Teri Meri Kahaani

After viewing Teri Meri Kahani I've come to 2 conclusions - Kunal Kohli is one overrated director and his ONLY film worth praising, Hum Tum, was a giant fluke.

His Mujhse Dosti Karogi was a cheesy romance that can even make Karan Johar and Suraj Bharjatiya cringe. His Fanaa was a novel idea gone haywire in the second half. His Thoda Pyar Thoda Magic was well, a joke. After 4 years, Kohli brings us another romance and he once again, doesn't fail to disappoint.

The whole concept of T.M.K. is interesting and nobody can deny that. In fact, had the writing been in place - it would have been genius. However, T.M.K. is sadly nothing more than 3 predictable love stories in one 2 and a half hour flick.

In 1960, a growing India with a growing film industry has a musician named Govind who has a dream to make it big in Bombay. There he meets film-star Ruksaar and then starts their .

In 2012, Krissh has just had a break up with his girlfriend on his birthday. That same night, he meets Radha, a up to date girl. Then starts their .

Now back to 1910, British ruled India. Javed is a charming womanizer who meets a girl who just doesn't get wooed by his antics. A sardarni by the name of Aradhna. Javed falls in love and there starts their .

Now all 3 stories start out with a bang but fiddle down very easily. Also, the misunderstandings in the movie are so dumb. Especially for the story in 1960 and 2012. To me, the best story is in 1910 but even that story isn't extraordinary.

The climax is rushed and there is no doubt. It's as if the writers don't know where to go now and just give up on the script.

The writing is sore. Kunal Kohli's shayari is very good, however. That is about it!! Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra save the film from being complete trash. Shahid is excellent in all avtaars. Of Course it's most fun to watch him as Javed. Priyanka looks amazing and acts well too. It isn't the best act from the 2, but good indeed.

Now to director Kunal Kohli. I don't hate or love the guy. I do feel that one major thing that has hurt most of his films (except Hum Tum) is the predictability level. His films don't have the X Factor. Even here, where there is a great idea in place - the boring writing messes things up. His direction is good but he fails in choosing the right screenplay.

Overall, a very bland and tasteless romance with very few moments that amaze the viewer. Dasappointing.

Kunal Kohli has been associated with 'All Inspired Films" since his first venture & working on the same formula, he once again comes up with a film based on another borrowed idea, this time taken from a Taiwanese film called "Three Times" or "Zui Hao De Shi Guang". Reportedly Imtiaz Ali was also inspired from the same film for making his "Love Aaj Kal". But then he didn't blindly follow it and his script talked about the different eras as part of flashbacks related to his few key characters. Whereas in TERI MERI KAHAANI, Kunal adapts the concept as it is from the original giving it his own Indian touch in the three different eras.

Now where the original deals with 1911, 1966 and 2005, this present version deals with 1910, 1960 and 2012. But this time Kunal really works upon the inspired concept and majorly re-shapes it with his own vision converting it into a marginally interesting one. Honestly, I neither liked the Taiwanese film for its lifeless content nor I really loved the present unclear version of Kunal Kohli. However I would like to mention one big difference here, in the way a story can be conceived by two different directors making it more realistic in their own ways.

In TMK, when the script moves into 1910 we get to see the era depicted by colourful sets, people from different religions, British police officers and freedom fight struggle going on in the country along with few peppy songs. But when the Taiwanese film goes into the year 1911, its narration suddenly becomes mute as a silent movie….Why….because obviously it was an era of silent screen communicating with the audience through the running captions. And that's the difference between the vision of a creative director and a commercial one.

Talking about 3 distinctive love stories happening in 3 different eras in TERI MERI KAHAANI, it basically looks like a direction less project taking you no-where. As it begins with 1960s everything is fine and you enjoy watching the lively era without any major development in the story. But when the same keeps happening in the other two eras too then one becomes restless and starts looking for the basic purpose behind showing all this. In fact till the last 20 minutes of the film, both the viewer and the director remain clueless about what is happening on the screen in a strange manner. And when all the explanations are given in the final reels, one doesn't feel convinced or interested at all in the way it is depicted.

In short, the first era of the 60s remains the best out of the 3, whereas the representation of 1910 remains the weakest. In between these two, the 2012 version of the love story never rises above the average. So, where the initial 40 minutes of the film are refreshing, the rest showcasing the other two time periods simply give you nothing. And in the end, it really makes you think that why on earth Kunal chose this inspired subject when he never knew what he is going to do with it on the screen. The director also remains confused in his re-creation of the past, both in the sequences of 1910 and 1960. For example, he shows a big flex hoarding being displayed in the year 1960 whereas there were only handmade hoardings or multiple-sheet paper posters used in that time for publicity. Moreover, he takes too many liberties in depicting the complex 1910 era when India was still struggling under the British rule. But here the silver lining in the dark is that probably TERI MERI KAHAANI is the first film ever which takes the British rule over India in such a positive and cool manner. And I seriously wish this was done in a more appealing way because it could have actually turned the film into something interesting.

