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 It's
nice to tackle an offbeat subject but after watching
a film like 'Paheli' one feels like screaming loudly,
'please stick to the old Bollywood formula'.
This is true, particularly
in Shah Rukh Khan's case who needs to be cocooned in
the Yash Chopra or Karan Johan packaging all the time.
However, in all fairness to him I have to add that he
has delivered a convincing performance. Don't know if
he has grown as an actor or it's Amol Palekar's ingenuity
as a director. But unfortunately the film lacks conviction.
The story - Lachchi
(Rani Mukerji) is married to Kisan (Shah Rukh Khan),
who is only interested in making money. The day after
the wedding night, Kisan leaves home for five long years
on account of his business, leaving behind a tearful
Lachchi.
A ghost, who is in love
with Lachchi, makes the most of her husband's absence.
He takes on her husband's appearance and enters her
home and life. He cannot hide the truth from her and
reveals his true identity. Lachchi after an initial
hesitation accepts him and loves him in return. It is
their little secret and is rather cute. This has a fairy
tale feel to it but can only be tolerated up to this
point.
At some stage the film
attains senseless proportions. The lover-cum-husband
ghost even makes Lachchi pregnant. How? Don't ask! Meanwhile
Kisan starts feeling homesick after all these years
and realizes the injustice he's done to his wife. He
is missing her.
Imagine his shock when
he hears that his wife is pregnant back home! He rushes
home and is met with cold stares from his family and
the other villagers. He is mistaken to be a fraud.
The climax is again
very fairy tale like but lacks appeal. How do they figure
out who's the real Kisan or is it ever revealed. I don't
want to spoil your fun by spilling the beans, in case
you decide to watch the film! To make matters worse,
the pace of the first half of the film is very slow.
There's nothing happening in the first one hour.
Now for the performances.
Shah Rukh is decent and does not ham as he is sometimes
prone to. Rani delivers yet another super performance
after 'Black' and 'Bunty Aur Babli'. Amitabh Bachchan
is a disappointment in his one long scene. He hams galore.
Suniel Shetty just has two scenes. He's strictly okay.
Juhi Chawla does not get much scope but she is her pleasant
self. Rajpal Yadav is fun in his two scenes. Anupam
Kher is impressive. Muisc and songs are nothing to rave
about.
Ravi K. Chandran's cinematography
is brilliant. But otherwise the film is sure to leave
the viewer untouched. Can't say much about the business
of the film. It may appeal to the South audience but
overseas and metros it could prove to be a washout!
Bollyvista.com
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