I'm actually not a fan of Bollywood movies because, you know, some typical Bollywood stuff that I don't like about: dramatic camera works and angles, singing and dancing on a hill with their loved ones, high-pitched female voice in every song, etc. Although, I've watched some of the great movies like 3 Idiots, PK, and Taare Zameen Par. Well, basically some motivational movies rather than romances.
But the closing ceremony of the 18th Asian Games finally brought me to this Bollywood world.
An Indian singer sang the legendary songs "Koi Mil Gaya" and "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" in that event. No one doesn't know these songs, including me. Later then, my english teacher talked about this performance and that she had watched Kuch Kuch Hota Hai movie for a hundred times. Well, that I didn't know. I didn't know those songs were from a movie that was named exactly "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai". So, I gave it a try.
If people talk about any Bollywood song, then it must be Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. If people talk about any Bollywood actor, then it must be Shah Rukh Khan. And yes, despite the mainstream and typical triangle love plotlines, dramatic camera works, and some plotholes, his acting and the great chemistry between him and his lead partner, Kajol, saved the movie. They are surely called "Golden Pair" for a reason. I was so in love with their chemistry that I started watching more movies with them as a couple until I finally found this family drama movie called "Kabhi Kushi Kabhie Gham", Sometimes There's Happiness, Sometimes There's Sorrow.
This movie is mainly focusing on the love of parents for their children rather than the romantic side. How a mother always shows her love for her children, meanwhile a father never shows it but that doesn't mean he loves them less. This movie is telling about an upper-class family, consisted of mother, father, and two sons, who lived happily and loved each other in a big mansion house in Delhi. They were surely really rich as it was shown that the first son named Rahul Raichand, who was played by Shah Rukh Khan, finally returned home after studying for a postgraduate degree in UK by a private helicopter which landed right on their big mansion yard.
The conflict began when his father, Yash Raichand who was played by Amitabh Bachchan, planned an arranged marriage for him as their family really upholded the family tradition, when actually Rahul was already seeing someone and was going to asked for a blessing for their relationship. That girl was named Anjali Sharma, was played by Kajol, the daughter of Sayeeda, someone who had taken care of him and his chubby little brother Rohan for years.
Fun fact, both Kajol and SRK had played characters with the same names: Anjali Sharma and Rahul in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. And it was like their hundred times playing as a couple together. A plus point for the undoubtly great chemistry between them in this movie.
Knowing the girl came from a lower middle class family, Yash Raichand was definitely against that idea. He was really mad that he had to tell Rahul that he wasn't their biological son and was actually adopted. And what Rahul was doing now was a proof that Rahul wasn't his--something that he shouldn't have said. Even his mother Nandini, played by Jaya Bachchan, couldn't do anything to make his husband change his mind. Rahul decided to go back to UK along with Anjali Sharma and her family to start a new life. That night was the last time they saw Rahul.
Another fun fact, Amitabh and Jaya, the ones who played Yash and Nandini, are actually a married couple in real life. Obviously, another plus point for their great chemistry here.
Years later, the younger brother Rohan who had grown into a young man, now played by Hrithik Roshan, returned home after spending years in boarding school. He asked his father to take a degree in UK instead of India, with another intention to reunite his family again without anyone knew about it.
I must admit I really really love this movie. I've watched other Bollywood movies before but nothing can make me biting my nails while watching the bromance moments, going "Aaww" to the dialogues, and even bopping along with the songs like in this movie. And again, who doesn't know another legendary song "Bole Chudiyan"?
There are so many scenes that I like. But one of them is when Rahul finally found out the man who was always by his side was actually his brother Rohan. He surely didn't recognize him at all as his brother had lost lots of weight and changed into a grown man. Rohan couldn't tell him either as he had this secret intention to reunite their family again, so he could only give him clues of who he was actually. It is also entertaining seeing Rahul being overprotective over his sister-in-law Pooja, played by Kareena Kapoor, from Rohan before he knew who he actually was.
For once, I can ditch the dramatic camera works because I like the bond between the cast of this movie. Props to the casting team who had brought such great actors together like SRK, Kajol, Hrithik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor, Jaya Bachchan, and of course, Amitabh Bachchan. Amitabh Bachchan really has a 'fatherly' feel here. A father of an upper class family, to be exact. A father who never showed how much he really loved and missed his son Rahul and finally giving up his ego at the ending scene. In fact, his character Yash was the one who felt hurt and sad the most by his son's MIA. Another favorite scene of mine.
For once, I can ditch the dramatic camera works because I like the bond between the cast of this movie. Props to the casting team who had brought such great actors together like SRK, Kajol, Hrithik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor, Jaya Bachchan, and of course, Amitabh Bachchan. Amitabh Bachchan really has a 'fatherly' feel here. A father of an upper class family, to be exact. A father who never showed how much he really loved and missed his son Rahul and finally giving up his ego at the ending scene. In fact, his character Yash was the one who felt hurt and sad the most by his son's MIA. Another favorite scene of mine.
Note: Pardon me if there is any grammatical error in this post. I'm still learning and will always learn.
written by R.An.
