Kuch Kuch Hota Hai

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Kuch Kuch Hota Hai [1998]

Starring: Kajol, Shahrukh Khan, Rani Mukerji

Direction by Karan Johar

Language: Hindi

This, after Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, may be the most popular Bollywood film by a long shot. I have watched it several times, and with each additional viewing, my positive opinion of the movie just grows. With all the buzz from their previous blockbuster, Shahrukh Khan and Kajol were able to propel this movie into legendary status, and for good reason! This movie was great. 

This movie was very typical in terms of storyline, so there's not much to talk about there. The first half is a typical love story: a friendship between a boy and a girl breaks down after one reveals feelings for the other. It's a tried and true classic. Sometimes you need a simplistic plot (which was true at least in the first part of this movie) to make the piece of work really good. However, the best thing about Hindi-language films, in my opinion, ìs the fact that an entire movie is essentially split into two very distinct parts. 

What distinguished the film from others was the fact that the majority of the second part of it was told from a child's point of view. The use of the young girl in the picture, Anjali, simplified the storyline, and made what would otherwise be construed as a complex plot miraculously tolerable to watch.

So whilst the writing of the story was relatively basic, the characterisation and casting of the characters was where the movie really excelled. The character of Tina was written so unbelievably well that it is hard to describe. Her character not only incorporated the youth and innocence of a teenage girl, but it was also written in such a way that a strong sense of maturity came shining through. And the way that Rani Mukerji actually performed this character? It was like the character was an extension of herself!

The complexity of character can be seen through the other main character, Anjali (yes, there are two Anjali's) played by Kajol. Through her character, there was a clear narrative that everyone deserves love, even those who almost seem incapable of doing so. There was a clear duality seen in Anjali's character: it incorporated two extremes of femininity: one side where she was a tomboy, and another where she was a subservient girl, pushed into a loveless marriage.

As is the case with most Bollywood films I review, the music was great: songs from this movie are always the first I add to any new playlist I make.

Ab toh mera dil, jaage na sota hai! Kya karo haayein, kuch kuch hota hai.

Now my heart is neither awake nor asleep! What to do? Something is happening.

Koi mil gaya, mera dil gaya! Kya pata yaaron, mein toh hil gaya! Koi mil gaya, mil hi gaya!

I have found someone, my heart has (disappeared)! What can I say, I am thrilled! I have found someone (found someone)!

9/10

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