Phir Milenge

After all these years, Shilpa Shetty has finally accepted a role with depth to prove her worth, which she definitely did! Shilpa carries this film on her shoulders and gives a marvelous performance. In my opinion, she should be given the Best Actress award for 2004. Revathi, as always, has a made a film with genuine sentiments. Her style of film-making is very unique in that the audience feels as if they are a part of the movie. Salman Khan didn't have a long role but did a good job in his short time. Abhishek also did a great job. He has improved dramatically from his Refugee/TJCG days. Songs are very melodic. At first, it seems as if this is another ditsy Shilpa movie, but a shocking event that brings characters' worlds crashing down changes the entire feel of the movie. One of the best flicks of 2004.

First and foremost, I would like to appreciate the effort that has been put in by all the cast and crew of the film to make this film extremely watchable again and again and again...

Secondly, the performance given by Ms. Shilpa Shetty is laudable. I mean, she is such a treat to watch on screen. Even Abhishk and Salman have put in a wonderful performance.

Last but not the least, Revathi, the captain of the ship (sorry for using the cliché) has put in a lot of effort to make the film look simple, real, and stunning (at least to the Indian society). Of course, the mail plot of the film is inspired from the Hollywood flick Philadelphia. But the characterizations, screenplay are trailer-made for bollywood movie goers.

Despite the fate of this film at the box-office, i recommend the film to all. Though there is another film ( My brother Nikhil) based on the same AIDS concept, i think, Phir.. is better.

Revathy's 'Phir Milenge' is a film about a young woman who tragically finds out that she is an HIV positive, a result of a one-time affair she had had with an old friend a few months before. Now she has to cope with the cruel society and its prejudice. This young woman is played by Shilpa Shetty, an actress who sadly never was flooded with great film offers before, but here was given a splendid chance to showcase her talent in a role that was not only one of her best, but one of the best of the year.

This film, inspired by the American picture Philadelphia, is made by Revathy in her own different and convincing style. India is not America, and the prejudice can go to any extents in there. Some may say it goes over the top with a stereotyped depiction of prejudice. But if we have to be honest, we got to admit that it's the real situation, not only in India but in all over the world, caused by the ongoing lack of awareness of AIDS and of what it actually is.

I found the film realistic, intense, powerful and emotionally touching. But one aspect that impressed me the most was Shilpa Shetty's magnificent dramatic performance. Her heartfelt, sensitive portrayal of the optimistic, stubborn and strong career woman Tamanna Sahni was both heartbreaking and inspiring. She was natural, moving and believable all through, performing the most difficult emotional moments with amazing depth and conviction. Abhishek Bachchan and Salman Khan provide great support. Bachchan is particularly impressive as the simple, humorous lawyer who supports Tamanna throughout the film.

Towards the end, the film includes several scenes, some of which are heart-warming, and others are simply heart-rending. The first is Shilpa and Salman's first meeting when he is already at the advanced stages of his illness, when the two start crying as he asks her to forgive him. The following scene of Shilpa's breakdown when she visits Abhishek, is even more powerful, showing Shetty's acting at its deepest expressive level. Phir Milenge is a wonderful dramatic feature which shows us how unexpected life can be. Despite a somewhat slow and dark development, the film remains steadily interesting and compelling and ultimately leaves a mark. I highly recommend.

I have seen this movie and although I felt it did address an issue which i have not seen dealt with in Bollywood...i did think it tried to copy Philadelphia.

I work with AIDS patients, or shall I say people who have advanced HIV infection. I have met many Asian people with the virus and I felt that this film did not address them.

If the movie had gone on a unique road...maybe come up with different areas of suppression, maybe dealt with the HIV issue without having to copy a hugly successful Hollywood film...then it may have been entitled to the respect it was due....but copying another movie to put across a message...i felt, lost its appeal.

The tagline is not very optimistic either. It doesn't matter if you have HIV or if you test negative....Life can still disappear...in a moment. The tagline is saying that once u are diagnosed...ur life disappears.....death is imminent.

How about the thousands of people who are surviving Aids...living 20 odd years? How about representing hope? This film I feel has let down the message of what Aids is about...and I feel has used another film to up its ratings. It was poorly told, the script was not very good and the only commendable performance was given by Salman Kahn.

'Life is a moment. For a moment it's there and in a moment it's gone'

What would you do if you find out that you are HIV positive, you are infected by the only person you ever loved, you cannot trace that person for answers and the worst of all your boss throws you out of your job for which you have given everything, just because he fears you would infect him and the other employees ? Sit and Sulk or ………..fight !

Coming from a director of the beautiful movie 'Mitr', the movie 'Phir Milenge' has lived, lived to it's expectations, lived to tell a tale, lived to spread a message that otherwise one would have dared of. The movie is sensitive and touching, and even though it may have been written off by critics as commercially unacceptable, in my opinion it is one of the most beautiful movie ever made in mainstream Bollywood cinema. Truly the Hindi film industry has grown up, matured and come of age.

The plot is largely based on the classic movie 'Philadelphia'. In fact many scenes are directly picked up from that movie, but at the end of the day , this movie is different, may not be as hard hitting as the former, but it is good enough none the less. In fact even people like me who have already seen Philadelphia would easily find contrast from that movie. The former tells about an 'AIDS' infected homosexual, who sues his firm for discrimination for not only being infected, but mind you for being homosexual, years ago in USA, but 'Phir Milenge' , note carefully is the story of an heterosexual woman, who is 'HIV Positive' (Note: She still hasn't got full blown AIDS), who is discriminated by her firm for having HIV, in today's world, in India ! If it still sounds similar read the fine print again.

As far as the performances go, Salman Khan is excellent in his little cameo especially in the scenes in which he is shown to die. Abhsheik Bachaan is outstanding. He almost does as Good as Denzel in the original. Nasser as the heartless defense lawyer is great. The music is soothing and touching.

But clearly the entire credit of the movie goes to two women. Revathy, who brings forward one of the best direction ever seen in Hindi cinema and Shilpa Shetty for one of the best performance ever in a mainstream role. Though these may seem exaggerations, but once you see the movie you would realize that it's not.

The best part of the movie, is it's ending, it is conspicuous by it's absence ! The movie doesn't end in a conventional way. The director has intelligently implanted loose ends to it , first to signify that there are absolutely no laws in India to help the victims of HIV, and second to show that even and HIV patient can live, and live long.

For those who complained India lacked realistic cinema, it's time for you to stop complaining. Bye for now, Phir Milenge on IMDb.com