Hum Tum

I enjoyed Hum Tum. To no one's surprise, Saif and Rani did a superb job. I don't think anyone has better comic timing than Saif. He's a natural actor. Rani has always worked really hard. Songs were great. I especially liked the Mere Dil Vich Hum Tum track and the title song. Like all other Yash Raj films, this movie has a very fresh feeling. I was rather delighted to see all the guest appearances. I was completely unaware of that. I really am not a fan of Rishi Kapoor. I don't know why, but I find him really irritating. He just doesn't seem that convincing to me. The cartoons got really irritating. It's weird, in the middle of a real-people movie, to all of a sudden start watching cartoon characters. Thankfully, the cartoons died down a bit in the second half. It's also a bit annoying how the film spans over nine years. Every half hour it says "3 years later," "1 year later," "4 years later." Being a Yash Raj film, my expectations for this movie were super-duper high, but I still liked it. It's a fun-filled romantic comedy.

Hum Tum is an extremely modern and lighthearted romantic comedy. It is very well directed, beautifully shot, and is interesting and entertaining. Kunal Kohli makes a very good job in depicting the world of young Indians who travel the world and live their individual lives with passion and independence. The portrayal of relationships between the characters in the film, particularly that of the main lead, Karan and Riya, is handled with a mind-blowing mix of comedy and emotional drama. The film moves at a steady pace, the animated characters of 'Hum' and 'Tum' are really fun, the music is suitably racy, the cinematography and editing are excellent, and the entire concept of following the hate-to-love relationship of two young people for a period of several years across many different countries, is refreshing and convincingly done.

Having mentioned its light mood and refreshing tone, Hum Tum, above all, has true heart and soul, and there's actual depth beneath its comic tone and pretty visuals. It's not a fluffy rom-com which is just enjoyable, it is actually an affecting human story. Part of what makes it so good is the freshness of the narrative, which is mostly conversational. The conversations between the two leads are first quite confrontational but later become interestingly philosophical and intellectual and, in time, emotional. As the story develops, you find yourself increasingly engrossed in the proceedings and familiar with the characters, liking them and wishing for a good resolution to their story. Karan, the male lead, is a particularly interesting character of a spoiled man who is always well-meaning and has his heart in the right place, but actually grows as a person throughout the film.

The film leans on a truly electrifying chemistry between the two leads, Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukherjee. Mukherjee is very appealing and natural and performs brilliantly throughout the film, but it is Saif Ali Khan who steals the show big time. Playing a trendy, humorous, carefree yet gracious womaniser, Khan seems to be tailor-made for the role of Karan, which gives him ample scope to showcase his superb comic-timing but also capture the human beneath the mischief and register his personal growth. He completely inhabits the part, performing with natural ease, infusing it with the right amount of depth, wit and energy, and consistently appearing so real and effortless that it can be rightly concluded that no one else would have been able to do it as well as he did. This is an exceptional, unforgettable performance and, indeed, one of the greatest comic-dramatic acts I can think of.

In support, Rishi Kapoor is very enjoyable in one of his finest and funniest performances. Kirron Kher is outstanding and simply hilarious in an all-out comic part as the loud and loving mother. Rati Agnihotri is as beautiful as ever in a smaller part, and Jimmy Shergill and Isha Koppitar provide great support. The soundtrack, as already mentioned, perfectly suits the film's mood; the title song is particularly beautiful in both melody and screen visualisation. Please note, Hum Tum is definitely not a rip-off of When Harry Met Sally, as some people have suggested. There are some tiny similarities in the general concept but nothing more than just that, and it has pretty much a story of its own. Finally, Hum Tum is a lovely and memorable film. It is both very funny and moving, and is overall a heartwarming picture which can always be a great watch for the entire family.

Hum Tum follows the encounters of two people who run into each other on several occasions under circumstances ranging from friendly to hostile to loving. Along many years and countless run-ins, the two despise each other, befriend each other, and fall in love with each other.

The storyline is a bit formulaic and quite predictable, and it drag on and on in some parts. And the jumping "three years later" "six years later" is a bit much, it's also quite plausible that they meet at different places, after a long time and at right time like that.

The acting is fantastic; Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukhurjee did a solid job in the lead roles, they brought both energy and charisma in their performance. They portray the different lifes their characters find themselves in a convincing manner. The supporting characters are okay, Kirron Kher did a good as the goofy but supportive mother of Rhea, Rishi Kapoor as the somewhat estranged father is well-acted but I'm not a fan of the character, there's something off about him and I find him somewhat unlikable.

The soundtrack is amazing, very catchy songs, especially the one with the film's title - Hum Tum. the production design is top-notch, some exotic locations and beautiful sceneries, some rain and snow here and there to add more dramatic effect.

The cinematography is excellent; some good camera angles and panning during tense or emotional moments like the scene where after they fight in the bar, the camera tilts downward and slowly moves back as she walks out of his life, and creating distance between them, both figuratively and literally.

The animation that comes in unannounced at times is frustrating, and I'm not sure why they even spent money on it. The character design is awful, they look like something straight out of Ben 10. I'd have preferred if they left it out but still it was fun.

All in all, Hum Tum is a beautiful, emotional charged love story, with some likable performances and good production value. I had a good time watching it.

The storyline is inspired from When Harry Met Sally, but the indianised version with a few foreign cities thrown in is a good entertainer. Karan, a cartoonist, meets Rhea on a flight to New York. They get well acquainted during a 6 hour stop over in Amsterdam. They have a fall out and they end up going their separate ways once they get to New York. Their chance meetings over then next few years and how their friendship develops gradually over time and how they end up falling in love without even realizing it forms the gist of the story. Saif Ali Khan fits Karan's role perfectly and Rani makes a wonderful Rhea. Even the supporting cat has done a great job. The use of the cartoon characters Hum and Tum in the story narrative adds some color to the movie. It is a welcome change from the cop flicks that have dominated the Indian screen in 2004. All in all, a wonderful movie, worth watching at least once on the big screen.

After seeing Hum Tum here are my opinions on the film. Story: Obviously not original, but the writers have handled the subject well and the result is a refreshing romantic, comedy. Acting: Saif Ali Khan is brilliant, no other actor would have been able to enact the role of Karan Kapoor as well as how Saif has done it. His humor and comic timing is perfect. And with this film he has proved that he can do solo hero films as well. Rani Mukherjee has shown once again that she is one of the finest actresses today, her pairing with Saif is flawless. Kiron Kher is First Rate as Rani's mother, . Rati Agnihotri is adequate and Rishi Kapoor is fine in a small role. Although the screenplay is good in the first half, during the second half and towards the climax the film drags and is very much predictable towards the end. I don't think the cartoon characters helped the proceedings in anyway. The cinematography is awesome, and the music is great, especially the title track, Chak De and Ladki Kyon. And they have been shot well too. On the whole a good film, with wonderful performances and great music. I give it 8.5/10