Sometimes Happiness, Sometimes Sadness (Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (DVD))

Member Name: jaygami1986

Product:	Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (DVD)
Date:	15/02/08 (84 review reads)
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Wow well this will be only my second review on a Bollywood film, and on a film that I really enjoyed watching. My previous review on Lagaan was also an inspirational film, largely due to the fact that it was about cricket; however this film is perhaps the total opposite. It's got so many general themes, and to be honest regardless of race or creed the message and understanding applies to every family in one aspect or another. I am reviewing Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Directed by Karan Johar, and starring Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Jaya Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan, and many more top class bollywood actors.
Well I went to see the film in theatres when it was released some time early 2002. My girlfriend at the time at some how managed to drag me into watching this film, under the pretence that it was an action film, boy was I fooled. However, even after watching the film for some 210 minutes, I was actually quite pleased I had a chance to watch this film, largely because the topic discussed in the film has so much relevance to my parents up brining and to some extent my life as a British Indian, ill explain as I along. Now I probably understand that most people have never heard of this film and most likely have no intention of ever watching this film, because bollywood might not be there scene. However considering the growing demand and popularity of Bollywood in Britain, along with the fact that this film was in the UK top ten list for a while, and that we need some more foreign film reviews I though it would try my best to educated and perhaps enlighten the community with a different style of film, remember Bollywood isn't just about singing, the films also tell great stories.
Well I feel it would be important to first give a brief intro to the two biggest cast members in this film, a little history about them, which will sort of bring you up to speed about who they are, what they have done in life etc. Oh and before you ask, the film translated means, "Sometimes Happiness, Sometimes Sadness"

Amitabh Bachchan: Well what can I say about Big B as he is called nowadays, he is probably the greatest Bollywood actor of all times, both in terms of his ability and his box office appeal, worldwide. He made his film debut in 1969, and as of 2008 he has starred in some 169 films, which is some amazing record. He also made a stint as the host of the Indian Version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire, which he then gave up and was then given to his co star in this film Kahn.
Most people may not no that he actually was voted the greatest actor of the millennium beating the likes of Clint Eastwood, Al Pa Chino and even Marlin Brando.

Shahrukh Khan: Well Big B is the greatest actor; Khan is like his understudy, and probably the second greatest of all time. He's a very gifted actor, who again has starred in over a 100 films, he's played a killer, a lover, a brother, a son you name it. He recently took over Big B as the host of Who Wants to be a Millionaire, and seems to be brining in a huge weekly audience.


Plot:

Well for those of you that have seen some Bollywood movies over the years, you get the impression that there is always a love story mixed in somewhere between the film, along with god knows how many songs, which can sometimes put you off even going to watch these films, but I guess its all apart of the show.

Rahul (Shahrukh Khan), is adopted by a rich and successful family Yash" Raichand (Amitabh Bachchan) and his wife Nandini (Jaya Bachchan), later in life they are able to have a child of their own named Rohan (Hrithik Roshan), but they love both their sons just as equally, and have so much love and respect for them, treating them as equals. Yash however, being the traditionalist he is believes both the sons should be bought up like he was, arranged marriages, and is against the idea of a love marriage as he feels it is the parents duty to decide who they kids should be matched with. After studying in London, Rahul comes back to India, were he meets a young, beautiful and somewhat clumsy girl by the name of Anjali (Kajol); he instantly falls in love with her and wants to marry her.
Meanwhile, Yash is preparing to get his son married to a girl called Naina (Rani Mukerji) a friend of the family, however his son soon tells him he has found someone else, and this enrages his father. Not only is this a love marriage, but Anjali is also a common person, her family isn't rich and therefore not apart of any wealth. Against his fathers wishes Rahul marries Anjali, and when he tells his parents, his dad disowns him. A scared, angry and shocked Rahul says an emotional goodbye to his mother and leaves to go and live in London.

The film then picks up many years later, when the second son Rohan is now a much older person, who is living his life with his parents. However, he one day finds out that his brother was in fact adopted and when asking his parents why he left they tell him, because he married into a love marriage. Having not seen his brother for many years, Rohan tricks his parents and tells them he is going to London to study, however he is really going to find his brother. When in London, he stays with his brother, however the catch it his brother doesn't no that it is him. Can Rohan somehow bring a truce into the family, can he finally get to no his brother, and will they all be one happy family? What twists and turns await you, I guess you will just have to watch this 210 minute film.

Characters:

Amitabh Bachchan ... Yashvardhan Raichand: Well Yash is somewhat a typical Indian traditional father, he wants the best for his two boys, however he is so against them of having there own path in marriage. His relationship with his son is broken the day he throws him out, and his wife has never been able to fully forgive him for taking away her son.

Shahrukh Khan ... Rahul Raichand: Rahul is the poor lad who has to choose between love and family; he loves his parents so much, but can't understand why they won't let him marry the woman he loves. He soon leaved his life in India and moves to London, however whilst in London he still has a big portrait of his father in the living room, which shows a sign of how much he still loves and respects him.

Hrithik Roshan ... Rohan Raichand: Rohan is the younger brother who ahs been lied to his whole life, he never really knew why his brother left and when he finds out I guess he is somewhat angry with his father. When in London, he starts building a bond with his brother; they have so much in common. However, deep down inside Rohan always got the feeling that his dad loved Rahul more than him; there was a bond between them too.


My View:

It may not seem relevant to most people, but I think most Indians can in some way respect how this film deals with normal day life. It is always so common for a arranged marriage in India, and parents do sometimes pressure their children, however this is a story of how love conquers all, Rahul disowns his father because he is doing what he thinks is right for him. The story is all about family respect, respect the father shows a son, respect a father shows his wife and the respect children show their parents. It's about how times can be hard, families my agree to disagree but at the end of the day it's all about doing what's right. The story is quite moving because Yash really loves his son, but he is so stubborn he was never willing to build bridges and bring his son back home, his son who now had a child of his own has never meet his grandparents. And then we have a mothers love for her child, she always dreams of him one day coming back home and living in the family home, and the emotional tears when they finally meet again.

Cast:

Amitabh Bachchan,
Shahrukh Khan,
Jaya Bachchan,
Kajol,
Hrithik Roshan,
Kareena Kapoor

List of Songs Used for the film, quite a few but remember its Bollywood; sorry I couldn't translate,

1. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham
2. Bole Chudiyan
3. You Are My Sonia
4. Suraj Hua Madham
5. Say Shava Shava
6. Yeh Ladki Hai Allah
7. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham Sad Part 1
8. Deewana Hai Dekho
9. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham Sad Part 2
10. Soul of K3G
11. Vande Mataram

Summary: A Good Bollywood film