Fanaa - A Pleasant Surpise

I didn't think that I would like this - I actually tried to persuade my friend to go and see something else. Thankfully, she persisted, and I have to say that it was quite good!

I can't recall whether I've seen Aamir Khan and Kajol onscreen together before, but there's definitely a good chemistry there. In short, Kajol plays the role of a blind girl (Zooni), who falls in love with Aamir's character (Rehan). Without revealing too much of the plot, it becomes clear that he is not quite what he seems and so Zooni must decide whether she is with him or with the ultimate good.

Most of the songs are packed into the first half, as the second half does get darker. The 'Chand Sifarish' number is done really well and the historical backdrops look great on the big screen. I was surprised to find that the one which I enjoyed the most was 'Des Mera Rangeela' - very energetic and colourful (obviously!).

It's great to see Kajol back in action - she really does have substance; that's been lacking of late within the current crop of actresses. Aamir does well - he looks quite rough and haggard, but with age he's managed to develop a far more convincing 'evil streak'. He really can look menacing when he wants to. There's a small part for Tabu, but she doesn't really get the chance to make much of an impact, and Rishi Kapoor plays the role of Kajol's father.

Overall, I don't think I'll go as far as buying the movie on DVD when it's out, but I wouldn't say 'no' if someone were to offer to take me to watch it again - even if only for the song sequences and Kajol's great outfits ;o)

Taj Mahal: The Music

'Mumtaz tujhe dekha jab Taj Mahal dekha,
Phir aaj ki aakhon se, guzra hua kal dekha..'

It's been a long time since a soundtrack has so completely moved me - and of course, who else but Naushad could weave such musical magic? Some years back, it had been the music of Maachis that had affected me so - now it's the turn of Taj Mahal.

I haven't seen the film, but the songs are so exquisite that I almost don't need to (of course, I will at some point). These are some of the highlights:

'Apni zulfein' is a beautiful ghazal sung by Hariharan - the sweeping strains of the strings at the beginning of it recreate the Mughal era in an instant. I've probably been singing this one in my sleep, I've listened to it so many times! The accompaniment is uncomplicated so that you can concentrate completely on the lyrics - which are in turn simple but so much more effective for being so.

'Mumtaz tujhe dekha' is another where you can immediately visualise the aged and imprisoned Shahjahan looking out towards the monument to his lost love. It is extremely touching, and leaves you with an aching inside - through Hariharan's voice you can feel Shahjahan's longing. How he would have swapped the creation that took over 20 years to build in an instant for the return of Mumtaz Mahal.

'Yeh kaun mujhe yaad aaya' is a classical number by Ajoy Chakraborty. It is overwhelming - completely heartrending. Best listened to at night to get the full effect (and the tears..oh yes, you'll cry). Definitely my favourite on the album because of the sheer effect it has on me. There is very little background music - just Chakraborty's excellent conveyance of separation and pain.

I've never been to the Taj Mahal - it always struck me as just another fancy building, but this music alone has forced me to reconsider that notion. I'll be reading up on the love that inspired its building for sure, and no doubt paying it a visit very soon...

Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story
Music Director: Naushad
Lyricists: Naqsh Lyallpuri and Syed Gulrez

Tathastu

Hmm. Now I have nothing against remakes of Hollywood films at all. This one is based around a potentially heartrending idea - the father (Sanjay Dutt) who has to break the law in order to save the life of his son. He's stone broke and the hospital ain't playin' ball, so to speak. It's a case of 'No dough, no show'. So, he decides to hold people hostage in the hospital in a last-ditch attempt to force the surgeon's hand (literally).

It doesn't normally take much for me to start bawling my eyes out - but at not one single point in this film was I ever in danger of needing a quiet sob. *sigh* From the moment Amisha Patel (the kid's mother) starts wailing hysterically (with dry eyes), to the point where the hostages decide to side with Sanjay and stay locked up until the operation is carried out - not a single moment of tension or tear-inducing drama was produced.

Some of the scenes with the hostages were laughable - Sanjay manages to hold a gun and solve a few of the hostages' personal problems at the same time. The guy who beats up his wife, the prostitute who beats up her pimp - it's all there. A few minutes are devoted to the resolution of each and there's also time enough for a quick 'The moral of this story is...', and a speech by Sanjay at the end.

The Sanju-The-Hero bit wasn't necessary and wasted time that could've been spent on building up some much-needed tension.

Gulshan Grover as the head cop did his usual stern staring and posturing, but seemed to switch in seconds at the end from someone who'd instructed his guys to shoot the hijacker on sight, to slapping Sanjay on the back and saying what a great father he was :oS

The whole thing was just bland. You couldn't care less about the characters - even the poor, dying boy elicited little sympathy from me...not a good sign!

Tat, indeed!