Kabhie Kabhie

Yash Chopra's ability to make a mainstream film which is hopelessly romantic on the one hand but then, at the same time, infuse it with a sort of delicate realism when it comes to his portrayal of relationships, is quite a rarity in commercial Hindi films. Mind you, Kabhie Kabhie is neither an art film nor a middle-of-the-road, Hrishikesh Mukherjee-style sort of film, but it has this believability about it which makes it entirely different and superior to the usual fare of the times. Due credit goes of course to the script by Sagar Sarhadi and Chopra's direction. Few mainstream films of the times showed a husband and wife lying on their bed and having a casual conversation after waking up, the wife taking a bath, other female characters sitting and sewing for leisure or reading a newspaper. This situational matter-of-factness, which is also true of the poetic but rich dialogue, is characteristic of Chopra's profound narrative style, as evidenced in his other films of the time, like Deewar, Trishul, and Kaala Patthar, and it makes his films consistently engaging.

At the same time, the film never gives up its commercial mass appeal. The characters are mostly affluent and urban, although like always Chopra presents how flawed they are, how many mistakes they make, and of course the price they pay for their actions. As one would expect, the setting is pretty gorgeous, with our players all living in big, often luxurious houses, and their lifestyle is one to envy. Indeed, Kabhie Kabhie is a melodrama, but, as mentioned above, the delivery makes it always ring true even if sentimentality is unavoidable in this kind of story. It's just much more subtle than most films of its kind, and its poetic quality makes even less appropriate parts fit well within the context the film. As a cinematic experience it is just great entertainment - the film is beautifully shot, and the music, oh the music - Khayyam, the legendary musician does wonders to the film and it is his songs which make the film so memorable today. The songs give life to the film and inject meaning even into the weaker parts.

Kabhie Kabhie is an ensemble film, and needless to say, those were the days of Amitabh Bachchan's consistent rise to cinematic immortality. His depth and restraint work so well for both the character and the film, playing well in accordance with Chopra's controlled direction. Raakhee is also quietly dignified and authentic. Sadly, their appearance once the story jumps many years forward, is not entirely convincing, but they do well. Shashi Kapoor plays second-fiddle to Bachchan like in so many other films from Deewaar to Trishul, and he does a typical job, which is good. Waheeda Rehman can be counted on to give exactly what she gives here - a remarkably realistic performance. The weak links for me, not because of their acting, but because of their placement in the story, the lovely couple of Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh, both working hard to highlight how young and bubbly they are. Singh of course gets meatier part which carries the narrative forward. Simi Garewal is very good in a smaller part. Flawed it may be, but Kabhie Kahbie is a classic worth revisiting.

I was very interested in seeing this movie for a long time. It was a huge hit when it came out and it was acclaimed by critics as well.

After seeing it, I wondered if this movie would be a success if it came out today. The characters act in weird and sometimes nonsensical ways. Rishi Kapoor's character's actions really have no justification. I did like Shashi Kapoor's character, though.

Overall, this makes me wonder if we see a lot of older movies through rose tinted glasses.

I have only recently realized that in fact I don't really like Yash Chopra's movies. These were really the first Bollywood films I have seen so I just thought - that's Bollywood, it's OK. However, later I thought - hang on a second, how come other movies are so much better than these? Most of Yash Chopra's movies were fine, you can't really see any significant flaws in them but they just lack something. I don't know what it is, it's just that somehow they don't make the right use of their potential.

However, I did like "Kabhie Kabhie" quite a lot. Out of all the movies by Yash Chopra that I have watched, this is the best one. Actually, at first I thought it was really crap but I changed my mind about it.

At first I thought the story was just ridiculous. Now I think it's actually quite good. A fresh look at the question of whether past is really past and if we are allowed to forget it or not. What I liked in the movie was that the characters weren't at all perfect - they had a lot of weaknesses. Especially Big B.'s character, of course. And Vicky, played by Rishi, who really annoyed me at first, but now I think it was a pretty interesting character. So was Pinky. Sweety is terribly spoiled and this begs the question how come that such cultured people could raise such an ill-mannered and silly girl. However, apart from Sweety all the other characters are pretty convincing. The happy ending comes somehow too quickly, like in 'Silsila'. I think that people normally need more time to sort out their problems, but basically I liked the message in this movie.

