Aditya Chopra's Mohabbatein is less a film and more a journey. A journey
into the lives of Narayan Shankar (played by Amitabh Bachchan), the strict
principal of Gurukal School, Raj Aryan (Shahrukh Khan) the new music teacher who
teaches the lesson of love, Sameer (Jugal Hansraj), Vicky (Uday Chopra) and
Karan (Jimmy Shergil) whose lives are destined to intertwine and Ishika (Shamita
Shetty), Kiran (Preeti Jhangiani) and Sanjana (Kim Sharma) whose love stories
unfold and blossom before our very eyes on screen. It is also a journey into
filmmaking in a way that is less a movie and more a web of dreams meticulously
weaved to scoop up the viewer into a world where love wins and is a reality no
one can deny.
The film begins with a meeting of three young boys on their way to study at
Gurukal and who each find an interesting girl in their lives. The strict regime
of Gurukal's principal expertly played by Amitabh Bachchan and the arrival of
the new teacher Raj Aryan and his impact on the institute Mr Shankar has built
over 25 years. The story then becomes a journey of discovery where we learn how Narayan Shankar and Raj Aryan's lives have a common
connection and witness the genesis of three new love stories which are all
conceived, nurtured and blossom on screen. To disclose more of the story would
take from the viewers' enjoyment and so the film should be one experienced in a
way so the story unfolds on screen as intended for maximum impact.
The film is presented well and shot like a dream, with a haunting soundtrack and background score which all adds up to the Mohabbatein experience, which
I must stress is a big screen one. The movie resonates a feeling of youth and warmth and is unlike any film made in recent times, as more than a love
story it is three parallel love stories, all unfolding under a conflict of two stalwarts one representing boundless love and the other fear.
Performance
wise the debutantes have made a mark, with each receiving equal if not parallel
footage and each character having its own appeal and unique style allowing the
six new artistes to flourish in roles which reflect today's now generation, full
of life and exuberance. Jugal Hansraj plays the charming sweet lover boy while
Uday plays the prankster and extremely cool Vicky who is always smiling as he
lives life to the full. Jimmy Shergil plays the more mature of the three
boys, who is more cautious but as eager to experience love. Shamita Shetty makes
her presence felt as the energetic Ishika who compliments Vicky's prankster to
the hilt, while Sanjana is Sameer's friend and love and Kiran the more reserved
girl with a past enticing Karan's attraction.
Amitabh Bachchan delivers a power packed performance and has an unavoidable
screen presence which commands attention, as he excels in a role which is
unimaginable with anyone else. Shahrukh's performance is more subtle and
subdued, which successfully brings about the magician of Raj Aryan who weaves
his magic on the institute which binds his past and present. The scenes between
Amitabh and Shahrukh can only be described akin to a lit firework, waiting to
explode.
The movie is very well shot and Manmohan Singh does justice to the journey
conceived and successfully executed by Aditya Chopra, as slick direction and
heart wrenching performances alongside intelligent dialogues shine through.
The film's Diwali release and timing of Winter could not be more apt given the
theme and manner in which the story is narrated. If there are no brown leaves on
the ground this Winter in the upcoming weeks, it will be Aditya Chopra who will
deservedly receive the credit. He has presented a film full of love, bringing
alive a young, hip and happening group of characters who float into your heart
slowly finding themselves going deeper within as each scene passes. Costume
designers Manish Malhotra, Karan Johar along with costume co-ordinator Thilaka
Paramesh deserve much credit for dressing the characters in such clothes that
reflect the characters, are in tune with the time and set trends for the new
millennium. Apart from paths void of Autumn leaves, you can expect polo necks to
make a huge comeback in Britain and
soft colours to be seen for a long while to come.
Mohabbatein epitomises love in a way that lingers in the heart long after the
film is over, and makes you want to re-live the experience within minutes. A
worthy and thankfully dissimilar successor to Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, the
film has established one achievement that cannot be ignored: It has escaped the
feel of a Yash Chopra film and created a new niche and bares a unique stamp -
that of an Aditya Chopra film. Watch out world, there's a new genius in town.
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