Veer-Zaara

Veer-Zaara
2004
5/5 stars

After 22 years in a Pakistani prison, Hindustani Veer Pretap Singh (Shah Rukh Khan) is assigned a  novice lawyer, Saamiya (Rani Mukerji), to review and represent his case.  Having remained silent for the years of his imprisonment, he opens up to Saamiya and tells her the story behind his arrest: the love story between him and a Pakistani woman, Zaara (Preity Zinta).

The plot of this romantic drama is gripping, moving, and mostly believable.  It portrays Pakistan-India relations sensitively.  The music is average and above, with some enjoyable choreography. This is a gorgeous movie, with both costumes and scenery that were breathtaking.  Khan and Zinta have excellent chemistry and were entirely convincing.  Mukerji played the uncertain but determined attorney well. Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini were cast as Khan's parents, with Kirron Kher as Zaara's mother; the three were, naturally, fantastic. The cast also includes Divya Dutta, Anupam Kher, Zohra Sehgal, and Manoj Bajpayee, all of whom gave solid performances.  Overall, this is a wonderfully written and acted film, and I highly recommend it.

Khan and Zinta

This movie is available on Amazon Prime.

Dil Se. . .

Dil Se. . . 
(translates as "from the heart")
1998
5/5 stars

Amar (Shah Rukh Khan) meets a young woman (Manisha Koirala as Meghna) on a train platform and is instantly smitten.  This infatuation turns to obsession, as he tries first to trace her, then to convince her to love him.  As his passion slowly consumes his reason, he becomes entangled in a terrorism plot designed to bring attention to the insurrection in Northeast India.

This thriller is riveting, intense, and, for the most part, realistic.  Khan and Koirala have good chemistry and are convincing in their roles.  With her infectious smile, Priety Zinta makes a debut that is most natural. The music is unique, and quite good, and some of the choreography most impressive.  Not typical of Bollywood, the film work is gritty and is appropriate for the feel of the film.  This gripping, emotional drama comes highly recommended.

Malaika Arora features in the item number "Chaiyya Chaiyya"

Kal Ho Naa Ho

Kal Ho Naa Ho
translates as Tomorrow May Never Come
2003
4/5 stars

Naina (Preity Zinta) and her family are at a low point in their collective lives until Aman (Shah Rukh Khan) moves next door and brings laughter back into their home.  Naina falls in love with Aman, who reveals that he is married.  Aman, knowing that Naina's best friend Rohit (Saif Ali Khan) is in love with her, tries to spark a romance between the two.  What they don't know, though, is that Aman is hiding an even deeper secret.

This romantic drama has a wonderful, moving plot.  All three main actors give convincing performances, and the supporting cast (down to the children) are impressive as well.  The musical numbers are beautiful, sometimes memorably so, with the exception of the mostly vulgar Club Nirvana scene, which keeps this movie from being five stars.  Overall, this tear-jerker delivers excellent entertainment and is well worth the three hours spent viewing.

Cast includes Jaya Bachchan, Dara Singh, Sushma Seth, and my favorite screen Mummy, Reema Lagoo.

This movie is available on Amazon Prime.

Heroes

Heroes
2008
4/5 stars

Two film school slackers, Ali (Vatsal Sheth) and Sameer (Sohail Khan), are required to make a movie to graduate.  They decide they'll make it on "why not to join the Indian Armed Forces".  To help with their movie, a war correspondent gives them three letters, each from a Killed In Action soldier, to deliver to the respective families.

One is for Kuljeet Kaur (Preity Zinta), widow of Balkar Singh (Salman Khan).  The second is for former Air Force pilot Vikram Shergill (Sunny Deol), from his Army officer brother, Dhananjay (played by Sunny's real-life brother, Bobby Deol).  The final letter is to be delivered to a Regiment commander, who in turn gives them one to take to Mr. and Mrs. Naqvi (played by Mithun Chakraborty and Prateeksha Lonkar) from their son Sahil  (Dino Morea).

Ali and Sameer find the delivery of these letters takes their film in a direction they never suspected.

The film starts well, but then when our slackers are introduced, becomes a disagreeable slapstick.  However, if you get past minutes 8 through 17 (fast forward is my recommendation), you are in for a solidly acted, well-written movie.  Most of the songs leave something to be desired, but the love song is quite nice.  It's obvious early on that this star-studded tear-jerker is a paean to Mother India, but that agenda doesn't lessen the power of the movie.  The viewer is left with both the blatant message "you don't have to be a soldier to love your country", and the satisfaction of a good film.

