Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani

Not many movies have been set against the media industry as the backdrop. The other ones that come to mind are "New Delhi Times" and "Main Azaad Hoon" and both of them though critically acclaimed didn't set the cash registers ringing. Hey, I am lost for words... jinxed perhaps?

Year: 2000. Situation: TV channels was still an sunrise industry. There wasn't a glut in the market vying for the audience or a murky fight for the TRP's. Perhaps owing to which, the audience couldn't understand the meaning of media manipulation.

The movie starts off on a light note with the boy and the girl working for competitor's TV channels on loggerheads with each other, no rocket science here... love-story ensues and finally getting down to serious business to fight for justice for unjust done to common man. The audience expectations were probably not correctly calibrated and the "fighting for a cause + patriotism + national movement" came as a bolt from blue to the audience resulting in an indigestible fare.

• SRK:: Gives his 100% to the role making it a very convincing portrayal.

• Juhi:: Very good and as usual compliments well with SRK.

• Satish Shah & Dilip Tahil as gullible media magnets were justified.

• Paresh Rawal as the "eye-of-the-storm" has his moments and delivers to the utmost perfection.

• Govind Namdeo and Shakti Kapoor as vile politicians justify their parts well.

• Johnny Lever is usual self.

• It was nostalgic to see a few characters from "Nukkad".

Jatin-Lalit provide good music. There is no doubt about Javed Akhtar's capabilities on lyrics. Sharmista Roy and Farah Khan deserve a special mention for contribution to art direction & choreography respectively.

Director ensured that all the ingredients were in adequate proportions and doesn't go overboard on any of them. There is a soul in the movie and the goods have been delivered with conviction.

Had the movie been made today, the audience would have related to it spot-on. The movie has a good social message and deserves to be posthumously declared as an satire on the media.

PS: Evidently, outright rejection from the audience has put off SRK to make meaningful cinemas.

While this may not seem like a great movie for today's times if you didn't grow up in the 90s, it's actually a good movie. For it's time, this movie was quite good- it flopped because it was ahead of its time.

It depicts the nexus between the media and politicians- and how they can never be unbiased. It may seem like a simplistic take, but it was a poignant transition for Hindi cinema to more realistic cinema in the next decade. However, sadly Bollywood took the leap but somewhere lost itself along the way.

SRK is his usual awkward comedic self, and the supporting cast is okay. I love Juhi Chawla as always- her comedic timing is unmatched and she is a real gem that people have forgotten. Sometimes I watch these movies out of nostalgia, but they do surprise me at times - if you can look past some of the dated comedy of the time/ over the top scenes, the message is actually quite poignant and important.

Its a movie which tries to encompass love, comedy, and dark comedy. But it seldom happens that all three can be added effectively into one flick.

The movie starts from the light- hearted professional rivalry of Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla, turns into a love story somewhere in the middle, and then turns into a a vitriolic satire on the society, system and law. The strongest part of this movie is the direction (a director ought to be a good story teller and Aziz Mirza excels in it.) and of course, the music by Jatin- Lalit ranges from an average to the Excellent, especially in songs like "aur kya...".

Shah Rukh Khan, in some scenes overacts, while Juhi constantly maintains her performance level, Paresh Rawal is extremely wonderful as the convict, he represents the common man, and steals the scenes from SRK and Juhi. Dilip Tahil and Satish Shah are too good as epicentres of laughter while Johnny Lever is just OK. Bottom Line: A feel good movie.

I saw this movie and I thought I wouldn't like it because it's kinda an old one yet I was really surprised in a good way because the actors play, the story, the script and everything was well done and credible.

I liked the songs..especially the "I'm the best" one song by the 2 actors at different times and moments. Yet both were so great and lovely.

So I advice you to watch it for the actors, the music and the deepness of this movie with a tender and "politicaly" correct way of playing of the 2 actors.

Enjoy it! My result: 6/10. Watch it at least once.

This movie was way ahead of it's time ...and is highly underrated