Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006)

Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

One of my all time favorites.

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Hey you wonderful guys and girls out there, I guess, you are doing okay and so today I am back with a movie that I guess I can never forget in my lifetime, a movie that is a masterpiece when it comes to relationships, a movie that introduced me to the world of movies, a movie that made me realized that even movies can be too close to real life. I guess if you're familiar with Indian movies, you have definitely not skipped this movie.Its story of 6 or 7 individuals who grow up in different circumstances and have totally different approaches towards life and whatever the way you call it are in wrong relationships and the movie depicts how circumstances make them meet and understand each other and prompts them to break the marriages they have been living for whole life. Coming to technical points, acting is just better than average, don't expect even the greatest standards but still the story and events and the depth of relationships make it a kinda must watch movie. Songs are decent and again real life kind of and briefly it touches the issues of parenting as well. Verdict: 4.5 Stars and Flashy Movie Badge. ( 1 star extra for personal connections to this movie).NOTE: All my reviews are available at http://rastogisaurab29.wordpress.com/category/tv-and-movies/movie- reviews/ OR http://www.imdb.com/user/ur39556023/comments?order=date

Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna is a great movie. I do not think I can find a single flaw in this movie.Firstly, the film has an excellent storyline and is very well scripted. It is not a typical love story in my opinion. I like that Karan Johar made a different kind of film. KANK explores the themes of adultery, one theme which I don't think has really been highlighted in any major Bollywood movie before.Secondly, the acting by all of the cast is terrific. I was particularly pleased with Shahrukh's acting (as is the case with most films I see of his). All the other cast acted well too.Thirdly, I think the songs in KANK are all really good. I mean I could listen to them everyday.Overall, I am glad Karan Johar made KANK. It was a new kind of film for its time and I think more films like this should be made.

Here I will comment on the content rather than the filmmaking techniques or acting: I'm not of Indian decent and don't understand any Hindi, except what I have learned from watching subtitled Bollywood... Yes, I'm a big fan. I used to like Shahrukh Khan and watched KANK just because he was in it. I assumed it would be a great film. I was VERY DISAPPOINTED :( Talking to many Indian friends, they seemed to share my feeling that Shahrukh lost many fans after this movie.I just read some of the positive reviews and to me it seems as though many people consider anything unconventional or defiant as "artsy" and therefore valuable. Especially in Europe, many so-called educated people still confuse "immoral" with "open-minded". According to these people, if you cheat on your spouse, you are no longer bound by the traditional, maybe even religion-based, institution of marriage. For many Indians who have felt the pressures of culture, religion and society, this film may feel like a whiff of fresh air just because it seems to break free from those strings... and indeed it does. This reminds me of those repressed youngsters whose parents force religion on them, only to see them revolting with sometimes becoming delinquent once they become independent.To break free from the negative aspects of tradition (i.e. even arranged or forced marriage), one doesn't need to lie and cheat or to do the opposite of ALL that's traditional or religious. One can question tradition and religion and take what's valuable and throw away what's not fair (sexism, homophobia, etc.) I am personally not affiliated with any religion. Nevertheless, I believe that morality is needed to make the wheels of a society run. Otherwise, there would be total anarchy. Trust is needed so people can get along peacefully. Everyone has the right to the truth, especially when it involves someone that they have trusted their life, love, emotions and body with. A person with a good social understanding realizes that if everyone acts selfishly, the society falls apart and there won't be anything anymore to hang on to.Cheating on someone, deceiving, lying to, hiding from someone, especially a spouse, is not being progressive, open-minded and modern. A successful modern society survives on basic human values such as empathy, trust and a sense of morality in its laws as well as among its people. Deceit is simply immoral and unfair. Do onto others what you like done to you. Problems arise in almost every marriage, but should first be solved by good communication. If both parties reach a solution where it seems the only way out is a divorce (so sad), so be it. At least it gives both people the respect of their time and knowing the truth and having the freedom to live their life however they want without deceiving someone else to do it.KANK may have wanted to hint at some things that may cause marital problems... or maybe not. It doesn't even vilify the spouses that were cheated on and doesn't make the viewer hate them (even if it did, I'd still stick to what I said above about cheating).KANK pretends to be a "realistic" film about things that can happen in everyday life. Well, do they? No, unless your average Joe is a sociopath. Someone who can carry on an affair must be a sociopath, someone with no feelings, no guilt, no remorse, no empathy, no respect for other people's rights and no sense of fairness.Then there are those who claim that one should not be offended as this is just a (realistic) story. It's not. Then why glorify an extra-marital relationship? Even if this happened with a couple, this film could have turned it on its head and use it as a teachable moment... show that actually people who cheat once, are capable on cheating again (no empathy, remember?!!), so they are very likely to cheat on that new person with someone else, and again, and again, and again...Instead, the ending romanticises this extra-marital affair and gives it a seemingly happy ending (that may have been the intention but I felt reallky appalled). Have the makers of this film not looked at any statistics? Don't they know that "once a cheater, always a cheater" is true (because someone with no soul, empathy or morality doesn't suddenly achieve them!)? Have they no values, no respect for integrity? Maybe one of them had an affair and this film was made to justify it, to no avail. In any case, this huge mistake was made at the expense of millions of Bollywood viewers. I found the ending disgusting and not at all romantic. I couldn't help feeling sorry for the duped spouses and thinking they deserved better than having been married to such low scums. The filmmaker's attempt to make these two cheaters likable totally fails... miserably.I'm happily married and I met my spouse myself. Even if I had had an arranged marriage like some traditional Indian people, I would still treat that spouse with respect and honesty and would either try to work things out or separate with dignity.p.s. As for being someone's soul mate, if you give yourself the right and the permission to look outside your marriage, you would find a potential soul mate with many people, as you will have things in common with many people. What makes you think the next person will be any different? THE IMPORTANT CHALLENGE IS TO KEEP THE ONE SOULMATE THAT YOU PROBABLY ALREADY HAVE.