Technically, though it was quite cosmetic in looks but still I enjoyed watching the 1960s graphical representation (Set Designing & Cinematography) on screen and loved the spirit in this particular part of the film. But the same cannot be said about the 1910 era as its recreation was in fact way below the mark and not competent at all. In the performance section, both Shahid and Priyanka frankly had nothing to do in the script except looking good and keep smiling. The story doesn't give them the opportunity to display a wide variety of emotions and they both majorly remain the same throughout the film. Yet TMK can easily be called a Shahid's film more than Priyanka's. The pair does well particularly in the first half of the film but frankly I liked Prachi Desai's small cameo a lot better than Shahid-Priyanka's complete two hour act put together. Neha Sharma is OK looking quite different from her looks in CROOK and Vrajesh Hirjee is as usual fine in his role of a reporter or detective.

In all, the only merit of TERI MERI KAHAANI is its soundtrack which gives you some good foot tapping numbers keeping you engaged in its otherwise uninteresting storyline. Sajid-Wajid can easily include this film in the list of their better works as the duo's music truly remains the only hero in TMK unarguably.

So you can go for it, in case you love watching your favorite actors doing the same routine song-dance-drama on the screen in a feel good script without any basic storyline. It does have some cool, lovable moments in its 3 love stories happening in 3 different eras. But at the same time TERI MERI KAHAANI is also one of those unexplainable films which strongly forces you to think that 'How could a lackluster script of this kind get approved by such renowned and image-conscious Stars of the current times?" or "Do these actors ever read the script on which the film is supposed to be made or not?

The movie was good in parts. The ending was very linear without any ups n downs which makes the climax not as good as the rest.

The 1960 era Mumbai was beautifully recreated with VFX. 1910 era was also fun. 2012 era was OK. Top notch cinematography by Sunil Patel. Some nice dialogs and shayaris by Kunal Kohli. Shahid was awesome as Javeed and Govind. Priyanka was good as Aradhana and Rukhsar. The movie didn't do justice to both their talents. Cool music by Sajid-Wajid. Nice costumes. Overall it was a hard work effort, presentation wise by Kunal Kohli, but unlike Hum Tum and Fanaa, it doesn't connect.

In the end, the movie confuses you whether it gives any message regarding love or its just 3 love stories! Its a feel good one time watch rom-com.

The only truly decent thing to say about Teri Meri Kahaani is that the lead actors performed their roles well. The film actually encapsulates three stories in one, and therein lies the problem. There are three main issues with the film that make it unsatisfying in every way.

The main problem with the film, and where the whole premise falls apart is that there is no true thread to tie these stories together. Without some common theme (aside from a very loose boy meets girl connection), the only thing that differentiates these stories is the time period (Set in the 60's, present day, and 1910). The second major problem is that despite trying to flesh out three stories entirely in two hours, Kunal Kohli does not give enough flesh to any of the stories in order to make you really enjoy them. The only story with any meat in it as well as having characters who are not completely reprehensible (the one set in the 1910's) is given as much or less screen time as the boring tale set in the present day. Finally, the movie fails in a big way as, with the little character development that we are given, we are urged to loathe or at the very least not care about most of the characters involved. Either Priyanka or Shahid's characters or both are cast in an unfavorable and somewhat confusing light in each of their various avatars, and, despite being so horrible and with so many issues, their stories just abruptly end in a way that is extremely unsatisfying to the viewer. The two rays of light for this picture are the beautiful Urdu poetry segments and songs and the refreshingly able Prachi Desai who shows in only a few minutes worth of screen time that she has true acting talent. That, however, is not enough. I would strongly recommend passing on this one as it will likely leave you completely unsatisfied.

I saw the movie and than saw the reviews...What I can say is I am disappointed in the reviews and not the movie. I felt like clapping at the end of the movie..It was wonderfully acted,directed but due to the poor promotion moderately received. I can only say that when u watch the movie try to see the magic that surrounds it. 1 of the reviews said that it feels like 3 love stories well it is. It is not focusing on anything else it jest says love is true no matter the situation. I would give it 4.5/5 but as others gave it 3 i give it 5/5. And if u watch it with the one you love it might just add another layer of magic to your love...