think Aditya Chopra is a run of the mill director for commercial polished pop-corn flicks, a hack if you will. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[sandeep]

I dont think any director or producer has a 100% success rate, there are lots of Yash Raj Films that didnt do well... but even those had some good parts and elements, which is more than whole films like kambakkht ishq etc...

As for your review, it was not about the points that I said you are generous, it was about your thoughts and how you accepted the usual cliche and enjoyed it.

[ayaa1977]

I dont think any director or producer has a 100% success rate, there are lots of Yash Raj Films that didnt do well... but even those had some good parts and elements, which is more than whole films like kambakkht ishq etc...

As for your review, it was not about the points that I said you are generous, it was about your thoughts and how you accepted the usual cliche and enjoyed it.

Well I have absolutely no qualms with watching a mainstream cliché-ridden films, as long as it embraces it and have no grand illusions of greatness or pretends to be something more than it is. So as long as it entertains me, doesn't offend my intelligent, and it is well-made within the conventions of its genera, I really don't mind, in fact I like to turn my brain off and enjoy myself from time to time. That has been my approach to film for a long time and I don't think I am going to change it. I am the Anti-snob on WM.

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi fulfill everything I said and I stand by my rating.

[sandeep]

Hey I am the Anti snob too, I guess I expected more from him, thats all...