Opening Day: 11 December 2008

Synopsis:

Have you ever stopped to think if the most ordinary, uninteresting, unobtrusive man you might see on the road or around you might have a love story to tell? Maybe not! How can an ordinary man have a breathtaking, goose flesh igniting, awe inspiring love story of all things to tell? But guess what - love does not differentiate between the ordinary and exceptional, the uninteresting and interesting, the unattractive and attractive. Because love knows no distinction. It can happen to anyone and once it does it engulfs us into it completely and gives us those miraculous experiences that only love can yield. This is what happened to Surinder Sahni (Shahrukh Khan) - a simple, clean hearted, honest man working for Punjab Power, leading a humdrum life, when he meets his total opposite and finds love in the flamboyant, fun-loving, vivacious - Taani (Anushka Sharma) for whom the whole world is her canvas and she paints her own life with the colours of rainbow all until unforeseen circumstances changes it all and brings them together. What follows is a journey filled with laughter, tears, joy, pain, music, dance and a lot of love. A journey that makes us believe that there is an extraordinary love story in every ordinary jodi.

Movie Review:

Shah Rukh Khan is a phenomenon. And if you have any doubts about that, just go see this latest movie of his. The guy can act, he can sing and he can dance. But you probably already know that. Well Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi just happens to represent SRK at his best.

SRK’s latest is unabashedly a love story. And like all great love stories, it revolves around an ordinary person doing something extraordinary for another in the name of love. Khan plays a bespectacled working class man Surinder Singh whose occupation requires him to master a unique telephone greeting- “Punjab Power lighting up your life”.

Surinder has just married Taani, the daughter of his former teacher who suffers a massive heart attack on the eve of Taani’s wedding. Tragically, Taani’s learns that her fiancé has died in a car accident on the way to her house. Yes, you can call it a marriage of convenience of sorts. Surinder is in love with Taani, it was “love at first sight”, he proclaims. Undeniably so, as Surinder carries a yellow tiffin box prepared by his wife proudly around the office.

Within the first few minutes, writer-director Aditya Chopra shows a deft hand at balancing tragedy and comedy. There is the grieving fiancée, who tells Surinder she can never love him. But Chopra does not allow the movie to descend into melodrama. Instead, Chopra skilfully inserts moments of genuine humour such as when the bumbling Surinder moves from his bedroom into the cobweb filled attic to give Taani her own space or when Surinder’s colleagues invite themselves over to his house after learning that he is married.

Fans of Bollywood fans will also quickly lap up the appearance of Vinay Pathak (of Khosla Ka Ghosla and Bheja Fry fame) as Surinder’s buddy, Bobby. When Taani expresses interest at joining a dancing class hosted by a Bombay studio, Bobby helps Surinder transform into Raj, a fast-talking, wisecracking and self-confident guy so Surinder can win Taani’s love. Raj is Surinder’s alter ego and soon Taani finds herself drawn to Raj’s more sensitive side.

Just as writer-director Chopra does with Surinder, he also creates many scenes of great hilarity with Raj- especially an exaggerated “Dhoom 3” motorcycle chase sequence with Taani and Raj against another pair of rival dancers. After an eight-year break, the less than prolific director of hugely successful hits such as Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Mohabbatein shows that he still knows how to inject plenty of verve into his films.

But just like his earlier two films, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’s winning formula rests on the able shoulders of the Khan himself. Here fans get to see him in not one but two roles- as the awkward Surinder and the cocky Raj. In particular, the actor known for his sensitive leading man roles is a hoot as the smug and arrogant Raj. The fact that both the roles of Surinder and Raj are equally appealing is a testament to his acting chops.

The other revelation belongs to newcomer Anushka Sharma. She makes a strong debut as the vivacious Taani who learns through the course of the movie to regain the strength and courage to love once again. If this is a portent of her future film career, you can be sure it’ll be a bright and illustrious one.

Although the film could have done with more generous trimming (especially towards the second half), it is still a solid and thoroughly entertaining crowd pleaser in every sense of the word. Boasting eye-catching leads, beautiful sets and an engaging and touching love story, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi epitomizes the glamour and heart of Bollywood filmmaking at its best.

Movie Rating:



Review by Gabriel Chong