Udhaar Ki Zindagi

It is a well known fact that Udhaar Ki Zindagi is copied from a South Indian film. But it's the bravura performance of the film's leading lady, Kajol that saves the film from going into slumps. Kajol was flying high these days with the success of Baazigar and UKZ further solidifies her position in Bollywood as a heroine of substance.

Kajol is wonderful from the very first frame of the movie. The film is basically about a granddaughter's (Kajol) constant struggles to placate her angry grandfather played by Jeetendra. The reason that Jeetendra is angry at Kajol is because his son married a girl whom he didn't approve of. Kajol's father then walks out on Jeetendra and settles down in USA. Years later, Kajol comes back to India but with a secret whom she's dead scared to disclose to anyone, including her doting grandmother played by Moushumi Chatterjee.

As mentioned above, Kajol is magnificent in this movie. The sincerity with which she portrays her character shows off in many scenes. Her character Sita's expression of frustration, sadness, happiness and vanity is well conveyed by Kajol. Jeetendra and Moushumi Chatterjee's chemistry is excellent and the couple look too good on screen. Moushumi Chatterjee portrays her character with grace and a certain amount of vulnerability. Ravi Kishen as Jeetendra's son was good. Rohit Bhatia as the leading lady's love interest is strictly okay. Given the fact that it's a heroine-driven film, the hero had nothing worth mentioning to do.

The music of UKZ is heartwarming, especially "thodi haasi thode ansoo". This song is amazingly picturized and really unfolds the essence of the film. Other songs of this film are good too.

Overall, a must-watch for Kajol's fans.

Kajol's performance is quiet good keeping in mind it was her debut movie I guess. Great production, directing and awesome cast of legends.

Udhaar Ki Zindagi is a Hindi melodrama of its sort. It's a nice, albeit typical episode of a girl named Sita who comes from the US to India to visit her paternal grandfather, who has not been in contact with his son since the latter's marriage, which he disapproved of. Sita is determined to win her grandpa's heart and she ultimately does, but there the real conflict actually begins. The grandfather definitively wants to see his son but Sita does not find the courage to tell her aging grandparents that their son was actually killed in a car accident with his wife, as they would not be able to resist such shocking news. Udhaar Ki Zindagi is not a particularly convincing movie, it is flawed and overly sentimental, but it has its pluses too, the best thing about it being Kajol's presence. She is moving and convincing as the intensely tormented yet vivacious and strong Sita. Jeetendra and Moushumi Chatterjee form a good screen couple like they used to do in their prime. Chatterjee still has a graceful screen presence. The film's music is okay, but one song that is particularly touching is "Thodi Hansi". The film's ending is bittersweet. Lovers of Hindi cinema and its melodramatic nature would certainly enjoy watching Udhaar Ki Zindagi, and I recommend it to Kajol fans mostly. I'm sure they will be interested to see the lady, who is regarded today as one of Hindi cinema's best actresses, in one of her first roles, which may not be particularly memorable but is played sincerely enough to be seen.