Do you remember your first kiss? Your first romance? If the person is no longer in your life, do you ever wonder what happened to him/her? Have you ever wondered what you would say/do if your paths crossed again? Good, bad, or indifferent, “firsts” tend to leave lasting impressions. Endless stories can be/have been/will be spun from such speculation. I’ve written one myself. :)
Now, I’ve succumbed to peer pressure to review a Bollywood film, but not without reservation. For numerous reasons which shall become evident, I suspect I should be writing this with a paper bag over my head… :) It may appear I’m digressing, but if you stick with me, I’ll tie it all together in the end.
Suffer Through My Intro
I am new to Bollywood films. I watched my first Hindi movie in October 2002--Monsoon Wedding. Loved it so much, I took a peek at Bollywood--Laagan, which I also loved. So far, so good. No cause for concern. Until…
I’ve now watched 10 Bollywood films, read countless reviews on the same, and all leading indicators suggest I’m in big trouble. My (no longer) deep, dark secret: I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the very same Bollywood “flops” that have gotten terrible, scathing reviews!
Suffer Through My Recommendation/Disclaimers
As far as I know, I’m the only reviewer on the planet who enjoyed/recommends Jeena Sirf Merre Liye. Due to the sensitive nature of movie opinions and the physical, emotional, and financial drain of A Bad Movie Experience (not to mention the environmental damage of toxic vapors released into the ozone), heed the following disclaimers and Proceed With Caution:
If Devdas is your idea of the perfect Bollywood film and you can’t wait for more just like it, do not watch this movie.
If you suffer from chronic stomach ailment due to over-consumption of Bollywood candyfloss or masala (new terms for me), do not watch this movie.
If you have a heart condition, by which I mean you are neither young nor young at heart, do not watch this movie.
If you are currently experiencing, or have a tendency to exhibit, homicidal symptoms commonly associated with pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS), do not watch this movie.
If you are currently taking or require medication prescribed by a physician in order to gag your inner critic/suspend your disbelief, do not watch this movie.
If you have a low tolerance factor (LTF) for corniness, do not watch this movie.
If you have a low opinion of Mills & Boon novels, do not watch this movie.
For everyone else, there is hope. Maybe. :)
Plot Summary
CANDYFLOSS reunion story. Childhood puppy love. Class differences. Painful separation. Years pass. Curiosity builds. Destiny calls. Separate paths seek to intersect again. Thwarted by bumps in the road. The classic dance of one step forward, two steps back. Final test. Love wins.
Why I Liked It
First was my expectations. I went into this movie expecting “candyfloss,” and that’s what I got. This is a new word for me, but I interpreted it to mean “like cotton candy.” Sweet, maybe even sicky-sweet, light and airy. It's not Laagan/Devdas/Aankhen. It's not supposed to be.
Second, I brought several personal biases with me, the biggest of which was that I’ve lived my own version of the first-half of this plot (minus “love only me” promises and “we were destined to be together” fantasies; mostly: different worlds, puppy love, forced separation, and curiosity that finally spurs action many years later), so I was doing a lot of smiling and nodding.
Besides that, I love reunion stories. They are hugely popular in American mass market fiction, especially romance, I think because they tap into universal curiosity about “the fish that got away.”
For the above reasons, I really liked the first half of the movie. I particularly liked the songs. In my first-viewed Bollywood flick, Laagan, I wanted to fast-forward through the songs. Then, they grew on me. Now, I like them and (shhh) even watch candyfloss film songs a few times (they feel so hip/cool/contemporary/fun).
With the exceptions of Allah, Allah, which I thought was extraneous, and Tu Hai Sola which was just so-so, I liked the rest. It was nice to have subtitles (which you don’t always get!), so I knew what they were singing…made it more meaningful.
The title song is beautiful with its repeated verses (and the various repeated renditions), like a haunting lullaby, which to me SO captures the mysterious/haunting nature of the aforementioned haunting/nagging curiosity associated with reunion stories.
Ek Baar To India made me feel the first compelling tug of desire to visit India I’ve had in years. It’s been almost 20 years since my last trip. I’ve had twinges in the last decade, but the simple lyrics hit home. I think it was “come to India just one time” and “fall in love with an Indian…” Hmmmm…that’s what happened on my last trip, the setting of my above-referenced puppy love. My first kiss, my first innocent, teenybopper romance, it's lingered in the dusty corners of my memory like a Disney movie, starring the cartoon characters who play Aladdin and Princess Jasmine. :) A mere week before JSML’s release (as it turned out, unbeknownst to me at the time), I found age-old letters from this person and was prompted to track him down (due to curiosity—not pining!). I was much better at this than our movie heroine. But then, her guy had a name change. Back to the song... At this point in viewing JSML, I was talking to Kareena on the screen: ''Geez, tell me about it! Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. I have to go back. You're right.'' :)
Kash Ke Tujhse Milte is my favorite of the songs. Lovely job on the depiction of pining, but what I liked even more was the whole wondering “what if...[we were to meet again]...” Because I’m a novelist, “what if…” is my mantra. This song was also a visual treat. I loved the cinematography, the train in particular, the colors of Kareena’s outfit, the dupatta blowing out the window in the breeze.
In the second half of the movie, coincidences and contrivances pile up, so your best bet at enjoying the movie is to turn off your internal editor and just go along for the ride. (I can do this easier in movies than with books where I’m always analyzing…and would need medication to chill).
This movie felt, in many places, with the acting and setting, like a play on a stage. An upscale high school musical. It worked for me because I’ve always liked high school productions. Those talented youngsters! :)
I was HIGHLY bummed the DVD did not contain the director's commentary. :(
Most likely, this movie isn’t for you, but I’m going to watch it again with my eight best girlfriends, and I know that, like me, they’re going to enjoy it thoroughly!
Truth is Stranger Than Fiction
One final note to wrap up this review… About my own first romance. Curiosity made me wonder where our paths led. I grew up to be a romance novelist. What was his fate? Well, as I only recently found out, he grew up to be a Bollywood film director. His latest film? You just read my review.
