How about this headline - 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, a well laid out rattrap' ? I admit, it's not that good, but atleast it tells you at a glance what all that hullabaloo has finally added upto.
For almost a year, there has been an increasing build-up surrounding Karan Johar's new production, titled 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil', with a very interesting star cast, including Ranbir Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan,Anushka Sharma and Fawad Khan. There were even speculations of a cameo by Shah Rukh Khan. All talented, good-looking actors, who made this project sound promising. I needn't have mentioned their good looks, but this movie apparently banks on that as well.If you haven't already, take a look online and you'll know what I'm talking about.So you can imagine the state of affairs leading up to the Diwali release, on October 28,2016.
Straight off, let me tell you that the movie is disheartening. It hardly keeps any of the promises made via the endless promotions. But, the movie will probably earn the marketing team an award, seriously. I am ashamed to admit that they weaved a deceptive web, they really knew what to throw in to catch the attention of a global audience. There had to be something on there that you liked. Beginning with an intriguing teaser release at the end of August (which also gave a glimpse of the title song, by far the best song in the album), and the elaborate trailer coming out in September, aided by consistent song releases, and beautiful posters,the movie garnered steady recognition. Everyone was talking about it - even if you had no access to any form of media, word-of-mouth worked in your (and the director's) favour. The release of the title song was followed by that of the racy 'Bulleya', the sad 'Channa Mereya', 'The Breakup Song' and 'Cutie Pie'. Catchy line-up, once again. So far , so good.
For those expecting an intense story of love and loss, you might not be all that purged inside the theatre walls. Even the stellar actor Ranbir Kapoor's performance was unsatisfactory. Aishwarya Rai looks dashing, sure, but her preachy lines only add to the filmy setup, which did not let me suspend my disbeliefs. Anushka looks her best yet in the film, that is one thing that Karan Johar has successfully accomplished - the costumes and makeup. But she too, like Ranbir, disappoints, which I think owes more to a far-fetched plot and disturbing characterisation than any fault on the part of the actors.
In a nutshell, 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' is the same old story of a man's one -sided first love, a woman he cannot get over despite extreme measures.This storyline is embellished by throwing in a lot of money on foreign locations, high-profile actors, partying and whatnot.By the time they are united, they are still only friends, and the leading lady has terminal cancer. Really, Karan? After your helpfully pointing out in the teaser that you directed 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai', 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham', 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna', 'My Name Is Khan' and 'Student Of The Year' - all films(except the final cheesy high-school drama) superb in every way, and which made you one of Bollywood's favourite directors. I used to think he knew what to deliver and how to deliver it, especially tales concerning love,family and relationships.
Now, I know he could have done better with this story of unrequited love, with all that potential onboard. There is none of the fun that the trailer promises in the film.The evocative 'Ae dil hai mushkil' didn't sound as well as expected on the dolby atmos.Your eyes don't well up all that much either.There are just the two lead characters where you expected multiple narratives, more stories on the sideline.Two hour and 38 minutes seems too long for this hopeless, obsessive love. Even Shah Rukh Khan, who has been cast in some of Karan's best films, looks aged. Actually his and Alia's cameo(yes, she appears in one scene too) seem unnecessary, almost an excuse to add to the glitz and glamour onscreen. The only memorable bits are the golden hits referred to by the budding singer(flashback:'Rockstar'), reminiscences of Johar's earlier films(mostly SRK-Kajol) and the occassional witty dialogues.On the whole, I would say that 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' is a feast to the eyes more than anything else. Probably what is going to be remembered more than Aiyan and Alizeh is the saga of Karan Johar's struggle to get his film sanctioned for release - after unfortunately getting tangled in the India-Pak cold war ( the upheaval surrounding the Uri attacks), might I add, which has ironically turned out to be more or less, a national joke, for something not worth all that sweat. Sahi hai, ae dil hai mushkil, for all that Karan went through these past few months, for Aiyan's destructive love and finally, the movie's inability to impress the audience. Translate as, better luck next time.
