Won from the heart

Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna

Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukherji. Preity Zinta
Direction: Karan Johar
Rating: ****

Here’s Karan Johar’s smashing coming-of-age movie. It’s mature, bold and dares to say it loud and clear that a man and woman – both trapped in loveless marriages – have the option to start all over again. Or at least try to.

Even while working within the hyper-commercial matrix of cool New York locations, designer costumes, star turbo-power, and dramatic dialoguebaazi, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna subverts the formulaic rules. None of the characters caught in the web of relationships is perfect or pure: each one has his or her quirks, frailties, warts and blemishes.

Ostensibly, they may live in Louis Vuitton country but scratch the surface, and they’re as recognisable as your next-door neighbour who has stomped out of the house after a domestic spat.

With his patented cinematic pizazz – swift intercuts – Johar establishes his conflicted people. The introduction of ace football player Dev (Shah Rukh Khan) and his upmarket magazine editor wife (Preity Zinta) makes you privy right away to their self-centred temperaments.

She’s not wild about his career goals, he’s forgotten it’s their wedding anniversary. Eesh.

In another part of Gotham, a cleanliness-manic woman Maya (Rani Mukherji) is unsure about marrying a goody-gumdrops guy (Abhishek Bachchan).

As it happens, our football star saunters by the reluctant bride, advises her to go ahead with the pheras, only to gather some four year later that his words were as empty as the park they had met in. Life’s now hell with no immediate exit.

Despite the heavy-duty aspect of the situation, the pace is light and larkish, thanks considerably to the goody guy’s lovably maddy dad (Amitabh Bachchan).

The endearingly “Sexy Sam” cavorts with a different blonde every day of the week. Or our Sam teases a bahenji (Kirron Kher) about her “Chandigarh” backside. In addition, the prissy Maya’s sex kitten act, brandishing a leather whip is outrageously funny.

Next: a hopelessly cynical, leg impaired Dev attempts to reconcile his feelings for Maya, at the risk of severing his ties with his wife and child.

Follow spicy scenes like the dinner with Dev and Sam crossing swords of sarcasm (arguably the best in the movie). Then there’s the moment when Dev waits at a traffic junction with roses for his beloved, only to be faced by his wife.

Towards the latter-half of the indulgently lengthy screenplay though, the Brief Encounter-style, furtive meetings between the straying couple do become a bit of a drag.

Also, while practically every scene is marvellously conceived and shot, under soft radiant colours by Anil Mehta, an outing to a ballet is far too cheesy for comfort. Swoon Lake indeed!

Such nitpickings apart, the bitter, snarling Dev’s character is one of a kind. Goodbye loverboy Raj-Rahul, hello Mr Bittersweet.

Niranjan Iyengar’s dialogue is pithy, like  “Only two things arrive without warning – love and death.” Ehsaan Shankar Loy’s music is remarkable for Mitwa, while Farah Khan gets the groove on with Rock ‘n’ roll soniye (hey, Kajol’s one-minute turn is a zinger).And Sharmishtha Roy’s art direction is sumptuously chic.

The ensemble performances are of the highest order. Abhishek Bachchan is excellent, handling complex moments with depth, particularly his lacerating bouts of rage.

Rani Mukherji tackles a difficult part with conviction and compassion. Preity Zinta elevates her role with intelligence and spontaneity.

Amitabh Bachchan is boss, infallibly investing gravitas as well as humour to every scene (his speechlet at a discotheque is palpably heartfelt).

The anchorman of Alvida is the always searching and superb Shah Rukh Khan. Only he could have pulled off a role which requires that fine balance between pain and passion. Bravo!

For its non-judgmental and progressive take on marriage and infidelity, see KANK with someone you love..unconditionally.

khalid@dnaindia.net

Rating

Outstanding:*****
Very Good: ****
Good: ***
Average: **
Poor: *