Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa

I have watched this movie over 20 times. But i don't think that it's a GREAT movie. It's just a fairly good movie. Simple, to the point, slightly comedic, slightly romantic, slightly heart-warming. But I have watched it over 20 times. The reason is Shahrukh Khan.

This was Shahrukh before Baazigar, before Darr and more importantly, before DDLJ. This was Shahrukh Khan raw. This was him before the audiences found him lovable and adored him. This was him before he was able to floor girls with just a look and a smile. This was SRK before he became a star.

As said by another reader, SRK breathes life into the character of Sunil. Sunil is a guy we all know, we all are. He is the common man. He has weaknesses, he isn't rich, or particularly handsome and he's sometimes willing to go the wrong way to achieve something.

The movie is filled with ridiculous situations (the Chinese theme bar!!!) and characters (Anthony Gomez) but SRK fights it all and shines through. I recommend this movie to all people who watch SRK today and say that he keeps doing the same kind of roles. It is a brilliant performance.

Being such huge fans of 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron' I still remember the excitement when we (some friends and I) went to watch this movie. It was after a gap of 10 years that Kundan Shah had come out with a movie and we couldn't wait to watch it. Though we found 'Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naan' to be OK but were disappointed as it was nothing like 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron'. But I give credit to Kundan Shah for his judgment on not trying to repeat 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaron' again because it is difficult to recreate magic.

Caught 'Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naan' on cable couple of years later and since this time I knew what to expect, I quite enjoyed the film. I watched it again and this time I enjoyed it more. That's the thing about this movie; it grows on you. It's like a friendly face in the neighborhood that the more you see the more you like. Now I consider this as one of my favorite movies that I can watch from any point and enjoy it.

It's the story of youth with all its elements; the unrequited love, the ambition to do something different, the generation gap etc. But it is the characters and situations that are so real and so delightful that you can identify with most of them from your own personal life. The humor is subtle and will make you smile and at the most chuckle. Performance wise everyone does a fine job. Jatin Lalit's music is melodious and pleasant, but I must admit that I have a bias against Kumar Sanu's voice so I would have preferred someone else to sing the songs.

All in all an entertaining film, while not so complex that subtitles are needed for those not overly proficient in Hindi. SRK is in his blustery talk-his-way-out-of-everything mood here, chasing after an Anna who looks 14 and is entirely silly -- her playback singer isn't all that great. The rivalry between him and Chris is actually well done and sincere-sounding, a rarity for Bollywood. Kind of throws you off that Udit Narayan's singing for Chris in this movie, if you've gotten used to thinking of that as SRK's voice. Father Braganza is a great character, showing interreligious cameraderie and not set up as a comedic figure (unlike Catholic priests in several other movies, both Indian and American). Goa's beauty shines through the whole thing and makes any story seem believable, even this one.

Shahrukh Khan is not where he is today without a reason. He is one of the most natural and talented actors Indian cinema has seen. Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa is a true example of his ability to create a character so simple yet so memorable. Though such films do not always work out commercially for him, Khan is always at his very best in roles like this, where he plays the ordinary and simple middle-class guys, who are romantic and witty, generous and lighthearted, vulnerable and yet ever so optimistic. That's what represents Sunil, a character so real and so easy to relate to. He badly loves a girl who does not love him the way he would want her to, he is an average student, and most of his efforts to find romance are unsuccessful. Sunil is partly a comic, partly a tragic character, and Khan injects it with so much energy, realism and passion that you don't really feel it is an actor playing a part. That's what makes this character unforgettable and this performance an all-time great.

Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa is actually about what life is. Sometimes you get something, sometimes you don't; sometimes it hurts, but in the end, you learn to come to terms with it. Kundan Shah's direction is outstanding. He brilliantly portrays all the aspects of Sunil's life, if it's his relationships, his love, his hope or despair. The dialogues are well-written and the film is realistic throughout. The music is beautiful and all the songs are absolutely spot on. Though the film belongs to Shahrukh Khan, the entire supporting cast is fantastic, and every actor, from the pretty Suchitra Krishnamoorthi to the ever-great Naseeruddin Shah, does a fine job. Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa is surely an underrated gem. It is a film that will at least partly remind one of oneself and generally has bits every person can relate to. It is a film that I can watch over and over again, and still be excited, saddened and encouraged. It is a film that teaches you how to look at life differently, how to take things as they come and despite the pain, be able to recover with a smile.

The movie was released at the time when SRK had begun his steps towards stardom. This is by far his best performance to date. The story is very simple and entertaining. Kundan Shah does a good job in direction. A simple love triangle melded with hummable numbers and some comedy makes the movie superb.

The support cast have done proper justice to their job. Whether it's Deepak or Naseerudin or Anjan or Ashutosh. But the charm of the movie is the débutante Suchitra who plays her role of Ana as beautifully as she is in looks.

And above all, SRK with his lifetime best role. Critics of SRK should watch this movie as SRK gives a Baadshah performance even though he plays the role of a simple Town guy. His act as Sunil, so simple but yet so convincing. One feels as SRK is playing their role, when he talks, when he fancies Ana, when he laughs and even when he cries. It all seems so natural. My rating - 9/10