Writer/Director: Siddharth Anand
Starring: Saif Ali Khan, Preity Zinta and Arshad Warsi
‘A Captivating Classic’
Not many actresses in India are as beloved as Preity Zinta. Ever since her rise towards recognition in the 1990’s, Zinta has become a beloved icon in Bollywood. Whether it is passionate lovers, historical figures or the lovers of soldiers, Zinta has played several strong characters. Arguably, Zinta’s finest strength as an actress has always been her strong dramatic range. She is one of those rare actresses that has always had a talent for portraying characters in various genres. Through her abilities to portray characters audiences can relate to, Zinta has become a beloved actress with value. Throughout a powerful career, Zinta has made many bold movies which are undeniably worth talking about.
I’m a huge fan of Zinta and adore all movies which she has made in her career. However, “Salaam Namaste” definitely stands out as being her funniest movie. Released in 2005, Siddharth Anand’s movie offered a powerful portrait of pregnancy. Packed with stunning musical sequences, engrossing storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s a breathtaking Bollywood romantic comedy. At a centre of it all is an amazing performance from Preity Zinta, who portrays a woman that faces an unplanned pregnancy causing a dilemma. Although “Salaam Namaste” is a fantastic Bollywood romance, it isn’t a flawless film. It builds a predictable ending without strong resolution. That being said, it offers strong entertainment which would satisfy fans of Preity Zinta.
“Salaam Namaste” tells a story of a couple facing a price to pay. Saif Ali Khan portrays Nick, a dedicated chef seeking success in a profession that’s hectic. Focused on career, Nick has rarely ever had any time for having an affair. However, Nick’s life changes when he falls in love with a radio host that causes disaster. Ambar (Preity Zinta) is a charming radio show host that has dreams of her own in her profession. Nick and Ambar get along well, deciding to live together. When Ambar becomes pregnant, their relationship is all of a sudden tested. As all the odds are stacked against his favour, Nick questions whether it is truly possible for him to find a suitable life partner.
Siddharth Anand is a newcomer toward the stories of pregnancy. A debutante director, Anand had never made a Bollywood movie about pregnancy. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to tackle a sensitive issue affecting couples in Indian society but he succeeded tremendously. Using bold cinematography, Anand captures a couple that is impacted by the barriers of unintended pregnancies. Inspired by Jason Reitman’s “Juno”, Anand uses engaging montages to capture lives of couples which endure sorrow. For instance, the montages enhance the meeting scene. During this heartfelt scene, Nick and Ambar meet for the first time sparking beginning of their romantic relationship. Using engaging montages, Anand constructs a portrayal of pregnancy that’s compelling. Montages are tricky techniques. As Nikhil Advani’s “Kal Ho Naa Ho” claimed, montages elevate classic Bollywood films about terminal illness. That being said, it works immensely in this movie. Using breathtaking visuals, Anand captures hardship which couples facing cohabitation are facing.
Another aspect of “Salaam Namaste” that merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, it’s one of the best Bollywood romantic comedies you will see. Recalling Farhan Akhtar’s “Dil Chahta Hai”, Anand effectively uses locations in Australia to stage musical sequences that prove to be engaging. For instance, Australian locations elevate the “Salaam Namaste” song. During this memorable song, Nick and Ambar sing a melody on a beach showcasing their love for each other. Using captivating Australian locales, Anand creates musical sequences which are engaging. Moreover, the musical score is extraordinary. It gives the movie an engaging atmosphere capturing the burden that lovers that face unintended pregnancy bear. Through gorgeous production, Anand captures romantic relationships which face tension.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Salaam Namaste” is a Bollywood romance that’s engaging. The film is extremely well-written, and effectively employs silence to capture hardships which lovers in platonic relationships experience. For instance, the silence enhances the farewell scene. During this emotional scene, Nick and Ambar bid heartbreaking farewell to one another after breaking up. Through silence, Anand crafts a portrait of pregnancy audiences relate to. Silence is a complex technique to employ in movies. As Vishal Bhardwaj’s “Omkara” did prove clearly, silence elevates Shakespeare adaptations. Nevertheless, it works well in this movie. Through a fantastic screenplay, Anand captures lovers which experience a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Preity Zinta delivers one of her best career performances as Ambar. Zinta first earned appreciation for playing romantic heroines in classic Bollywood movies. With “Salaam Namaste”, however, she took upon her most complex role. It isn’t easy to play a woman that faces an unintended pregnancy but she succeeds. This is the actress unlike you’ve ever seen her before: intense, charismatic and emotional in her most funny role. With bold expressions, she captures the anger, desperation and reckless spirit of a woman that faces unintended pregnancies which cause tensions. It’s a powerful performance from one of the most talented actresses in India today.
Saif Ali Khan is spectacular as an expatriate that falls in love with a woman in a doomed relationship enduring adversity. While Zinta gets the showier role, Khan is also excellent as a bachelor whose life starts to spiral out of control. Whether he is struggling to cook a dish that’s challenging or seeking love in a country that’s demanding, Khan effectively uses expressions to capture the hardships of a bachelor seeking to resolve unintended pregnancy. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most world-famous actors in India today.
Despite its strong performances, however, “Salaam Namaste” can’t quite capture the harsh reality of pregnancy in India today. If there’s a minor shortcoming to the movie, it lacks an engaging ending. It’s a predictable conclusion that fails to bring the movie to a resolution. At worst, it perpetuates myths of pregnancy in India that aren’t true towards reality. Bollywood romantic comedies thrive based on their endings, and in this regard “Salaam Namaste” can’t entirely live up to expectations.
Nevertheless, fans of Preity Zinta will enjoy “Salaam Namaste” and so would audiences seeking heartfelt entertainment. A brilliant Bollywood romantic drama, it celebrates an actress that’s beloved in India.
Nearly 20 years following the release of a classic Bollywood romantic comedy about couples facing an unintended pregnancy, it’s a riveting reminder of an Indian actress that’s established a lasting legacy through her ability to portray compelling characters in commemorated films that audiences love dearly.
4.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 