SpecialsTarget
Disturbing yet enthralling
Portia Hilton
Blistering performances.
Marva-nova
Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.
Haven Kaycee
It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film
silvan-desouza
VVC made several great films like PARINDA(1989) In 1942 Love Story he reunites with Jackie, Anil, Anupam Kher and brings yet another good film The film is completely a fiction and holds no true story of real independence struggle(as far as my knowledge) People looking out for historical accuracy should not watch the film The film was in news as it was the last film music maestro RD Burman composed music for. The film was released after his death. Though Ghatak and Gang delayed films with Burman's music released much later in 1996 and 2000 respectively. The film starts with hanging of Anil Kapoor and then is told in flashback where during the chaos of struggle of independence Anil and Manisha fall in love. The first half focuses more on the love story with songs breaking in every 10 minutes, All the brilliant songs are in the first half the subplot of Anupam Kher is superbly handled and also the track of Anil's father and Danny's subplot too. The story takes off at interval after Jackie enters the frame and then the focus is on nationalism and patriotism. The film manages to hold your attention and make you feel for the viewers though it's a bit melodramatic yet the handling is brilliant The ending also isn't realistic yet it works with the patriotism element VVC does a great job, his expertise shows in drama and crowd scenes too Music by RD Burman is classic, every song is brilliant and most are still known of, Ek Ladki, Kuch Naa Kaho, Rim Jhim, Pyaar Hua Chupke se every song is a classic, Rut Na Jaana is also memorable Yeh Safar by Sivaji Chattopadhyaya is superb too their placements is too quick especially in first half thoughAmongst performances The film has a wide range of actors Anil Kapoor does a great job as usual playing the romantic lover to the patriotic hero, he does a great job Jackie Shroff comes in the second half but does a superb job too again in a VVC film he always stole the show Manisha Koirala looks beautiful and acts brilliantly, a far cry from her previous days and later recent days. Amongst rest Sushma Seth is usual, Manohar Singh is terrific Danny is admirable in his role, Anupam Kher excels in his role as usual Pramod Moutho(for once the good guy) does a great job too Raghuvir Yadav is superb too Brian Glover is theatrical in his stereotypical bad British guy role. Chandni as Chanda is goodThe film was an average at the box office but yet it's remembered especially for it's music
sgoswami
1942: A Love Story, stays unfaithful to its name. Its neither a love story, nor does it contain the factual underpinnings surrounding the events of 1942. But I digress. If those were the only two shortcomings (albeit major) of the movie, it would be bearable. Reality, however, sets in. After watching this sensationalist and inane film, I must confess: I've had more fun watching grass grow on my lawn. And my lawn is dead.The film attempts to draw you in to its hero, Narendra Singh (played by Anil Kapoor), the son of a wealthy lord of the era, Diwan Hari Singh, who also happens to be an obtuse sycophant of the British Raj. True to fashion of Hindi cinema, there is (predictably) the anti-Raj, aka the freedom fighters. The daughter of one of these fighters, Rajeshwari (played by Manisha Koirala), catches the eye of Narendra, and he is smitten by her beauty. He immediately falls in love and begins his pursuit of her. Mind you, all of this happens in the first five minutes, and it only deteriorates from there.The hero's propensity to bring calamities to those around him is befuddling (I affectionately started calling him Forrest Gump). In an attempt to portray the yearning and desire he has for his love, the film misses connecting with the audience. Instead, it portrays him as a bumbling idiot who, in a blind frenzied search for a girl he has met for only five minutes, has no hesitation in breaking promises (he states that he will not reveal the identity of the freedom fighters, yet immediately afterwords reveals their identities to his mother) and wreaking havoc (numerous times he foolishly pursues Narendra, only to further expose her identity) on those around him.Furthermore, much like the hero, the other characters in the film lack dimension and also fail to connect with the audience. In a desperate attempt to draw the film together and make some coherent sense of the madness, sensationalism is thrown into the mixture. And not just any sensationalism, but "Jai Hind" at that. What better way to prey on the emotions of a stupefied audience than to bring in a revered chant of the freedom fighters of the era. The sum of its tattered pieces do not add up to a congruous and solid movie. The plot line is unbelievably predictable, and the acting sub par, sans for Manisha Koirala, who churns out a half-decent tear during the final scene. Sadly, the audience won't shed a drop when this waste of celluloid hits the can. In reality, this movie is more akin to the tripe you find at the butcher's block in Albertsons.So, should you watch this film? If for some reason there is an extra three hours in your life that is expendable, by all means, go for it. But if you're looking for a movie that has coherency and can grip its audience, you'd be better off looking out your window and at the lawn.
ank_jabberwocky1
"1942 A Love story" is a portray of a beautiful love story with the backdrop of the Indian struggle for freedom.The plot is still the same of a love story but unlike other Bollywood movies the villains are not the parents but the political turmoil of 1942.Vidhu Vinod who was just three movie old when he made this movie teams up with the genius Sanjay Leela Bhansali ( screenplay) to deliver a movie which is definitely the best of 93.With an impressive star cast of Anil Kapoor, Prem , Jackie Shroff,Danny, Ashish Vidyarthi and Anupam Kher this one could have never gone wrong.The story runs on two parallel lines one is the love story between Rajjo(Manisha Koirala) and Narender(Anil Kapoor). The other story is about the assassination of general Douglas.THe music of the movie is absolutely amazing R.D.Burman delivers yet another masterpiece which was unfortunately his last. Manisha Koirala fits so well in the role of an innocent and beautiful young girl.THe introductory scene of Manisha Koirala is absolutely amazing."Ek Ladki KO " and Kuch Na Kaho are one of the best pasteurized songs. Kuch Na Kaho gets you into the moment so well.THe on screen kiss if definitely one of the best on the Indian screen.Javed Akhtar wrote the songs that are just a brilliant example of superb poetry.THe songs are a part of the story and since they are so good you don't get irritated when they pop up unlike other Hindi movies.The story takes a sharp turn just before the interval after the death of Anupam Kher when Manisha Koirala is rescued by Jackie Shroff and the conditions forces Anil Kapoor to jump into the struggle of Indian independence.performance wise Jackie steals the show delivering the role of a young and self driven freedom fighter he is able to portray the emotions and feelings to picture perfect.BUt that does not undermines the performances of other actors.I give this movie a 9 out of 10 a must watch for people who believe that Indian cinema is not dead yet and there are great film- makers who will deliver the best when ever they could
chickof80s
As an ABCD (An American Born Confused Desi) I wanted to make my first Bollywood hit a memorable one...and that this movie was!While keeping to a simple plot and common theme of love in a war-torn country, the struggles are just and portrayed more seriously than other "love during war" films...I won't give away the terrific ending, but I will tell you that it is a happy one, and though it is common for Hindi films to have a happy ending, a love story with a happy ending never gets old, does it not?The only thing non ABCD'ers will find odd/curious is the fact that the movie frequently took a "break" for the characters to lip-sync a song about how they felt. I liked it, but for the first five seconds I was like, "Why are we having a music video in the middle of the movie??"Overall I give this movie 5 stars out of 4. Is it because I love any Bollywood film? Is it because I'm an ABCD? Is it because I'm a hopeless romantic? I don't know, but I highly recommend you see 1942: A Love Story!