For almost a year, there has been an increasing build-up surrounding Karan Johar's new production, titled 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil', with a very interesting star cast, including Ranbir Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan,Anushka Sharma and Fawad Khan. There were even speculations of a cameo by Shah Rukh Khan. All talented, good-looking actors, who made this project sound promising. I needn't have mentioned their good looks, but this movie apparently banks on that as well.If you haven't already, take a look online and you'll know what I'm talking about.So you can imagine the state of affairs leading up to the Diwali release, on October 28,2016.
Straight off, let me tell you that the movie is disheartening. It hardly keeps any of the promises made via the endless promotions. But, the movie will probably earn the marketing team an award, seriously. I am ashamed to admit that they weaved a deceptive web, they really knew what to throw in to catch the attention of a global audience. There had to be something on there that you liked. Beginning with an intriguing teaser release at the end of August (which also gave a glimpse of the title song, by far the best song in the album), and the elaborate trailer coming out in September, aided by consistent song releases, and beautiful posters,the movie garnered steady recognition. Everyone was talking about it - even if you had no access to any form of media, word-of-mouth worked in your (and the director's) favour. The release of the title song was followed by that of the racy 'Bulleya', the sad 'Channa Mereya', 'The Breakup Song' and 'Cutie Pie'. Catchy line-up, once again. So far , so good.
For those expecting an intense story of love and loss, you might not be all that purged inside the theatre walls. Even the stellar actor Ranbir Kapoor's performance was unsatisfactory. Aishwarya Rai looks dashing, sure, but her preachy lines only add to the filmy setup, which did not let me suspend my disbeliefs. Anushka looks her best yet in the film, that is one thing that Karan Johar has successfully accomplished - the costumes and makeup. But she too, like Ranbir, disappoints, which I think owes more to a far-fetched plot and disturbing characterisation than any fault on the part of the actors.
In a nutshell, 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' is the same old story of a man's one -sided first love, a woman he cannot get over despite extreme measures.This storyline is embellished by throwing in a lot of money on foreign locations, high-profile actors, partying and whatnot.By the time they are united, they are still only friends, and the leading lady has terminal cancer. Really, Karan? After your helpfully pointing out in the teaser that you directed 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai', 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham', 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna', 'My Name Is Khan' and 'Student Of The Year' - all films(except the final cheesy high-school drama) superb in every way, and which made you one of Bollywood's favourite directors. I used to think he knew what to deliver and how to deliver it, especially tales concerning love,family and relationships.
Now, I know he could have done better with this story of unrequited love, with all that potential onboard. There is none of the fun that the trailer promises in the film.The evocative 'Ae dil hai mushkil' didn't sound as well as expected on the dolby atmos.Your eyes don't well up all that much either.There are just the two lead characters where you expected multiple narratives, more stories on the sideline.Two hour and 38 minutes seems too long for this hopeless, obsessive love. Even Shah Rukh Khan, who has been cast in some of Karan's best films, looks aged. Actually his and Alia's cameo(yes, she appears in one scene too) seem unnecessary, almost an excuse to add to the glitz and glamour onscreen. The only memorable bits are the golden hits referred to by the budding singer(flashback:'Rockstar'), reminiscences of Johar's earlier films(mostly SRK-Kajol) and the occassional witty dialogues.On the whole, I would say that 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' is a feast to the eyes more than anything else. Probably what is going to be remembered more than Aiyan and Alizeh is the saga of Karan Johar's struggle to get his film sanctioned for release - after unfortunately getting tangled in the India-Pak cold war ( the upheaval surrounding the Uri attacks), might I add, which has ironically turned out to be more or less, a national joke, for something not worth all that sweat. Sahi hai, ae dil hai mushkil, for all that Karan went through these past few months, for Aiyan's destructive love and finally, the movie's inability to impress the audience. Translate as, better luck next time.
Comments
Post a Comment