Preity Zinta and Salman Khan

Chori Chori Chupke Chupke

Chori Chori Chupke Chupke

(translates as "Secretly and Stealthily")
2001
4/5 stars

In this drama, happily married Raj (Salman Khan) and Priya (Rani Mukerji) are devastated to learn that Priya can not have children.  She considers adoption, but for certain reasons, settles on the idea of a secret surrogate pregnancy.   Raj finds a young prostitute, Madhubala (Preity Zinta) who is willing to carry a child for the couple.  As can be expected, the path chosen by Raj and Priya is not a smooth one.

For the most part, this is a solidly good film, that has the viewer uncertain as to what will be the eventual outcome.  Those familiar with Hollywood's Pretty Woman, will recognize certain scenes, but they work quite well in this setting, too.  Khan seems to have only one emotion in this movie,  and  Mukerji spends most of her time weeping.  However, they are generally convincing in their roles, especially as they are the backdrop for Zinta's exceptional performance as Madhu. Regardless of how one feels about the topic, the movie is worth watching for her alone.

The cast also includes Amrish Puri, Farida Jalal, Prem Chopra, and Johnny Lever.

Jaan-E-Mann

Jaan-E-Mann
(translates as "sweetheart")
2006
4/5 stars

In this romantic comedy/drama, Suhan (Salman Khan) and Piya (Preity Zinta) are divorced, and she is asking for alimony which the out-of-work actor can't provide.  When a former college classmate (Agastya played by Akshay Kumar) confesses to being in love with her still, Suhan decides the best thing to do is to help Agastya win Piya, to avoid alimony.  The only trouble is that Suhan still loves her, too.

Despite a few too-silly parts, this movie is truly funny with many laugh-out-loud moments.  Khan and Kumar play well together, and Kumar makes an excellent straight man.  Zinta is convincing as both college student and adult.  All three portray their emotions well.  Anupam Kher, was surprisingly convincing as a little person.  The songs are good, with two particularly so, and there is some nice choreography.  This is a thoroughly enjoyable film, with a good mix of comedy and drama, that shows all three stars to advantage.

This movie available on YouTube:

Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa

Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa
(translates as "the one whom my heart longs for")
2004
4/5 stars

Rishabh (Salman Khan) and Pari (Preity Zinta) have a deeply happy, loving marriage until Pari is killed in an accident.  At her death, she becomes connected to a young woman (Dhani, played by Bhumika Chawla) in a real and tangible way.  Unaware of the connection between them, Rishabh and Dhani meet.  Dhani immediately falls in love with him, and Rishabh, though attracted, fights against it, as he'd rather live in the past with Pari.  When the connection is discovered, their lives will be changed.

This is a sweet, emotional drama, celebrating the depth of true love.  Khan has good chemistry with both Zinta and Chawla, and all play their parts well.  Helen plays Dhani's grandmother and is, as always, a delight.  The music is nice, but the choreography is below average.  Overall, despite a resolution I found to be too quick, this is an excellent film.

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
(translates as "a match made by God")
2008
4/5 stars

Vivacious, beautiful Taani (Anushka Sharma) suffers a catastrophe on the eve of her wedding, and at her father's request, she marries his trusted student Suri (Shah Rukh Khan).  Serious, nerdy Suri fell in love with her at first sight, but Taani tells him she'll never be able to love him, nor be happy and light-hearted again.  Suri takes on the role of a fun-loving Raj in her dancing class, hoping to make her laugh again, and hoping to use Raj to help Taani fall in love with Suri.  Things don't work as Suri had hoped, and he sees his chance of happiness with Taani become slim.

In this romantic drama, Khan plays an average man as Suri, and brash and loud as Raj, neither the handsome or charming character that is his usual role. This he does suprisingly well.  Sharma, in her first role, was excellent, and fully believable in her emotions. While the songs and choreography were average, the cinematography, locations, and sets were lovely.

I was conflicted as to the credibility of Taani's reaction to the truth, but otherwise found this to be a sweet and enjoyable film with a beautiful message, celebrating unselfish love.

Special appearances by Kajol, Bipasha Basu, Lara Dutta, Preity Zinta, and Rani Mukerji .

Movie available for free through Amazon Prime.

Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega...

Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega... 
(translates as "every heart that loves")
2000
4/5 stars

Raj (Salman Khan) saves a woman (Pooja, played by Rani Mukerji) from being run over by a train. During the accident, Pooja becomes injured and is in a coma. Her family believes Raj to be her husband, and for various reasons he plays along. Things become complicated when her best friend Jahnvi (Preity Zinta) returns home and Raj falls in love with her.

This is a fun romantic comedy with solidly good acting, a strong plot, above average musical numbers, and exceptional costumes. While it lacks some of the charm of the original (Hollywood's "While You Were Sleeping"), and has a few plot holes, it is a fine movie well worth watching.

Movie is available on You Tube: