Koi... Mil Gaya

Hello, I am white and English, and this is the first Indian film I have seen. I would not usually watch them, but chanced upon a trailer on the SONY Asian channel. I enjoyed the film so much I bought the DVD. I have never seen or heard of the actors/actresses and never seen a 'Bollywood' film, but I'm glad I saw this one, I was highly entertained all the way through. I enjoyed the cinematpgraphy, the singing and dancing was bizarre, but fun, and even though I don't understand Hindi (although now I know a few words!) They speak English enough to get the jist. I also noticed the Indian people on this film are more theatrical than white folks, their facial expressions, body language and gesturing tell a story on their own. The only faults I found were continuity and the young girl with the bobbed hair seemed to disappear from the group of kids part way through. Oh and Preitty Zinta is Divine! Good luck!

An Indian version of E.T.(1982) would be particularly outstanding

Hrithik Roshan plays an abnormal youngster who meets the alien The alien revives his mind and enhances it making him not wear glasses, jump higher than Spiderman, extra-intelligent and a superb basketball player

This film does impress and was India's first go at the science fiction genre There are also six kids who act as Roshan's friend Roshan's father plays a cameo in this film Only Rekha could have done Roshan's role with such sympathy

Hrithik Roshan, Rekha and Preity Zinta leave their mark with this film Rajat Bedi is impressing as an annoyed young man who is jealous of very attraction to Zinta Prem Chopra is convincing Mukesh Rishi has done a good job Johny Lever is funny

"Koi... Mil Gaya" is a step in the right direction for Hrithik Roshan and Bollywood in general. The former finally has found another role since "Fiza" that is worthy of his talent, a role that's neither purely fluff in a likewise fluff or worse film (AMALL,YAADEIN,MDK...) or a crass miscast (MPKDH), and the latter steps into new territory concerning suitable subjects and use of modern sfx. Both are rewarded with a superhit as a result. The film is not doing as well in UK and US as in India where it's on target to leave K3G, Devdas, Lagaan and KNPH behind. The reason is most likely that NRIs are more familiar with Hollywood films which KMG is a copy of, and stick more to mushy family/romance/love-potboilers than new Hollywood like experiments coming from the motherland. The usual description of KMG as a mix of "E.T." and "Forrest Gump" is mostly correct. The film adopts many ideas from "E.T." beyond the concept of an alien landing on earth and making friends with kids. It also borrows from several other Hollywood films. That's somewhat irritating if you are familiar with these films, but fortunately the indianisation and mixing has been done quite nicely, and there is enough material around that does not immediately ring a bell and looks fresh. Also irritating is the product placement, a necessary evil, it seems, to co-finance such a big film without banks or the Bollywood mafia. Technically the film is clearly above average for Bollywood and some of the sfx are near Hollywood quality. The alien can't compete with the original E.T.. It's too plastic and artificial for that, but it grew on me nonetheless. The wire (removal) effects in Bollywood films are usually amateurish and blatantly unrealistic. In KMG they look pretty professional, even when they are obvious (in the song "Idhar Chala") and help create a magical mood. (The song "Idhar Chala" is a little gem, by the way, an instant classic, that will surely get awards for best choreography next year.) The CGI birds look pretty fake on the other hand, and the integration of the CGI for the spaceship's landing crater is halfbaked with incorrect 3D perspective and visible seams. The performances are quite good throughout, but the film clearly belongs to Hrithik Roshan from start to finish. As a boy in a man's body he delivers a performance that can compete with good work from any actor anywhere. Award nominations galore next year are a certainty and wins hardly less. It's the kind of performance that triggers a reevaluation of what someone can and should do and it will hopefully bring him lots of good role offers beyond the stereotypical loverboy with biceps that shakes a leg before he walks into the sunset with his dulhan. KMG is quite enjoyable, not only for kids, and it will have its place in the history of Bollywood as a film that made a difference. And that is a nice achievement.

Koi Mil Gaya is a nice film for the entire family, but mostly for children. Not much does it offer to adults. It does not mean the film is bad or something, I really enjoyed it for being a very well-made movie, but it's just not a film anyone would want to watch twice. To its credit, this is one of the only sci-fi films made in Hindi cinema, and it has succeeded as such. It benefits from great music, effective special effects, but above all, Hrithik Roshan's extraordinary performance as a mentally disabled young man. It also has lovely appearances from other actors, including Preity Zinta's light yet great portrayal of a modern young woman who learns to communicate with Hrithik's Rohit, and Rekha's moving act of his mother who is in a daily struggle with her son's defect. But these ladies succeed because they are two actresses of great screen presence. Otherwise the film was clearly made by Rakesh Roshan for his son. I frankly get a bit angered that all three of his films starring his son did not give any notable scope to other actors but were mainly created to promote Hrithik. The film is considered to be revolutionary, while clearly it is not. We had Mr India in 1987 which was in my view better at its time. Koi Mil Gaya is similar to E.T, but frankly pales in comparison. This Jaadoo, while a sweet creature, is plastic. BTW, he can't act (just kidding!). Anyway, the film is worth watching for its innovative concept and light, endearingly childish script.

This is a thoroughly entertaining movie (except for the melodramatic scenes in the end) and Hrithik shines in the role of a mentally challenged boy. I have enjoyed the songs, the gravity-defying dances by Hrithik and how well Hrithik has captured the mannerisms of a mentally challenged boy. Some people might compare it to a range of Hollywood films, but let's just appreciate that a different sort of movie has been attempted and for goodness sake let's just enjoy it. This is a great family movie and a great treat presented by Rakesh Roshan.