What was Adi Chopra thinking during these sequences?
Ironical though true, the fact is that RAB NE BANA DI JODI has made maximum impression when it has stayed on to be simple. And the only couple of places where it has tried to be adventurous, it has fell flat. Worse, these are the very two sequences which were perhaps the costliest in terms of expenditure (though it’s a different story that at least one of them looks truly sponsored, courtesy on your face ‘in film product placement’) and are still the least (or shall we say ‘not at all’) talked about after the release of the films.
These are i) The item song ‘Phir Milenge Chalte Chalte’ featuring five leading ladies and ii) the entire Sumo wrestling sequence
Picture this. The first sequence comes when Anushka starts dreaming while watching her zillionth film with Shah Rukh Khan in a run down single screen theater, somewhere in Amritsar. Suddenly, the boring actors on the big screen disappear and Shah Rukh Khan emerges. He becomes Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Shammi Kapoor, Rajesh Khanns and Rishi Kapoor for Kajol, Bipasha Basu, Lara Dutta, Preity Zinta and Rani Mukherjee respectively for no rhyme or reason.
Chalo maan liya that one should suspend one’s disbelief for moments like this but what happened to choreography here? The sets are all fine but dance moves lack the zing (and get completely lost in the attempted spoof) while picturisation is boring even with good chunk of money being spent on creating the sets. Really, what a disappointment and something that was just not warranted. If one recollects, when Farah Khan and Sajid Khan attempted bringing in stars for their songs ‘Deewangee’ [OM SHANTI OM] and ‘Hey Baby’ [HEYY BABYY] respectively, it made sense and also made impact. Here, it does neither!
Now let’s talk about the other sequence which is even more disappointing and purposeless - The Sumo sequence! Why, but why the need for that? The story is finally looking like reaching a culmination (and we are eagerly awaiting it, not because we mind the length - no, not at all - but a twist in the tale is pretty much on the cards for Suri and Tani) and it seems like Aditya Chopra is ready to make you drop some tears again, just like he so very successfully managed to do in the first 30 minutes of the film. However, out of a blue, comes a ‘Japaani mela’ and lo, Mr. Suri wants to enter the ring with a wrestler just so that ‘Taaniji can visit Japan, be happy and have a smile on her face - something which he hasn’t succeeded in bringing in so far’! Now what was that!
Well, even this tangent may have worked had the wrestling sequence being picturised with either panache or humor. But nahi, it turns out to be so pedestrian that one almost imagines yesteryear comedian Rajendra Nath (may his soul rest in peace) doing some jumping around in a 60s film. Now this one just didn’t suit Shah Rukh Khan’s standing as an actor; the excuse of him being merely playing a character be damned. The sequence neither works with children, nor adults and when Suri puts a ‘Sorry’ note for Taani, he may as well have been doing that for the poor audience for whom this sequence acts as not just a speed breaker but a flat tyre.
Frankly, what was Aditya Chopra and his creative team thinking when they decided to fit in these sequences in the film? In any case, the film’s running length is close to 2:45 hours and these two sequences contribute not less than 15 minutes to the narrative. Of course, it is easier said than done to have these sequences removed from the film today but why didn’t these glaring chinks in the armor of RAB NE BANA DI JODI emerge during the scripting itself?
Well, we have been left wondering though in the wake of film’s huge success, which is pretty much on the cards, one sincerely hopes that blemishes like these are buried and forgotten and we celebrate the revival of Bollywood with a money spinner leading the way as we move into 2009! - Joginder Tuteja (SAMPURN MEDIA)
one i ll like to say that you are just another ciritics oh not critics but just a fooolish person on this mr.jogindar….. what a fooolish report is this, go out and ask to public who are flowing money on movie …….its great movie…
and aditya chopra is thinking how to celebrate his successsss in these unfortunate days of our country ……… ok
the budget of movie was just under 30crs and it has made 70crs in just 3dys…….so what s up now … mr… jogindar kuteja… ?
and what is your qualification? to rate any movie…. ?
shahrukh is The SUN of india and world your little stars cant rate this sun okkkkkkkkk
and i think you dont deserve to a critics as you dont know how to rate any movie…. every movie has some plus and negative but you just sucks…
what kind of a critic are u? all u critics had said that rnbdj is not going to do well but how come it has made more than 70 crore till today.
You know what you talk about?You saw the movie?I don’t think so what’s your problem?I live in Switzerland in Basel and i had to drive one hour with the train to see the movie in Zurich.This movie was so nice and fantastic and lovable that i mad this trip to Zurich twice.I never saw a movie like that before you feel so well and it touches your soul and heart.
This dream sequence is so colorful and amazing and that with the sumo-ringer i guess Suri want to know how Tani react and the last chance to win her love.
But i guess that’s to smart for you.
many greetings from a swiss SRK-fan
Manuela
Seeing this kind of criticism makes me wonder where exactly the problem lies…
I mean, these people talk about logic, reason, for a song sequence and yet make movies like singh is king , partner a superhit.
Now for sure critics never apply the same logic while reviewing different movies and are biased .
But when foreign critics who have for long been exposed to more thought provoking films than you dumbwits have appreciated this movie, you people find reasons like these to degrade.
Is it rocke science to understand, this is a bollywood movie whose sole purpose is entertainment with a message.
Actually this arises a very important question on your integrity as a reviewer who is just seeing the movie as a neutral.
Either you are here to degrade Mr. Khan on some malicious motive or you need a serious counselling on what bollywood movies are.
Hey just check out the movies which have been a hit in the recent past..
Hey baby
Partner
Golmall returns
welcome
Now tell me Mr. Reviewer, do these movies really carry more logic than RNBDJ.
The truth, plain and simple is RNBDJ is a sweet love story which will bring smile to most viewers by the end(especially the end credits is a treat). and that is what is the most important thing about a good movie.
But hey, you are one of those adamant reviewers whose sole motive is to dissect every technicality irrespective of the entertainment value in the movie and degrade it from a biased point of view.
kaisa laga jogindar tuteja ………angooooooor khate hain na ha ha ha ha
God bless all srk’s fan……. dont worry about like this reports ……srk rocks and rocking keep loving him… all mouths will be shutttttttttttttttt
Love U SRK!! U r just rocking. A must watch movie. Nice, cute,sweet,fun-filled,romantic,awesome,mind blowing,mucical film after a long time. I wish the movie was at least 3 and a half hours long. I needed more and more of that film.
As usual, SRK gives an outstanding performance in a wonderful movie, one of the most romantic movies in recent years (in Bollywood OR Hollywood), and Indian critics just criticize for the sake of criticism, despite the fact that SRK’s movies go on to be a bigger successes world wide, it is very sad, really!!
First, the song and its choreography was very beautiful, and its purpose in the movie( aside from being a homage to legendary actors and actresses) is that Raj wanted to show Taani how romance is done by the masters, which led Taani to look for him.
Second, the sumo match was about Suri’s love for Taani, and his willingness to do anything for her sake and happiness, even if he was hurt. This led Taani’s realization at the time she cannot handle his caring for her so she fled to Raj. So everything is connected.
For the sake of attending Rab Ne, we postponed our return home from Dubai, and I was glad we did. If I had more time I would have seen it again in the theatre. now I am waiting for the DVD.
So Mr.reviewer u hav no right to blame a dir.like Adi who has made 2 wonderful films like DDLJ n Mohabatein…
What is d point is that you r unabloe to understand what he (ADI),a genious want to xpress…u,…fooooool…..
Go n retire …..enjoy rest of life in peace…..
God bless u…or save u..frm SRK fans,….