My favourite character was definitely Vijay, played by Shashi Kapoor, who surprisingly turns out to be the most mature character of all and makes Amitabh finally understand his mistake. Basically, I think Shashi and Rakhee rock in this movie. Rakhee may seem too perfect to some people but I also liked her for that reason, Pooja is really a very likable character. Neetu Singh was also very good, I mean: making a person named Pinky a complex character - that is really amazing.

"Kabhi Kabhie Mere Dil Mein" who can forget that song by the late Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar. I first saw this movie in the mid 1970's when it was first released. The cinemas were totally packed - "House Full." The songs were already famous before the release of the movie.

Amit Malhotra, recites one of his poems at a college / university where he meets Pooja" and they both fall in love. But parents have other plans and Pooja gets married to an architect, Vijay Khanna while Amit returns home and joins his father's business - a construction company. As time passes, Pooja and Vijay have a son, Vikram, also known as "Vicky", who falls in love with Pinky Kapoor while studying and the two plan to get married. The two families meet and realise that Pinky is Doctor R.P Kapoor's daughter and that Vijay is his patient. In the meantime, Pooja who has her own TV show, interviews Amit Malhotra, who informs her that he has given up writing poetry. In the meantime, Doctor R.P. Kapoor informs his wife that he is worried about what Vijay will think when he finds out about Pinky's past.

"Kabhi Kabhie," directed by Yash Chopra, stars Amitabh Bachchan, Rakhee Gulzar, Shashi Kapoor, Waheeda Rehman, Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Singh, Parikshit Sahni, Simi Garewall and Nasreen. Ifteqar and Deven Varma make a special appearance.

This movie is "poetry in motion" totally and that is not to mention the acting, the story, cinema photography and lastly the songs. This is a typical Yashraj film where the scenery is concerned - mountains and snow.

Conclusion: This is a worthwhile to watch whenever you have the chance for "Love Is Life."

Kabhi Kabhi – Sometimes life comes in full circle! Amit (Amitabh) loves Pooja (Rakhee) since college days.

Pooja gets married to Vijay (Shashi) and conceives Vicky (Rishi).

Vicky falls in love with Pinky (Neetu) – an adopted daughter of the Kapoors.

Pinky is the illegitimate (pre-marital sex locha) child of Anjali (Waheeda).

Anjali is wife of Amit! Anjaili gives birth (legitimate this time)to Sweetie after sleeping with Amit (her husband).

Sweetie falls in love with Vicky! Vicky rejects Sweetie – earning the wrath of Amit – for Amit was a failure in love himself and it hurt him to see that Sweetie would have to live-on with unrequited love – more or less like father, like daughter – also like mother – since her mother (Waheeda) too had been in love with someone else and was afraid to confess to Amit about her pre-marital sex, pregnancy and even delivery! Such a huge secret was hidden by Waheeda!! So a sad Amit reluctantly married an even sadder Waheeda (she was a mother after all who had given birth to a 'nanhi-pari' but never could shower her love on her – sob-sniff) and they 'copulated' lovelessly – thereby giving birth to an entity like Sweetie – whose love for Vicky went unrequited! Like Parent, Like Children – amazing huh!!

Mind it – a 1976 film – pre-marital sex and associated lochas are ramphant – why on earth do the oldies scream and shout at the youngsters saying that the current generation has gone to the dogs! Even they were not adhering to chastity or virginity – how come they expect their sons and daughters...kith and kin to behave all nice and decent and chaste!? Pooja's heart, mind and soul remains with Amit – body with Vijay. Only Vijay is the one who seems to not have had any locha affair – but what does he get as a reward? Pooja's body – well most Indian husbands will quite agree that it is enough – heart, mind and soul are difficult things to handle – it is better that the female handles it all alone – which maximum wives do by dwelling in their reverie – with some distant (existing or non-existing) dream lover!

Life & Compromise - So Pathetic Indeed!