Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (Something
Happens in your Heart)
Director: Karan Johar
Music: Jatin Lalit, Lyrics: Sameer
Year: 1999
Running Time: 177 minutes
If anyone had told me that a film that begins
as an Archie like comic romp with Betty and Veronica in close pursuit and
then evolves into a film that resembles an old Haley Mills plot would move
me so emotionally I would have rolled my eyes – but in fact this film with
corn as high as the Indian sky worked its way into my heart and completely
won me over. It took a while admittedly and it wasn’t really until the
second viewing that I felt myself absolutely melting before its charms.
Much of this must be laid at the doorstep of three wonderful and personable
performances from Shahrukh Khan, Rani Mukherji and Kajol. In particular
Kajol simply radiates with a performance that is devastatingly simple,
pure and astonishingly effective. When she takes over the film in the second
half, it begins its intrusive invasion into your heart.
The plot feels so trite that I almost hate to
relay it, but just remember that the plot is not as important as how well
it is done – where every scene and every song is constructed perfectly
to make you care about the characters. Scenes that feel goofy initially
take on added emotional weight later in the film. The film begins with
the death of Tina (Rani Mukherji) – the wife of Rahul (Shahrukh Khan) and
the birth of their daughter. Knowing that she was likely to die giving
birth, Rani wrote a series of eight letters for her daughter to open on
her birthdays. The years pass and in the eighth letter, mother tells daughter
of how she met her dad and of another friend, Anjali (Kajol), that they
knew in college.
The film then goes into flashback mode and recalls
the friendship between Rahul and Anjali – the best of buddies – and how
Rahul fell head over heals with transfer student, Rani. Anjali realizes
then that she wants more than a friendship with Rahul, but it is too late
and in complete heartbreak she leaves school and disappears from their
lives. Now years later the dead mother pleads with her daughter, also named
Anjali, to find the other Anjali and bring her back into her fathers life.
Like Haley would, the little girl sets a plan in motion – but discovers
that Anjali is about to marry a hunk (Salman Khan) and all seems lost –
it appears that she will not be able to fulfill the last wish of the mother
she never knew. Is that corny or what? Is it effective? You better believe
it!
Everyone in the film is excellent – Rani is warm
and beautiful and a smile she gives late in the film (ala the HK film Lost
and Found) will break what reserve you have left. But it is the terrific
chemistry between Kajol and Shahrukh that makes this film work. There are
a couple of scenes – when he first sees Anjali again after so many years
and their sitting on the bench scene that are nearly wordless – all body
language - that are simply brilliant in their subtlety and emotional
impact. Shahrukh is extremely charming and low-key in this role and makes
it clear why he is one of India’s most popular actors even if he is in
no way the poster boy type. Kajol in particular though is simply a pleasure
to watch. She brings an enthusiasm and spontaneity to this role – and others
– that make you wonder where it comes from. Her face is a constant whirlwind
of expressions – everything registers in her eyes and mouth like a bang
of thunder. When she cries her face crumples up like Kleenex and so do
you. She can be completely goofy one moment and heartbreakingly beautiful
the next. The film also gets strong support from comedian Johnny Lever
and Anupam Kher who plays Rani's father. Salman in a supporting role is
quite handsome and dances up a strom.
The music is a strong part of this film. It begins
in so-so fashion for the first three songs that take place on campus, but
as soon as the story becomes passionate the composer becomes inspired and
from the fourth to the twelfth song, the music is brilliant and the choreography
does its best to keep up with it. The songs push the story and add wonderfully
to the emotional layers of the film.
This was the director’s first film and it won
all sorts of awards for the actors, director, music and much more. It is
all well deserved. I have gone back and played this one numerous times
and it has not in the least bit worn out its welcome. The DVD is terrific
with a lot of bonus material – and even the songs are subbed in English
(something many of the Indian DVDs do not do). One of the most enjoyable
parts of the bonus material is when director, Karan Johar, shows scenes
that were left out and humorously talks about how bad they were. What he
left in was certainly not in the least bad.
My rating for this film: 9.0
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