Writer/Director: Karan Johar
Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukherji and Abishek Bachchan
‘A Captivating Indian Classic’
Not many actors in Bollywood have earned praise of Amitabh Bachchan. Following his rise to fame amid the 1970’s, Bachchan has transformed in a legendary Bollywood icon. Whether it’s inspiring teachers, frustrated fathers or patriotic leaders, Bachchan has played many strong characters. Arguably, Bachchan’s best strength as an actor has always been his strong commitment to his craft. He is one of those rare Indian actors that has always had strong presence which has elevated every movie he is in. Through his capabilities to create characters which audience can easily relate to, Bachchan has become a celebrated Bollywood icon that audiences value. Although he is best known for roles in Bollywood, Bachchan has proven he excels in every genre. Despite reaching an age of retirement, Bachchan has never lost long lasting passion for entertainment. Throughout his illustrious career, Bachchan has produced countless movies which are absolutely worth talking about without any doubt.
I’m a huge fan of Bachchan and adore all the films which he has made in his career. However, “Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna” truly stands out as his most brave film. Released in 2006, Karan Johar’s iconic movie offered a compelling portrait of broken marriages. Packed with breathtaking music, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s a brilliant Bollywood romantic drama. At the centre of it all is an incredible performance by Amitabh Bachchan, who embodies an anxious father struggling to care for a son whose marriage is broken. Ultimately, what makes “Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna” an iconic Bollywood classic is broad appeal. Unlike most Bollywood movies, it tackles themes everyone would relate to. A mesmerizing Bollywood masterpiece about marriages, there are many reasons why “Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna” is worth seeing.
“Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna” tells a story of married couples whose relationships are doomed to face damage. Shah Rukh Khan portrays Dev, a cynical soccer player thats in a broken marriage. Dev struggles to get along well with his wife Riya (Preity Zinta). Following a career-ending sports injury, Dev has lost hope of happiness. However, Dev’s life changes when he falls in love with Maya (Rani Mukherji). Maya is a woman that is also stuck in a broken marriage of her own that endures serious issues. Engaging in a passionate love affair, Dec and Maya come to care about each other deeply. They form a strong bond sharing common experience of facing marriages that have fallen apart. As Maya’s life attracts the attention of her father-in-law Sam (Amitabh Bachchan), the pair’s relationship faces tension. Trapped in heartbreaking situations causing damage, Dev begins to slowly wonder whether he will ever be able to find feelings of happiness in marriage.
Karan Johar is fascinated by marriages that face disaster. A bold Indian filmmaker, Johar has often told bold stories of couples facing broken relationships. His iconic film “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Kham” offered an engrossing glimpse at dysfunctional families which face shattered relationships. With “Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna”, however, Johar made his first marriage drama. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture intense barriers faced by couples experiencing broken marriages but he succeeded expertly. Through captivating cinematography, Johar captures the lives of couples stuck in doomed marriages. Johar uses cross-cutting to capture the tensions endured by couples whose marriages are declining. The movie deftly switches back and forth between the lives of two couples with marriages facing decline. For instance, cross-cutting elevates the argument scene. During this emotional scene, both couples engage in heated arguments causing their marriages to end abruptly. Cross-cutting is not a simple technique to use in Bollywood. That being said, it worked tremendously in this movie. Through the use of breathtaking visuals, Johar captures unstable marriages that are declining.
Another admirable aspect of “Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna” that merits appreciation is the production-design. From a technical point of view, the movie is extremely well made. The main highlight of the film is the music sequences. In Bollywood, most movies are driven by melodramatic musical numbers without any meaning. Musical sequences often become a distracting diversion from engaging storytelling. Thankfully, though, “Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna” is an exception. Johar expertly stages slow motion musical sequences that showcase bonds between lovers eloping to cope with their declining marriage. For instance, the slow motion enhances the Tumhi Dekho Naa musical sequence. During this unforgettable scene, Dev and Maya spend valuable time in each other’s company away from a deteriorating marriage. Through the slow-motion, Johar deftly captures the painful hardships that lovers in doomed marriages go through. Furthermore, the music score is dazzling. Shankar Ehsaan Loy’s music is integral towards the success of the movie. It gives the film a tense atmosphere capturing a heavy burden that couples facing broken marriages bear. Through bold production, Johar captures broken marriages facing tension.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna” is an Indian film that’s engaging. The film is extremely well- written, and uses foreshadowing to capture the consequences experienced by couples in marriages that are declining. Johar’s best screenwriting strength is his abilities to use foreshadowing to capture marriages which are slowly declining. Throughout the movie, Johar hints danger faced by couples whose marriages are doomed through subtle hints. For instance, foreshadowing enhances the car crash scene. During this unforgettable scene, Dev becomes involved in a fatal car accident which causes his marriage to fall apart. One admires subtle foreshadowing capturing marriage to be declining between Indian couples. Foreshadowing is a complex technique to utilize in Bollywood movies. As “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham” proved clearly, foreshadowing elevates classic Bollywood family dramas. Nevertheless, it works really well in this film. Through a bold screenplay, Johar captures broken marriages affecting Indian couples today.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Amitabh Bachchan delivers one of his finest career performances as Samarjit. Bachchan first earned appreciation for playing action heroes in celebrated Bollywood films. With “Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna”, however, he took on his most tricky role. It isn’t simple to play the anxious father of a son experiencing a doomed marriage but he succeeds. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him in the past before: intense, charismatic and unforgettable in his most memorable role. With riveting expressions, he captures the angst, frustration and wisdom of a father guiding his son through broken marriages experiencing tensions. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the finest actors working in India today.
While the movie is mainly a bold showcase for Bachchan, the supporting cast is stellar and also worthy of appreciation. Shah Rukh Khan is spectacular, bringing charisma to a frustrated football player trapped in broken marriages that face disaster. Rani Mukerji is remarkable, bringing authority to a woman that engages in extramarital affairs causing her marriage to experience tragedy. Lastly, Abhishek Bachchan merits appreciation. As a frustrated man in a failing marriage, he is unforgettable.
Finally, “Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna” will earn the appreciation of everyone for capturing marriages facing a dilemma. Unlike most Bollywood movies, it tackles themes that everyone would be able to relate to. The film discusses encompassing themes including adultery, marriage and identity which would definitely resonate with everyone. Viewers aren’t required to be Indian to identify with themes of the movie. It delivers a powerful message which would truly resonate with everyone which has witnessed a broken marriage. Therefore, “Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna” is one of those rare one of a kind Bollywood movies which everyone would adore.
Nearly 30 years after the groundbreaking release of an iconic movie about couples which are trapped in doomed marriages that are deteriorating, it’s a bold reminder about an Indian actor that has established lasting legacy through his abilities to play compelling characters in engaging movies which are definitely without a doubt truly worth celebrating.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 