daniel schut
I found Baabul a B-category movie with an A-list-casting. The story, about a young girl being widowed, and the challenges she faces to try and get married again, is really an interesting idea, even though I am not sure whether it still is a common social problem amongst Hindustanis.There's two reasons which make the movie quite bad: Salman Khan and Screenplay/Dialogue.I don't know what people see in Salman Khan, but by the gods, this man CAN NOT act. He sounds like he is a half-German, half-Indian class B actor who is dubbing himself over in real-time. His post-modern interpretation of Romantic Love reminds me more of freshly laid asphalt then of anything else. Why do people still hire him? Were they out of money after Amitabh, Malini and Rani signed up?I found him so irritating that I could not suppress a small 'yay' when he gets run over by a car, halfway through the movie. "Great" I thought, "now let's get on with the people who CAN act and make it a good movie".The second reason: at about three quarters of the movie, I suddenly realized something: if at this, or at any point in the movie, any of the characters would suddenly be played by another actor, it probably wouldn't change any of the dialogue, screenplay or anything else. If Rani would have been replaced in every other scene by let's say Kajol, Priyanka Chopra and an anonymous street vendor from Kolkata, the movie would go on. Now, that may seem an interesting achievement, but it isn't: it shows that many of the people involved just did not care about the actors, the plot and the movie. Screenplay and dialogue should be made to fit the actors: this is what makes chemistry and empathy possible. This just felt like the producers and director thought of this movie as 'another day at the office'. This comes out during the climax: at the point where even hard and sturdy men like me should break down and cry: "oh yes, that's so true, how can humans be so cruel?", you just don't feel anything.The reason why I don't give the movie lower then a six, is that: well, at least the movie is tolerable. The camera-work is quite nice, the idea is quite nice, and the songs are not that bad. So, if you must see it, buy it on DVD and watch it at home when you have nothing else to do.
Queen_of_pentacles
Here we have a quite modern family, son staying in U.S.for 7 years and all that, with the most modern cars, a big luxury house with sprawling lawns, domestic help at the finger tips, and the father and son duo calling each other buddy ! Even the lady of the house can shake the leg or two , to add to the fun ! However, it's the other brother, played by Om Puri, in his typical style, quite convincingly, that plays the part of a square peg in an other wise round hole ! the movie starts off breezily, with lighter moments, romance, and some fun ! however, Salman khan with eye bags, and Rani looking washed out this time, it's a little hard to digest, that they are so new to the game of love ! the age shows ! In fact, Hema Malini looks much more prettier than Rani, even at this age ! the age old formula of the hero hiding his true connections, is once again repeated here ! Over to the birth of a baby, growing up, and all that ! then the sudden accidental death of Salman, and now it's the second chapter, in specially, Rani's life !aware of her earlier friendship with Rajat, played reasonably well, but some how giving an impression of miscasting against Rani, and in this particular role, some questions arise, like why did he not try to find out, how Rani is, when he loved her so deeply ? Then there are all those tension mounting in the family situation, when Amitabh decides to bring Rani and Abraham together, but every body is against ! And then while the other widow in the family, that is Pushpa, enacted by Sarika, speaks out for the first time, about her woes, but briefly, does the old fashioned other brother realizes, that the social customs are not greater than the human beings, traditions could be questioned, if needed ! Happy ending, after much tear jerking ! But the point is, this problem of widow remarriage, is getting absolutely out-dated, specially in the affluent society's ! Premrog, another movie, handling this problem, was much more touching, because it was a period film, and dealt with the traditional household of Lanlords ! Here, in Babul, we have the convenient back drop of a most modern household, with narrow mindsets, only for fueling the crisis, which is more or less artificial, to that extent, and context ! Wouldn't it have been proper for the father-in-law, to take every body in confidence, including his mature wife, rather than flashing an expensive wedding card in her face, or going ahead with the ceremony, with such pomp and show ? but after all, what else can you expect in an Indian cinema, with it's one eye on the box ? the songs are good for the score, but not for the lyrics, especially, the one when Rajat performs live ! they are too prosaic, and lack the flow of a poetic content one expects ! the voices of the play back singers do not match, and therefore, seem odd ! and that Qawali type of Urdu style number, when every body dances Mujara type, is absolutely out of place , for a Hindu family !How can the viewer relate to a problem, which does not touch the cord of probability ? the current situations, and the social scenario, have different problems, as a lot of water has flown under the bridge since then ! Good performances, and a lot of extravaganza simply wasted over an outdated issue ! Tut, Tut, wish the story writer could have at least consulted a sociologist, before coming out with this brilliant idea ! And some tips to Rani ! better stick to your earlier dress designer, and health consultant, otherwise , the end of your career is near ! Stick to your Paheli, and kabhi Alvida.. Chalte Chalte looks, and please eat well ! All which suits Zinta, is not meant for you, Rani, we like you as you are ! And God ! why did they have to pick up the muscle man Salman ? Congratulations Amitabh ! one can watch this movie, at least for your sake, if nothing else !
