Dil Chahta Hai: Review

Posted by Scream6182 on August 29, 2001 at 19:29:14:

There is little to say after the critical acclaim the film has recieved already, especially from Planet Bollywood.
However certain scenes stand out more than others, and certain other things as well.

First and foremost the music works folks! I really didn't catch on with it and totally agreed with a rating of 6.5 at first but after seeing the movie, as with many cases, it's amazing how the music fits perfectly, with the actors, the theme, and the movie overall.
Jaane Kyon is still the best song. Tanhayee is still very well composed and pefectly picturized. But it is the picturization of Koee Kahe Kehte Rahe which adds to the flavor of the song and makes it click so much!

Secondly, Akshaye Khanna shows that he is so under-rated while Saif does the same, but we've seen a range of good performances from him as of late.

Scenes that were handled intelligently were 1) When Akshaye Meets Dimple (Another PERFECT aspect of the film) and the truck driver is pulling out of the driveway. It looks like that was well thought out.
2) The train sequence, with Aamir and Preity. What I found more intelligent was that they didn't fall to the typical MASALA flick and have the two australians attempt to rob Preity or do worst. Ditto for the bum, who Aamir's encounter with was very humorous.
3)Dimple's life story.
3a) Siddharth(Akshaye)'s mother is sooo much like my own, especially at this time of life at college. I can remember the "shaadi" discussions just as Sid's.
4)Preity's fiance didn't become a villian although it seemed like they were going to make him a violent person (like the enemy), instead they were realistic and depicted his character as a normal man, because in reality, a normal man (well, you know what I mean) would've probably held Preity like that and would have grasped her hand like that in the end as well.

5)Instead of just depicting thier lives Akhtar decided he would instill curiosity and style with a plot starting with Dimple's hospitilization and leading in to past tales. Very Un-Bollywood Like and it works.

6) The final scene at the hospital depicts a very natural looking Dimple. No bandages or overdone make up. Another plus.
7) Back to Akshaye's acting. He cried just like I do. Oh boy.
Ditto for Aamir's natural yet kempt tears. I've done that when trying to hide them as well. Especially on the phone as Aamir was with his dad. Ali was right when he said we could relate to the characters, this is a case in point. Maybe the credit goes to the actors or to the script or to the director. It must go to someone.
8) Akhtar didn't go overboard in trying to present a Hollywood/Strictly Realist film. The annoying sidekick whose lines were "ANKASH" and Suchitra (B4U) (whose character fits many to a tee) provided much comic relief which overall had a positive effect on the film.
10) Dialogues were interesting. Along with scenary.

10a) Farhan Akhtar brought us a happy ending THE RIGHT WAY. Not like Subhash Ghai (Grahan/Rahul). Aamir admitted to his faults as my friends and I have done many a times before. Akshaye copes with his loss and begins his transition.

The heart is definitley satisfied and has gotten what it desired with this one. Atleast this one is.

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