Had this film been made by another company such as the Bhatts or even UTV, I do not think KANK would have gotten the flack it did when it released. The biggest fault of this film is not that it has flawed content, it is more that the film is made by Karan Johar. At one hand, we have people criticize Karan for making fantasy, candy-floss type movies and when he comes up with something different here, we still criticize him for making a "cheap" film. Really? Make up your damn mind.Ignoring the heavy unnecessary criticism towards the film, I'll step up and say KANK is a brilliant take on infidelity and human behavior. It's a great take on true love. Above all, KANK makes a simple statement in a complex story - The only reason to marry someone is that you truly love them.KANK is a bold film and there is no doubt. The film not only features the lead pair being married and engaging in an extra marital affair, but has every main character being gray. Every character has a right and wrong side to them. Which is totally opposite in other Karan Johar films.The most important scene in the film is the very first one, if you do not analyze that scene and watch it carefully - you pretty much miss the whole point of the movie.Dev is a successful soccer player and Maya is a confused bride. They meet at Maaya's wedding for the first time and have a minor and seemingly insignificant connection. After 5 years, fate brings them back but the difference here is that they are both unhappily married. with that realization, Dev and Maya try to help each other by saving their marriage. One circumstance leads to another and Dev and Maya fall for each other. Then starts a love that changed all relations.The film does have a few drawbacks here and there. It is a tad bit too long. The comedy is great but one or two scenes could be cut to make the film more crisp.Also, as much as I love Karan Johar films. I feel that maybe he compromised with the script. I felt it could have been handled in a way less clichéd. The whole film is unconventional so why not the climax? It isn't bad but just saying.I loved the whole art of the movie. The locales. New York City is very close to my heart and to me, it's the best city in the world. It is like life, there is happiness, sadness, joy and tears. The film depicts and the gloomy part of it with beauty. New York is a character of KANK.Shankar-Esan-Loy's music is soothing and fits in well. Unlike other Kjo films, KANK does not boast of 8 songs. It has 5 and I feel "Where's the party tonight" could have been edited. Tue music is a treat indeed. The title track, Tumhi Dekho Na, Rock N Roll are all wonderful. My favorite is Mitwa.Karan Johar and his co writer come up with a deep script and here there is an engaging screenplay and great moments. Karan Johar films have epic moments. Editing needs work though.Karan's direction is top notch. The drama unfolds so smoothly. Note the scene when SRK is walking towards Rani with flowers and sees Preity right behind her. One of the most intense scenes I've seen. Plus, I would like to give Karan credit for getting out of his comfort zone and still making a film worth applauding.Amitabh Bhachchan is a treat to watch. The man is a delight. Ditto for Kirron Kher. Preity gives a bravo performance. Rani Mukherjee suits the role and gives a great act here, as always.Abhishek Bachchan is just remarkable. He gives a mature performance. He's the guy you really feel for in the end. Just an amazing act.Nobody shines brighter than Shah Rukh Khan here. He is the energy in KANK. Note the depression, the cynicism, the hate in his eyes. SRK just rocks in a role he's not really seen in often. Superb! Overall - It's a bold film with a bolder message. If you believe in good cinema, watch it!