The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Definitely good value for money Film Reviews

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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Definitely good value for money Film Reviews

Good show: A scene from ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’.

Film: Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma

Direction: Aditya Chopra

In the last few days, common man is suddenly back in focus. Government is planning tax cuts, builders are offering smaller houses, banks are contemplating on reducing interest rates on home loans and now Yash Raj banner has given up its grandiose designs to charm the omnipresent aam admi.

Yes, the man who still considers macho as some spare part of a bike, the babu whose to-do list is governed by sun and above all the ordinary fellow on the street who understands Raj’s stylish demeanour or histrionics makes just a slice of dream. In essence, it is the heart that matters and not the form. Of late film moguls had forgotten all of it. Aditya Chopra returns from a rather long hibernation – eight years to be precise – to turn the clock back and almost succeeds.

He has proved a lot could be said within the restrictions of a masala entertainer. His Surinder Sahni is not too far from Dasvidaniya’s Amar Kaul in spirit. It is just that if you have Shah Rukh Khan at your disposal you can dream big. This is what Aditya has done. As Surinder, the babu who packs his expression of love in the tiffin, Shah Rukh has tried to present a contrast to everything he stands for. So what is the well-guarded story all about?

Circumstances force Surinder to marry Taani, an effervescent girl who is new on the one way street called youth. She finds Surinder drab and boring. As always, true love can make you do anything. No climbing the Alps, here the guy just has to learn some dance steps to impress his love. He disguises himself as Raj, the Shah Rukh we know for more than a decade. Problem arises when the girl falls in love with the cloak. There is nothing larger than life, melodrama is well proportioned and ambience real.Newcomer Anushka Sharma has given an earnest performance as Taani. She has a substantial role and keeps King Khan on his toes, not just in dance but in over all performance as well. Vinay Pathak, as Surinder’s friend, has helped bringing in the requisite layering in a script which relies on just four characters, two of which are played by Shah Rukh himself.

Over all “Rab Ne…” is not great cinema but definitely good value for money as long as it lasts.

ANUJ KUMAR

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