Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...

This film shines from start to finish, and runs the gamut of emotions. The cinematography, sets, and costumes are brilliant. The sparkling performances of six of India's leading actors alone makes the movie worth seeing, even if some might not feel comfortable with the deep sentimentality displayed by the leading men (women are fine with this; American men sometimes find it unnerving). Hrithik Roshan is pure eye candy for women of all ages, somehow oozing sweetness and innocent sexuality at the same time. The catchy song and dance number he performs with the lovely Kareena Kapoor at their 'prom,' "You Are My Soniya," has gotten regular replays in this household for weeks (even by my 79-year old mother, who will say, "I need a Soniya fix" - it really cheers her up!). The other musical numbers are very enjoyable, too, and never seem out of place or at odds with the flow of the film. Shahrukh Khan is adorable, as always, as the favorite son, and can hold his own in the dance numbers, too. Kajol gets to show her comic side, and was great at it! And knowing that the 'parents,' Amitabh and Jaya are a married couple in 'real life' just makes their interactions in the film that much better. Don't miss this wonderful movie! If you see just one Hindi movie, make it this one! (I am adding this question, for anyone who knows the answer: I wanted to find out what actor played Rohan at about age 12; the cast list shows three names for "Fattie" but no further details for any of these actors. If you happen to know the answer, please email me at punzelle@cox.net. Thank you!)

Despite the rousing tale and fine performances, 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...' is bogged down by its unnecessary lengthy run-time that takes much too long to get to the point and needless doses of drama.

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... seems to embody every quintessential element to be found in a Bollywood production. Films from India seem to always include energetic song and dance rituals, emotional sentimentality, a strong showcase of the country's culture and customs, and explicit emphasis on the importance of family and the bond that only blood can bring.

The last Bollywood film I was fortunate enough to see was 3 Idiots, a film that was not only a very funny comedy but an immensely effective culture experience, shedding light on the high suicide rate in the country's teen population. We were told that because of the pressure parents put on their offspring, if success is not achieved by the sons or daughters through grades, income, or upward mobility, some look to suicide as an outlet. It's a depressing statistic, and rarely would you see an American comedy (or any comedy for that matter) incorporate that fact with stupid humor. Director Rajkumar Hirani boldly crafted the film into a two and a half hour emotional roller-coaster that was always entertaining and never boring. I loved it and it was a brilliant film to begin my journey through Bollywood cinema.

Kabhi Kushi Kabhie Gham... (which translates literally to "Sometimes Happiness, Sometimes Sadness" in English) is a solid film to further the journey with Bollywood cinema, concerning the Raichand family, an affluent family in India. The household of the family is controlled by Yashvardhan "Yash" Raichand (Amitabh Bachchan), is an immensely successful businessman, living with his wife Nandini (Jaya Bachchan) and their two sons Rahul and Rohan. Rahul, the older son, was adopted at birth and learns of this at the tender age of eight.

Rahul is eventually disowned by Yash for marrying a woman of a lower socioeconomic standing then the Raichand family, and for that reason, the Raichand family is now incomplete. However, there is hope. When Rohan returns home after a decade in boarding school, he is informed of his brother's adoption and is well aware of his father disowning his younger half. Rohan then decides to try and reunite his family, making the Raichand family the complete unity it hasn't been for years.

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... seems to iterate traditionalist Indian values and ideas that a family cannot function unless a family is together at all times. There is an argument to be had in its portrayal of a family and its functionality when a link is missing. However, I am more prepared to make the argument that the film's two hundred and ten minute runtime is more than enough a complaint in itself. The film doesn't need to be this long, and lengthy song and dance routines cloud the film's overall message, which could be reiterated in two and a half hours. For a film locked in conservative family values, it makes a liberal use of its time.

However, the message rings strong - if debatable - and the performances by talented Indian actors such as Bachchan, Kajol (as Rahul's wife), along with Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan, who play the adult versions of Rahul and Rohan, respectively. Their devotion to this material that runs at an opus-length is marvelous and never seems to diminish at any point in the film. Moreover, The song and dance rituals are always a blast. It will take a solid week for me to stop singing "Say Shava Shava," and the infectious cinematography and production values that seem to follow each number keep the film at an absurdly lively status. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... seems to have a limitless amount of energy, and given the enormity of its production, its scope, and its music, it shouldn't be completed in one sitting for a first time viewing.

Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Kajol, Hrithik Roshan, and Kareena Kapoor. Directed by: Karan Johar.

