Karnataka   

High on style and low on substance

DESIGNER FARE: Preity Zinta and Abhishek Bachchan in `Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna'.

Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (Hindi)

Director: Karan Johar

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Amitabh Bachchan

Unrequited love. Unanswered prayers. Unsuccessful marriage. Karan Johar's "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna" has them all. What is missing is the soul. No understated elegance. No actor who is not first a star. Shah Rukh Khan is Shah Rukh, not Dev, the failed footballer he plays here. Preity Zinta is Preity, not Rhea, the ace fashion editor she essays in this film. Rani Mukerji is Rani, not the proper nursery school teacher Maya she is supposed to play. Reputation precedes, then impedes performance. Stars overshadow the characters; and the lead actors, except the Bachchans, are reduced to stars; lots of charisma, lots of glycerine, but an absolute reluctance to get into the skin of the character.

Everything is picture perfect: there is so much perfection it stifles free expression. When the actors shed a tear, it trickles down only up to a certain point on the cheek.

When the hair gets unruly in anger, all the wayward strands fall at a certain angle. When they scream at each other — and they do it pretty often considering the story is all about two squabbling couples — they do so in designer apparel. They live in mansions, and make love under silken sheets.

Sad but true, Karan Johar's film comes to life only once in a while. That is when he remembers that a film is supposed to appeal to the heart, not only pamper the eyes. For those few moments, there is a lump in the throat as Dev and Rhea alternately seek to make their marriage work, and walk out of it. And Maya does the same with Rishi, Abhishek Bachchan, in easily the most controlled portrayal among the four lead characters. Watch it, if you must, only for Amitabh Bachchan who packs a punch in his smallish role as the patriarch with a glad eye and loose, ready to drop trousers. Watch it if you are in love with stars, and are ready to forgive them the minor sin of not leaving their baggage behind.

In no mood or need for such sermons? Good. Say goodbye to "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna".

ZIA US SALAM

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