K3G by SHRESTHA

Aasish Shrestha

Review #2

K3G

First of all, I would like to thank whoever messed up the Hum Aapke Hain Kaun disc so that we could watch one of my favorite films of all time, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. I know the film is super long and plot-less, compared to other bollywood blockbusters from 2001 such as Dil Chahta Hai or Lagaan, but I would still rather watch K3G over the two. Dil Chahta Hai and Lagaan, which I have to admit, are amazing movies, but after you’ve watched them once, you probably wouldn’t want to see them again for a while (maybe give it a couple of years…especially Lagaan, which is exhausting.) As of 2010, I have seen K3G about literally a hundred times. I think it is the most entertaining movie ever made because of the little slapstick comedy, which I find hilarious every time; the amazing soundtrack (I love every single one of the songs); and a plethora of bollywood’s biggest film stars all in one movie. And I’m not just saying this because I like SRK more than Aamir Khan, since K3G is an SRK film and Dil Chahta Hai and Lagaan was Aamir Khan’s. I also think K3G is more entertaining and a lot better than Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, which is also another super long and plot-less movie. HAHK has good catchy songs too but I haven’t seen the film more than once so that explains why I don’t care for it so much.

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, short for K3G, translates as Sometimes happiness, sometimes sadness. This is basically the sum of the 3 hour plus film, that in life, there are times of joy, then again, there are times of sorrow. The joy in the movie provides the comedy and relief, and the sorrow contains the intense drama that tends to unfold in life. I like the translation for the film in the title track, that “weather smiles or weather tears, we will get through it all and prevail in the end.” This is what happens in the end, where everyone is happy, and so is the audience after witnessing a wholesome entertainment masterpiece. The movie did insanely well in the box office, especially overseas, becoming the highest grossing Indian film at the time. This is because of the diaspora, which is the heart of the film. Many people overseas, especially NRI’s, could relate to the film, which itself portrays characters living abroad. K3G was directed by Karan Johar, who previously made his directorial debut with Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. K3G stars the three leads from KKHH, Shahrukh Khan, Kajol, and Rani Mukherji, who made a special appearance. SRK and Kajol play Rahul and Anjali, which is the same name of the characters SRK and Kajol play in KKHH. The actors and the character names weren’t the only thing reused from his first film, KKHH; K3G’s soundtrack contain music from KKHH in the background at scenes with SRK and Rani Mukherji. You can also clearly hear the KKHH tune during the song ‘Suraj Hua Madham’ (which is my favorite song in the film). Besides SRK, Kajol, and Rani Mukherji, the film had Bollywood legends Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan coincidently playing husband and wife, and others like Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor, who were the rising superstars at the time.

The plot is simple yet complicated. Rahul was adopted by Yash and Nandini Raichand. He was welcomed into their family and their hearts as the first son of a very wealthy family. A family where tradition means everything, and if you break it, you’re no longer part of that family. Then, Rohan is born and their family is complete. Everyone knows of Rahul’s adoption, including Rahul, except for the younger brother Rohan. One day, a grown up Rohan overhears his grandmothers talking about Rahul’s adoption and departure from the family. Rohan is shocked and the grandmothers reveal everything to him. Everything was all ‘khushi’ until one Diwali where the ‘gham’ took place. Rahul fell in love with Anjali, a lower caste girl. This was unacceptable to Yash, who saw this as breaking the Raichand family tradition. Rahul was aware of this, but went forward with blossoming his love with marriage to Anjali. Yash not only kicked Rahul out of the Raichand house but also from the Raichand family. Rohan, now tall, grown up, and handsome, sets out to find his older brother and his sister-in-law and promises to bring them back home. This is the second part of the movie where Rohan meets Pooja, or ‘Poo’, who happens to be Anjali younger sister. After several flirtatious scenes and song sequences, Rohan and Poo team up to reunite Rahul and Anjali to Yash and Nandini. They trick his parents in coming to London, where Rahul’s family lives. They all meet, but now Yash is even more furious. They all return to India after the grandmother dies, which reunited the family again, but this time, for good. Rohan and Poo convince the egotistic Rahul to meet the even bigger egocentric Yash just once. After the two egomaniacs meet, they cant help but embrace with love and tears of joy. Parents and son finally reunite and Rahul and Anjali officially get married, along with Rohan and Poo. The ending is kind of lame, but after 3 and a half hours, you don’t care how it ends, you just want it to end.

The songs in the movie were all wonderful. The music in the film is similar to the director Karan Johar’s previous film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai because the music was composed by the same musicians, composers and playback singers. The music videos in the first half of the film depicted the culture of Indian families and their parties and get-togethers. Indian holidays and wedding ceremonies were also presented as a part of the songs. The songs in the second half of the movie were more flashy and represented the younger generation. They included filming abroad in London and the culture of first and second generation Indians outside of India. The songs also featured mostly Caucasian background dancers and the latest fashion. This was done to make NRI’s feel at home while experiencing Indian culture and life of other NRI’s in the film. The national identity is threatened in the film when Rahul is banished to London. He then refuses to ever return to his motherland and claims England to be his new home. Rahul and Anjali have a son, Krish, who is born in London and is show to be one of them. This is even more exaggerated with Poo’s character with the threat of the Indian youth raised abroad. However, both Krish and Poo realize their Indian identity after the arrival of the ever so Indian Rohan. Numerous Indian national anthems and theme songs are sung and heard by the Raichand while living abroad. Anjali, the typical Indian, reasons with Rahul that London isn’t their home and that the English aren’t their people, but is unable to break Rahul’s ego for a decade. However, all this changes after Rohan’s short visit to London. The Raichands’ return to India prove that living in a foreign land is only for duty or even out of spite and is just temporary as a means of studying or working, but it is no place for raising your Indian children and permanent residence. Everyone will eventually return to their motherland where it is home sweet home.