Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006)
Okay SO. I was the biggest fan of this movie back when it first came out, and I am so sure that it was all due to the INSANE crush, love, whatever I had for both SRK and Rani. Yes, being Bollywood trash completely messed up my childhood, and no, I don't really care anymore. But rewatching this, as a 23 year old who has understood (hopefully) some nuances of how "adult" relationships are supposed to work, and who also has a preconceived bias against this movie (almost everyone I know hates it and has given me ample receipts in that regard), I still really can't bring myself to hate it? Maybe it's because it reminds me of simpler times, when Rani and SRK were my favs and I wasn't woke so they weren't my "problematic favs". Maybe because I actually really like the psychological and moral tensions of a story that revolves around two "horrible" people. Or maybe, simply because I am and always will be a complete trash person from the bottom of my soul. Of course, the correct option is the third one.
However, I will say this in defence of Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna- had it not received the all-guns-blazing Karan Johar treatment, it would have been one of the most interesting movies to come out in the last 20 years in Bollywood. Of course, the fact that it deals with adultery in a mature manner makes it worthwhile anyway, but god. The melodrama. Not that I particularly mind melodrama in general (it would be severely hypocritical if I did), but Karan Johar should have given this one a break. Just saying. Dev and Maya were wonderfully complicated characters, who make no pretence of being the wronged party- they are all too painfully aware that what they're doing is disgusting, but well. THEY LOVE EACH OTHER GODDAMNIT. And this is where the movie succeeds, at least for me. Hindi cinema is notoriously inept at depicting two people falling in love, but Dev and Maya make it seem all too real. You can actually see those two changing, rather blossoming, as they spend more and more time with each other. Plus, the "Mitwa" song? It literally defines what it's like to fall in love with with someone, and how glorious it feels to just follow your heart. That nervous tension, that glow, UGH everything is there and oh my god the banter between them! Perrrrrfect! SRK and Rani are definitely my fav Bollywood jodi of all time, and it kinda sucks that they only did two other movies apart from this as the main romantic leads (I am tempted to include Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, but come on. I am not that delusional).
Also, Dev? One of the most relatable characters EVER. I mean, he's the cinematic personification of "asshole to the world, sweetheart to his girl", he can assess people pretty well on first meeting them, he's a misanthrope, and oh my god that ice-cream throwing scene was the epitome of romance (even though my bahar ka khana deprived self hated to see all that ice cream go waste). Basically, one of my favourite SRK performances of all time (including that trademark spreading his arms wide pose, which I am obviously a sucker for), and also my favourite Rani performances of all time, and rewatching this is giving me the encouragement and strength (and insanity) I need to rewatch Chalte Chalte (2003) and Paheli (2005), two of my other favourite childhood movies. As they say, 2020 is a year.
By the way, Dev was a chaotic bisexual. Don't @ me.
In conclusion, I would just like to say that I both hated and loved this movie at the same time. Hated because of how KJO it got, and because Preity and Abhishek can't act (even with the caveat of this being a highly melodramatic film, those two just... ruin emotions). Loved because well, I am me. A trash person. However, as a wise woman told me recently, it's not being trash- it's about being an authentic version of yourself, and that is a subject that should not be judged. Thanks, Z, you inspire me. I will keep these words in mind as I unapologetically return to the KANK stan camp. Khuda Haafiz (coz u can't say Alvida bitchezzzzz).
However, I will say this in defence of Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna- had it not received the all-guns-blazing Karan Johar treatment, it would have been one of the most interesting movies to come out in the last 20 years in Bollywood. Of course, the fact that it deals with adultery in a mature manner makes it worthwhile anyway, but god. The melodrama. Not that I particularly mind melodrama in general (it would be severely hypocritical if I did), but Karan Johar should have given this one a break. Just saying. Dev and Maya were wonderfully complicated characters, who make no pretence of being the wronged party- they are all too painfully aware that what they're doing is disgusting, but well. THEY LOVE EACH OTHER GODDAMNIT. And this is where the movie succeeds, at least for me. Hindi cinema is notoriously inept at depicting two people falling in love, but Dev and Maya make it seem all too real. You can actually see those two changing, rather blossoming, as they spend more and more time with each other. Plus, the "Mitwa" song? It literally defines what it's like to fall in love with with someone, and how glorious it feels to just follow your heart. That nervous tension, that glow, UGH everything is there and oh my god the banter between them! Perrrrrfect! SRK and Rani are definitely my fav Bollywood jodi of all time, and it kinda sucks that they only did two other movies apart from this as the main romantic leads (I am tempted to include Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, but come on. I am not that delusional).
Also, Dev? One of the most relatable characters EVER. I mean, he's the cinematic personification of "asshole to the world, sweetheart to his girl", he can assess people pretty well on first meeting them, he's a misanthrope, and oh my god that ice-cream throwing scene was the epitome of romance (even though my bahar ka khana deprived self hated to see all that ice cream go waste). Basically, one of my favourite SRK performances of all time (including that trademark spreading his arms wide pose, which I am obviously a sucker for), and also my favourite Rani performances of all time, and rewatching this is giving me the encouragement and strength (and insanity) I need to rewatch Chalte Chalte (2003) and Paheli (2005), two of my other favourite childhood movies. As they say, 2020 is a year.
By the way, Dev was a chaotic bisexual. Don't @ me.
In conclusion, I would just like to say that I both hated and loved this movie at the same time. Hated because of how KJO it got, and because Preity and Abhishek can't act (even with the caveat of this being a highly melodramatic film, those two just... ruin emotions). Loved because well, I am me. A trash person. However, as a wise woman told me recently, it's not being trash- it's about being an authentic version of yourself, and that is a subject that should not be judged. Thanks, Z, you inspire me. I will keep these words in mind as I unapologetically return to the KANK stan camp. Khuda Haafiz (coz u can't say Alvida bitchezzzzz).
Comments
Post a Comment