The House of Chopra Descends

akbarnali

Yash Chopra has oft been noted for his bold dramas, masterful characterizations, and resonating romances. Who, indeed, can forget the battle of wills between Amitabh and Shahi Kapoor in "Deewar", or the palatable devastation of Sanjeev Kumar and Jaya Bachchan in "Silsila", or the magical majesty of Sridevi in the Rajasthani deserts of "Lamhe"? Chopra reached the pinnacle of creativity with "Lamhe" in 1991. The downward slump which followed was perhaps inevitable, but definitely regrettable. "Parampara" was intermittently enjoyable, thanks in large part to Aamir Khan. "Darr" had all the requisite ingredients for success, and is certainly his best film post-"Lamhe", but lacked the taut quality a thriller requires. Shah Rukh Khan was still engaged in quality roles at that point, and succeeded in stealing the limelight from Juhi Chawla who played the protagonist famously referred to as "K-K-K-Kiran".

But alas. If the house of Chopra had attempted different themes in "Kabhie Kabhi", "Silsila", "Waqt", "Deewar", "Chandni", "Lamhe", "Aaina", and "Darr", it failed to break any substantial artistic ground with the flossy and flaccid non-event called "Dil To Pagal Hai".

In fact, it is so glaringly insipid that one cannot compare it to the repertoire which bears the name Chopra. Its clear predecessor is another "film". One cannot help but draw parallels between DTPH and Sooraj Barjatya's heinously contrived Hindu Family Values farce "Hum Aapke Hain Kaun": both films are driven by their songs, costume changes, and familial uptopias. There is no story, no plot, and outside Karishma Kapoor's spraining her ankle, no significant occurrence in the entire 180 minutes. There is little-if any-depth to the characters. Ms. Dixit is present in both, playing the same girl with different names, who is burdened with a unique form of arrested mental development in which she suffocates her own desire in deference to the will of her extended family, who in both cases is eager to marry her off to her brother-in-law (Mohnish Bahl in HAHK) or her adoptive brother (Akshay Kumar in DTPH). A curious tipping of the hat to the idea of incest, indeed. Of course, fans of Ms. Dixit have seen her umpteen times before in potbolier love triangles: "Saajan", "Mohabbat", "Arzoo", "Dil Tera Aasiq", "HAHK", "Wajood", "Koyla", "Yaaraana", "Rajkumar", "Khal-Nayak", "Sahibaan", "Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam", etc., etc., etc. Perhaps she was unaware that other types of films existed, or that embodying misogynistic feminine ideals, sucking limes, and swishing her dupatta endlessly does not qualify as "acting".

Shah Rukh is little better off with a half-baked and half-acted performance that has all the excitement of a dull thud. DTPH probably also marks the beginning of the descent of SRK's status as an actor. The joyous heights of "Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa", "Baazigar", and "Raju Bangaya Gentleman" are all distant memories. He had officially resigned his screen persona to the nondescript romantic hero "Raj/Rahul" who has since been seen in "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai", "Mohobbatein", "Kabhie Khushi Kabhi Gham", and of course, "Veer Zaara".

DTPH belongs, in all of miniscule relevance, to Karishma Kapoor. She is the only example of intelligence or artistry in the film, stealing each and every scene in which she appears, and garnering a well-deserved National Award. It is interesting that virtually every other leading actress in India at the time, including Juhi Chawla, Manisha Koirala, Urmila Matondkar, Raveena Tandon, Tabu, and even Kajol had rejected the role because it was deemed too insubstantial. Indeed, it is the *ONLY* thing that is substantial in this attempt to one-up the hacked-up and hackneyed "Hum Aapke Hain Kaun!"

score 2/10

akbarnali 28 March 2006

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw1327532/