Great Indian Movies - Khoya Khoya Chand. Review on Khoya Khoya Chand

Have you grown up watching Hindi films in 50s and 60s? Have you ever visited film sets of golden times of Bollywood industry? Have you ever seen the behind the screen world of Nargis, Pradeep Kumar, Sahir Ludhanavi, Bimal Roy, Madhubala, Meena Kumari, and Guru Dutt? If not, do you want to transport yourself back to the one of the most haunting yet fascinating golden era of Hindi film industry? If your answer is yes then do yourself a favor and don't miss Khoya Khoya Chand, one of the most misunderstood Hindi films of 2007(critics and masses thrashed it everywhere).

Sudhir Mishra's Khoya Khoya Chand(2007) is nostalgic reflection of golden era of 1950s and 1960s of Hindi film industry where cinema was new to India, different cultural clashes was day to day incidents in film industry, larger than life superstars are calling their cards, aspiring and beautiful actresses was accompanied by their mothers and toyed by superstars and producers, and talented regional directors and screenwriters fought for their existence.

Story

The film is set in between 1950 to 1965 of Hindi film industry.

Prem Kumar(Rajat Kapoor) is an established film superstar who is the central focal point of latest and biggest of Hindi film industry. Everyone in the industry - biggest Producers, beautiful actresses, talented screenwriters, music directors, and dance masters wants to work with him. Nikhat(Soha Ali Khan) is a young girl, often casting-couched who goes from an unknown childhood artist to an extra to a starlet to a great heroine to an immortal actress. Zafar(Shiney Ahuja) is a young rebellious writer who left his aristocrat family and comes to Mumbai to work in the film industry and later becomes one of the greatest of all writer-directors.

Majority of movie narration follows how Nikhat gets a big break as film actress being a temporary mistress of Prem Kumar, how Prem Kumar patronizes Zafar as aspiring screenwriter, how Zafar liberates Nikhat from the stranglehold of a powerful Prem Kumar, how Nikhat and Zafar's relationship deteriorates because of Nikaht's commitment to her family, how arrogant Zafar makes ahead of times film without Nikhat and goes through depression away from limelight, how Nikhat tries to relieve her pain by start drinking, how Zafar returns back to film industry and turns Nikhat as one of the most immortal actresses of her time.

Analysis

Khoya Khoya Chand is a movie about Hindi film industry. Unlike normal Bollywood movies where story has to take its stance and must end with some kind of conclusion, it’s a reflection of bygone era that haunts classic Indian cinema fans(people like me) nostalgically and immerses them into world of glitter and mythical world of superstars, actors, actresses, producers, directors, and screenwriters. As far as my concern, Khoya Khoya Chand is the writer-director Sudhir Mishra’s one of the best films to date. Man who has a wonderful resume of films like Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi(2003), Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin(1996), Dharavi(1992), Main Zinda Hoon(1988), and Yeh Woh Manzil To Nahin(1987) must be proud of one more feather in his crown.

Sudhir Mishra's powerful script and screenplay creates a rare magic. It takes viewers back to the world that they hope to be part of. Khoya Khoya Chand starts pretty slowly and first half an hour focusing on film superstars like Prem Kumar and his influence on the film casting and crew, aspiring wannabe actresses like Nikhat who has to warm the superstar’s nights to move up the ladder, and baby steps of arrogant yet extremely talented screenwriters like Zafar in the film industry. First half an hour of the film is pretty uneven at places mostly because of lots of characters introduced and Sudhir trying to say lot but anyone who sits through first half an hour will have rewarding experience watching ups and downs of Nikhat, Zafar, and Prem Kumar's relationships, and Zafar's rise as a talented writer and director, Zafar and Nikhat's breakdowns, Nikhat's alcoholism habits, Nikhat's heart disease, and revival of Nikhat as immortal shining star.

Watching Khoya Khoya Chand is a wonderful experience. Many of the characters have striking similarities with yesteryear film stars. Nikhat had a glimpse of Suraiyaa at the beginning, Waheeda in the middle passage, and Mina Kumari and Madhubala at the end of the film. Zafar had a glimpse of Sahir Ludhanavi at the beginning, Guru Dutt at the middle passage, and Gulzar or near the end of the film. Prem Kumar could be anything like Bharat Bhushan or Pradeep Kumar. Bengali director who refuses star power and making his own style of film had a glimpse of Bimal Roy. The music director looked like Nausaad. In bottom line, KKC is nothing but inside look at the 50-60s film industry, its people, and their life.

Khoya Khoya Chand is a collection of masterful scenes. It’s hard to pick best from the bests but Nikhat-Prem Kumar’s relationship, Nikhat and Zafar throwing stones at the producer’s house who molested her age 14, Nikhat’s refusal to be Prem Kumar’s mistress, Prem Kumar-Zafar’s faceoff, Nikhat-Zafar’s relationship and mental breakdowns, Nikhat’s drinking habits and heart problems, Nikhat’s offer to Zafar as her caretaker are some of the greatest moments of this great film.

As far as acting department, Soha Ali Khan as Nikhat is a standout in parades of actors. She has most meaty role among three top characters. Soha the luminous beauty creates a wonder as Nikhat. Shiney Ahuja as an arrogant Zafar who came to the cruel world of films and creates his own place. Rajat Kapoor as a Prem Kumar behaved like powerful superstar and leaves everlasting impression. Among additional star cast, Vinay Pathak as a Zafar's friend and Saurabh Shukla as Punjabi producer leaves fine imprint.

One sad thing is less has been said about wonderful music of Khoya Khoya Chand. Shantanu Moitra's soundtracks are one of the most overlooked albums of the year. All the soundtracks blessed with mesmerizing poetic lyrics, semi-classical music, sensuous and soothing voices, and playful melodies. Numbers like Khoya Khoya Chand, Yeh Nigahein, Chalo Aao Saiyan, Khushboo Sa, O Re Pakhi, Sakhi Piya, and Thirak Thirak are great reminders of bygone era's wonderful charm and appeal.

Conclusion

I have to accept that after watching Khoya Khoya Chand, I was so impressed by the film that I spent more than an hour reading critics reviews thrashing it as one of the most impractical films of 2007. None of them praised high and none of their criticism made sense to me. Watching Khoya Khoya Chand was true experience for me. It was more like nostalgic trip to the one of the most celebrated times of Indian film industry. It's a must watch for classic Indian cinemas fan.