Writer/Director: Farah Khan
Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and Abhishek Bachchan
‘A Captivating Comedy’
Few actors in Bollywood are as beloved as Shah Rukh Khan. Ever since his recognition in the 1990’s, Khan has become one of the greatest actors in the film industry. Whether it is star-crossed lovers, gangs or doomed superheroes, Khan has proven he can play many characters. Arguably, Khan’s finest strength as an actor has always been his charisma. He has often been of those rare actors with the abilities to use his charisma to attract audiences to theatres. Through his abilities to play characters which prove to be compelling, Khan has created a bold legacy that’s lasting. Known as the Badshah of Bollywood, Khan has stood test of time as a celebrated icon that’s beloved in Indian Cinema. Despite having reached the age of retirement, Khan hasn’t lost his passions for making engaging entertainment. An icon in India, Khan has become a bold actor whose movies commonly attract audiences to the Cinema. Throughout his long-lasting career, Khan has appeared in several unforgettable movies which are definitely without a doubt worth watching.
I’m a big fan of Khan and adore all the films he has made in his career. However, “Happy New Year” definitely stands out as being his most entertaining movie. Released in 2014, Farah Khan’s movie offered a breathtaking portrait of diamond heists. Packed with bold musical sequences, engrossing storytelling and terrific acting, it’s a brilliant Bollywood action comedy. At the centre of it all lies an incredible performance by Shah Rukh Khan, who embodies a clever thief seeking to pull off an intricate heist. Although “Happy New Year” is a captivating comedy, ultimately it isn’t a flawless film. It builds to a predicable ending without a satisfying resolution. That being said, it offers engaging entertainment for fans of SRK.
“Happy New Year” follows six thieves which team up to prepare for a heist without fear. Shah Rukh Khan portrays Charlie, a smart thief with talent for getting away with crime without any adversity. In order to carry out revenge against a business tycoon framing his father for murder, Charlie plans a heist of diamonds that glimmer. Assembling up a team of individuals, Charlie strives to pull off an elaborate heist on New Year’s. However, Charlie’s hopes of conducting a heist soon face danger when he discovers that he must participate in dancing competitions. Faced with a serious dilemma, Charlie wonders if it is possible for him to conduct an elaborate heist involving high stamina. As he struggles to manage a tense team, Charlie questions if he will achieve his dream.
Farah Khan is fascinated with the themes of teamwork. A fantastic female filmmaker, she has often made engaging Bollywood movies about teams that collaborate together. Her movie “Main Hoon Na” offered an engaging portrait of army veterans working alongside students to save schools from terrorists that showcase trauma. With “Happy New Year”, however, Khan made her first ever heist film. It was the director’s first attempt to convey hardship faced by thieves committing clever heists, but she succeeded immensely. Using captivating cinematography, Khan captures a team of thieves planning a heist. Recalling Steven Soderbergh’s “Ocean’s Eleven”, Khan effectively uses montages to capture teams seeking to conduct heists. For instance, the montages enhance the heist scene. During this unforgettable scene, Charlie works with his team of thieves to conduct an elaborate diamond heist. Using captivating montages, Khan creates a portrait of heists that proves compelling. Montages are tricky techniques. As Yash Chopra’s “Veer-Zaara” suggested, montages elevate Bollywood movies about doomed love. Nevertheless, it works well in this movie. Using breathtaking visuals, Khan captures tensions that teams organizing a heist are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Happy New Year” deserving appreciation is production. From a technical perspective, it’s one of the best Bollywood comedies you will ever see. Khan has always had a talent for creating engaging musical sequences in her movies, and “Happy New Year” demonstrated her strengths as a director. Khan expertly uses cross-cutting to stage musical sequences which are engrossing. For instance, cross-cutting enhances the India Waale musical number. During this engaging song, Charlie and his team seek to prepare for a dancing competition. Using stunning cross-cutting, Khan creates musical sequences proving to be engaging. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. It gives the movie an engaging atmosphere capturing a heavy burden that thieves pulling off heists bear. Through bold production, Khan captures teams seeking to pull off a heist mission.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Happy New Year” is a Bollywood comedy that’s engaging. The film is extremely well-written, and effectively uses monologues to capture tensions that teams organizing an heist are experiencing. Throughout the film, Charlie delivers emotional monologues that prove his leadership in a team. For instance, monologues enhance the teamwork scene. During this memorable scene, Charlie gives an emotional monologue showcasing strong devotion towards leading his team in a heist. Through engaging monologues, Khan crafts a depiction of heists which audiences relate to. Monologues are tricky techniques to use in Bollywood films. As Karan Johar’s “Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna” suggested, monologues enhance Bollywood movies about doomed marriages. Nevertheless, it works extremely in this movie. Through a brilliant screenplay, Khan captures thieves which commit heists with a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Shah Rukh Khan delivers one of his greatest career performances as Charlie. Khan first achieved appreciation for playing heroes in Bollywood romantic films. With “Happy New Year”, however, he took on his most comedic role. It isn’t easy to play a thief that seeks to conduct an elaborate heist but he succeeds immensely. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him before: intense, hilarious and commanding in his most comedic role. With riveting expressions, he captures the angst, bravery and leadership of a clever thief that seeks to plan heist missions. It’s a fantastic performance from one of the most beloved actors in India today.
While the movie is mainly a bold showcase for SRK, the supporting cast is also amazing and worthy of praise. Deepika Padukone is phenomenal, bringing charisma to a woman that seeks to participate in heists causing a dilemma. Abhishek Bachchan is astounding, bringing tension to a thief that is determined to plan a tricky heist mission. Lastly, Boman Irani deserves appreciation. As a bold thief, he is unforgettable.
Despite its strong performances, however, “Happy New Year” can’t quite capture the heavy burden that thieves planning heists bear. If there’s a minor shortcoming to the movie, it lacks an engaging ending. It’s an over-the-top conclusion that fails to bring the movie towards a satisfying resolution. Whereas this conclusion elevated Farhan Akhtar’s “Don 2”, it clashes with the tone of this movie. At worst, it gives false messages about heists that aren’t fully true to reality. Therefore, “Happy New Year” can’t quite live up to the high standard of the best SRK movies audiences adore.
Nevertheless, fans of SRK will enjoy “Happy New Year” and so would audiences seeking engaging entertainment. A bold Bollywood action comedy, it celebrates an Indian actor that has built a lasting legacy.
Nearly 12 years following the release of an iconic Bollywood film about a clever team of thieves seeking to participate in a dancing competition, it’s a brilliant reminder of an Indian actor that has built a reputation by his abilities to portray strong characters in memorable movies throughout his career which deserve appreciation.
4/5 stars
The Film Buff 