The Holy Trinity of Early 2000s Bollywood: Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham

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Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham [2001]

Starring: Shahrukh Khan, Kajol, Hrithik Roshan, Amitabh & Jaya Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor

Direction by Karan Johar

Language: Hindi

Welcome to the third installment of the series! When I think of melodramatic Hindi-language movies, this one is the first that comes to mind. With its star studded cast, it is almost impossible for a regular viewer of Bollywood to be unfamiliar with the movie. 

Everything is a grand show, everything is overly emotional, and everything is so exaggerated to the point where the movie feels more fictious than realistic. In spite of this, however, I find myself coming back to this movie repeatedly. 

I'm a lover of all things drama, and so this grand spectacle of a movie, despite its shortcomings, is something that I really I really respond to. What I'm trying to get at, essentially, is that the aesthetic appeal of this movie far surpasses those of the other movies in this series. Right from one of the first scenes, the grandness and colour synonymous with Indian culture, tradition, and family comes to full view: saris in every colour imaginable, millions of people gathered together in one household. It is a fascinating thing to watch, to say the least. 

What sets this movie apart from many others is the idea of familial relationships being put in a very public sphere. Many Bollywood films focus on the idea of relationships and how they affect domestic settings. However, the idea of family is extended, in this film, and is represented in such a way that relationships don't just affect families domestically, but affect things on a wider scale: reputation, honour, and dignity. 

This movie brought out an entirely different side of Kajol's ability as an actress, which was amazing to see. In the Kajol movies I have seen, she almost always plays the role of a no-nonsense character, a character rooted in practicality and rationality. However, in this movie, the audience gets a glimpse of the true extent of Kajol's ability: she plays the role of a loveable, all-over-the-place woman, with her head in the clouds, and her grasp on reality loose at best. It was nice to see this different side of Kajol come to view. 

Shahrukh Khan was the same, I guess! A hopeless romantic becomes cynical after being put in an impossible situation, only for resolution to be found. Where have we heard that plot before? You're right! Every single Shahrukh Khan movie in existence from that time period. You would think that audiences would get sick of him but I guess they haven't. Hrithik Roshan, in comparison, performed much better: I was relieved to finally see him not in the largely macho, cynical roles he has played in more recent films. 

Now onto the oldest power couple in Bollywood: Jaya and Amitabh Bachchan. Let's start with the comparatively better one. Jaya Bachchan performed excellently in a role that seemed to be perfectly suited to her capabilities as an actress: as a mother whose love for her children consumes all, despite the wills over her overbearing husband. Speaking of Jaya Bachchan's husband, Amitabh Bachchan performed poorly. I don't know if I'm confusing poor acting for dislike of his character, but he just didn't really stick out to me. 

Finally, the music! Top tier. Unmatched. Unparalleled. 

Hai khoobsurat yeh pal; sab kuch raha hai badal; sapne haqeeqat mein joh dhal rahe hai

These moments are beautiful; everything is changing; dreams and reality are combining

Overall, I think this movie was the best of the series.

9.5/10

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