Writer/Director: Mansoor Khan
Starring: Aamir Khan, Manisha Koirala and Paresh Rawal
‘A Captivating Classic’
Few actors in Bollywood are as celebrated today as Aamir Khan. Ever since his rise to stardom in the 1990’s, Khan has proven to be one of the greatest actors in Bollywood. Whether it’s star-crossed lovers, terrorists in danger or professional wrestlers, Khan has suggested he can portray many characters. Arguably, Khan’s strength as an actor is his bravery. Khan has never been afraid to take risks in his career through tackling subjects that prove controversial. Through abilities to play characters which are compelling, Khan has established a legacy which has proven to be compelling. Despite reaching the age of retirement, Khan has never lost his strong passion for producing iconic entertainment. An iconic legend in India, Khan has become a celebrated legend in Bollywood Cinema. Throughout a groundbreaking career, Khan has created several strong movies that are worth watching.
I’m a huge fan of Khan and adore all movies he has made in his career. However, “Akele Hum Akele Tum” definitely stands out as his most meaningful movie. Released in 1995, Mansoor Khan’s film offered a captivating remake of Kramer vs. Kramer. Packed with strong production, brilliant storytelling and phenomenal performances, it’s an engaging Bollywood divorce drama. At the centre of it all is an exceptional performance by Aamir Khan, who embodies a troubled man stuck in a broken marriage. Although “Akele Hum Akele Tum” is a captivating drama, it isn’t a flawless film. It suffers from a melodramatic conclusion without any satisfying resolution. That being said, it offers bold entertainment for fans of Aamir Khan.
“Akele Hum Akele Tum” tells the story of a couple that faces a broken marriage which causes tension. Aamir Khan plays Rohit, a talented musician with a love of music that won’t quit. Rohit has always shared a bond with Kiran (Manisha Koirala), a woman that he plans to marry in India. However, Rohit’s dreams of marriage are destroyed by social class barriers. Kiran comes from an affluent upper-class family that’s above Rohit in the society. Kiran’s parents forbid her from ever marrying below her social class. As all odds are stacked against his favour, Rohit is soon forced to wonder whether he would become a successful singer.
Mansoor Khan is fascinated with themes of social class in India. A fantastic Bollywood filmmaker, Khan has often made engaging movies about lovers torn apart by barriers of social class. His iconic film “Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak” offered a powerful portrait of lovers torn apart by families from different social class cultures. With “Akele Hum Akele Tum”, however, Khan made his first divorce drama. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the hardships faced by couples in broken marriages facing adversity but he succeeded immensely. Using breathtaking cinematography, Khan captures a couple in India facing broken marriages which endure adversity. Evoking Robert Benton’s “Kramer vs. Kramer”, Khan uses montages to convey marriages facing disaster. For instance, the montages elevate the family tension scene. During this unforgettable scene, Rohit has a tense argument with Kiran causing tensions. Using montages, Khan creates a portrait of a marriage that’s compelling. Montages are complex techniques. As Farhan Akhtar’s “Dil Chahta Hai” suggested, montages enhance Bollywood films about friendships. However, it works immensely in this film. Using strong visuals, Khan captures tension that couples in marriage are facing.
Another strong aspect of “Akele Hum Akele Tum” that merits appreciation is production. From a technical perspective, it’s one of the best Bollywood movies you would ever see. Khan effectively uses cross-cutting to stage musical sequences which are engaging. For instance, the cross-cutting elevates the Dil Kehta Hai scene. During this moving scene, Rohit and Kiran sing a melody showcasing their strong bond together. Using stunning cross-cutting, Khan creates a portrait of a marriage which is compelling. Moreover, the music score is magnificent. It gives the film a tense atmosphere capturing the burdens that couples in broken marriages often bear. Through strong production, Khan captures a marriage facing tension.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Akele Hum Akele Tum” is a Bollywood film that’s engaging. The film is extremely well-written, and expertly uses silence to convey hardships that couples in broken marriages experience. Inspired with Robert Redford’s “Ordinary People”, Khan defy uses silence to convey tension faced by couples of ordinary people. For instance, silence enhances the breakup scene. During this emotional scene, Rohit faces grief when he makes decisions to break up with Kiran. Through the use of silence, Khan creates a portrait of divorce audiences can relate to. Silence is a tricky technique. As Nitesh Tiwari’s “Dangal” did suggest clearly, silence elevates Bollywood movies about wrestling families. That being said, it works immensely in this film. Using a strong screenplay, Khan captures couples facing a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Aamir Khan delivers one of his best career performances as Rohit. Khan first earned appreciation playing gangsters in classic Bollywood dramas. With “Akele Hum Akele Tum”, however, he took on his most serious role. It isn’t easy to portray a man stuck in a broken marriage that faces adversity but he succeeds immensely. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him before: charismatic, intense and emotional in his most poignant role. With riveting expressions, he captures the angst, bravery and resentments faced by a man in broken marriages experiencing tensions. It’s a powerful performance from one of the most commemorated actors that is working in Bollywood today.
While the movie mainly is a showcase for Aamir Khan, the supporting cast is stellar and worthy of praise. Manisha Koirala is magnificent, bringing charisma towards a woman that falls in love with a musician in India causing a dilemma. Rakesh Roshan is riveting, capturing dedication of a father struggling to care for family facing tension. Lastly, Satish Shah merits appreciation. As a divorce lawyer, he is unforgettable.
Despite its superb performances, however, “Akele Hum Akele Tum” can’t quite capture tensions faced by couples that experience broken marriages. If there’s a shortcoming towards the movie, it lacks a strong ending. It’s a melodramatic conclusion without any resolution that fails to bring the movie to a satisfying resolution. Whereas this ending elevated Yash Chopra’s “Silsila”, it clashes with the tone of this film. Therefore, “Akele Hum Akele Tum” can’t quite capture lives of couples people adore.
Nevertheless, fans of Aamir Khan will enjoy “Akele Hum Akele Tum” and so will movie-goers seeking meaningful entertainment. A remarkable Bollywood romantic drama, it honours an actress with charisma in India.
Nearly 30 years following the release of a groundbreaking Bollywood movie about a couple facing a broken marriage, it’s a bold reminder of an Indian actor that has built a strong legacy through his abilities to portray compelling characters in memorable movies which have never lost their ability to always engage.
4.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 