This movie is truly a work of art, with the emphasis on art. Dazzling costumes, magnificent buildings, glitzy cars, tons of emotions. Karan Johar is a master at extracting the exact emotion that he wants from the viewer. You cannot help but weep or cry at various scenes, even though you see them coming a mile away. The storyline is cliched and has been done many times before, but NEVER has it been packaged in such a powerful way. Kudos to the director, who despite the small flaws in the script, steers the viewer away from it, and engrosses you in the myriad of artistic explosions on the screen. Amitabh Bachan plays the patriach and is fairly good in the role, although he has done it before and is starting to stereotype him. Some scenes, I thought, were a little demeaning to him [the dance with the females in the Shava song], and should have been done more tastefully.

Jaya Bachan is very good as the wife, with the amazing ability to sense her son. The scene where she stands up to Amitabh is brilliantly executed, as is the scene where ShahRukh meets her in the shopping mall in London.

Kajol is brilliant, and this is probably her best role/performance of her career. She is pure magic and fills the screen with bubbly enthusiasm and sheer excitement whenever she is in frame.

Kareena Kapoor is appropriately cast and is also excellent in the role of Poo. She is a delight to watch, and does not falter, even in the comic scenes with Shahrukh. One cannot imagine anyone else in this role.

Hrithik Roshan, to me, was the surprise of the movie. He was brilliant and just about steals the show in the second half of the movie. His performance is sincere and visually a treat. He is indeed the superstar of the future. Bulging muscles and hip dance steps aside, this guy is a brilliant actor through and through.

But for me, Shahrukh Khan is the star of this movie. He is stupendous, magnificent, brilliant. He makes you laugh, cry, dance, cringe, smile. He does all this with flawless perfection. His pairing with Kajol is magical, and it shows on screen. I can now understand why Karan Johar says that he cannot imagine doing a film without Shahrukh. The guy is amazing.

On the whole, this is an excellent movie that is worth at least 4 trips to the cinema. Thank you Karan Johar.

Karan Johar's Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham is one of the most ravishing, grandiose and melodramatic Hindi films ever made. It is incredibly unrestrained and stormy in its emotional quotient, and yet so watchable, enjoyable and at times even pleasurable, that you can't but applaud to this spectacular show. It is one of the few films where overacting seems superb acting and overly melodramatic proceedings, despite being very cheesy and occasionally clichéd, become quite bearable. It combines realism and surrealism, comedy and heavy melodrama in a very unique style, which makes for an altogether colourful picture which is fun to watch.

The film is about relationships in family, about loving your parents and your family, about pride, values and regret. The well defined and written characters are used to create and present all these qualities. Even the least emotional scenes are accompanied by orchestrated violins, heavy piano and strikingly sad pictures on-screen. The film shows both the bright and dark sides of happy families, and while it never breaks new ground, never looks totally authentic, it is always entertaining in spite of its flaws. It depicts both the Indian traditional world and the western modern world and tries to bring them together in many instances.

Some of the film's too emotional scenes could have been better edited and partly cut. The cinematography is good, the sets are extremely lavish, and the narrative is effectively laden with numerous songs and many memorable moments of comedy and drama. The comedy provides great relief and lightens the otherwise more-than-enough drama, and the music is extraordinary. My favourite song is "Suraj Hua Maddham", a greatly melodious number wonderfully performed by Sonu Nigam and Alka Yagnik and extremely beautifully shot across some breathtaking locations. Needless to say, the chemistry between the two leads, Shahrukh Khan and Kajol, is as electrifying as ever.

Where acting goes, Amitabh Bachchan is restrained and displays well the hidden pain and the visible pride. Jaya Bachchan is superb as the subservient yet strong woman. Towards the end there is one very powerful scene in which she really stands out (you'll know which one). Shahrukh Khan in a typical, cynical and likable character, is great as always. Kajol utterly steals the show and proves her prowess as a gifted comedienne. She is hilarious in her comic scenes and equally shines in moments of drama. Her strong, charismatic presence is perhaps the best thing about this film. Farida Jalal provides excellent support. Hrithik and Kareena are unimpressive and inconsistent. Hrithik is over-expressive and far more emotional than required, and Kareena, while attractive and quite funny at times, badly overacts.

All in all, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham has bits of everything: drama, melodrama, romance and comedy, all presented wholeheartedly in true Hindi-film style with lots of tears and lots of fun. It is an example of Bollywood entertainment at its grandest, and works as such. This is a movie to be seen with one's family. Go for it.