Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (2006) - starring Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan in this story of relationships

Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna released in the year 2006. Produced by Dharma Productions and directed by Karan Chopra, it marked a serious u-turn in the director’s career as he stayed away from candy floss and tackled a subject as taboo as extramarital affair within the commercial cinema framework. It starred the leading stars of Bolywood, like Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Preity Zinta, Abhishek Bachchan and Kirron Kher in pivotal roles.

The film begins with Dev Saran (Shahrukh Khan) a successful football player who is on the verge of signing a major deal with a club. He accidentally bumps into Maya (Rani Mukherjee)- a to be married bride suffering from pre marriage jitters. Dev counsels Rhea and the two connect instantly. They part ways and Maya goes on to marry her childhood friend Rishi Talwar (Abhishek Bachchan). Unbeknownst to Maya, Dev meets with an accident on his way out of the marriage reception that ends his career. Dev is married to Rhea (Preity Zinta) a successful career woman who works with a fashion magazine. After Dev’s accident it falls upon Rhea to support the family.

The duo, Dev and Maya meet after four years courtesy the formers son who studies in Maya’s class. Dev has turned into an embittered man courtesy his own unfulfilled dreams and his wife’s ever increasing success that is hard for his male ego to accept. Maya on the other hand feels unfulfilled in her marriage as she has not been able to fall in love with her husband. She loves Rishi as a friend and is indebted to his father Samarjit, a.k.a Sexy Sam (Amitabh Bachchan) for taking care of her. Dev and Maya realize that their situations are similar and decide to help each other repair their breaking marriages. However things do not turn out as intended as their intense chemistry keeps drawing them to each other. Rishi and Rhea are also fighting for their respective marriages but their efforts are insignificant in the face of Maya and Dev's growing love for each other.

Their clandestine affair comes out in the open when they are caught by Samarjit and Dev’s mother Kamaljeet. Sam unable to accept the fact that his beloved daughter-in-law is cheating on his son suffers a fatal heart attack and as he lies on his death bed, he tells her to leave his son Rishi since neither of them are happy in their marriage. Dev and Maya decide to go back to their respective partners but they come clean about their affair. Rishi and Rhea decide to end their respective marriages. But the two star crossed lovers keep this a secret, each living apart from the other as a form of penance. Three years down the line Maya comes to know the truth and tries to reunite with Dev. The climax of the film sees the lovers finally meeting up and confessing their true feelings.

AWARDS WON

Best Supporting Actor-Abhishek Bachchan-Filmfare Awards.

CAST AND CREW

Directed by Karan Johar
Produced by Hiroo Johar
Written by Karan Johar, Shibani Bathija, Niranjan Iyengar
Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Preity Zinta, Abhishek Bachchan, Kirron Kher
Music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Cinematography Anil Mehta
Editing by Sanjay Sankla

Baabul (2006) - Amitabh Bachchan pushes for widow remarriage in this movie

Baabul released in the year 2006 and talks about the highly sensitive issue of widow remarriage. We are living in the twenty first century but in India, widows still lead a very hard life. The rural-urban divide in terms of the position of widow within mainstream society is only a difference in degree. The question of a widow remarrying and starting life afresh is considered to be blasphemous by many. Babul tackles this very controversial subject by focussing on all the obstacles

Talented artist Malvika Talwar ( Rani Mukherjee) meets handsome rich guy Avinash on a golf course. Following a short misunderstanding, the two fall in love with each other. They decide to get married. Avinash is completely doted upon by his parents, Balraj (Amitabh Bachchan) and Shobhna ( Hema Malini). Avinash’s parents willing acceps Malvika. Her parents too have no problem with the match. She has also the blessings of her best friend Rajat Verma (John Abraham) who secretly lover her but has never had the guts to confess his feelings.



Malvika and Avinash marry and soon become proud parents of baby boy. Things are going smoothly and Malvika is blissfully happy with her husband, son and her in-laws, who treat her like their own child. However life goes from bed of roses to bed of thorns as Avinash dies in a automobile accident. Malvika is totally shattered as are Avinash’s parents, Balrah and Shobhana. In spite of his grief, Balraj is sensitive to the desolation that he sees in his daughter-in-law’s eyes and is determined to remove it. He decides to get Malvika married to her childhood sweetheart Rajat. Initially Malvika is unwilling to start life anew but soon gives in. Shobhana too is not too happy with her husband’s decision as she is concerned whether after remarrying Malvika will let them have any access to her grandson or not. However soon she too come around. The climax sees an impassioned Balraj questioning society’s right to deny a widow the right to a life when the same right is not taken away from a widower. As he convinces his elder brother Balwant (Om Puri), who is against the notion of widow marriage, the humane impact of this act, he sends out a solemn plea to society to change its attitude towards women and particularly towards widows.

Babul is a sincere effort by Ravi Chopra to talk about a relatively taboo topic. He succeeds too up to a point of spreading awareness. Competent acting by one and all makes this film a wonderful watch. Aadesh Srivastav’s music is melodious and catchy. On the whole Babul is an honest attempt to talk about the burning question of widows and their plight.

List of songs (Video + Lyrics):

1. Keh Raha Hai Dil Deewana (link)

2. Har Manzar (link)

3. Gaa Re Maan (link)

4. Bebasi Dard Ka Alaam (link)

5. Baavari Piya Ki (link)

6. Come On Come On (link)