The film takes place many many years ago back in time in the golden desers of Rajasthan...The story takes place around Kishan(Shahrukh Khan) who gets married to the gorgeous Lachchi(Rani Mukherji).On their way back home after the marriage a "bhoot" who lives in a tree spots Lachchi and is instantly in awe of her beauty and falls in love with her at that moment. Lachchi is looking forward to a happily married life with a loving husband but she is in for a shock when her husband turns out to be a gumby workaholic and a daddys boy who is about to embark on a business trip for the next 5 years. Lachchi is shattered! At that moment the "bhoot" decide to take the place of Kishan for the next 5 years just so he can be near Lachchi. He tells Lachchi the truth about who/what he is and Lachchi accepts him....The new slowly starts weaving his magic(literally) on everyone in the family including his money loving father (Anupam Kher), loving Bhabhi(Juhi Chawla) and caring mother(Neena Kulkarni) and life is perfect for Kishan and Lachchi...until Lachchi falls pregnant and the news reaches the real Kishan who returns back home..confusion and chaos runs amok..who is the real Kishan? And who is the impostor? And how will this Paheli be solved?
In terms of a story the film is adapted by Sandhya Palekar from the fairytale novel DUVIDHA and for the most she stays true to the Novel from what I can gather. The screenplay in the movie is OK by Vijaydan Detha.The first half moves at a sluggish pace with not much taking place at all apart from the characters being established. But its after interval point that the film really picks up pace right upto the climax and thats where the film scores. There are many subplots in the movie but none of them have been properly developed hence they fill like mere gap filllers. Dialogues by Detha are BRILLIANT and the Rajasthani dialect adds to the authenticity of the movie.
As a director Amol Palekar has made many sensitive and critically acclaimed brilliant films in the past but PAHELI is his first attempt at making a out and out commercial film with a decent sized budget. Kudos for Palekar to sticking to his guns and presenting Bollywood with something new. Viewers going to watch PAHELI should remember this--PAHELI is a FAIRYTALE, huge mansions, friendly ghosts and magic is everywhere so one has to suspend belief in before watching the movie. As a director Palekar manages to make a interesting film although the impact is diluted in places. The first half of the movie moves at a lethargic pace even boring the viewer, but it is the pre-interval portions that really catch on and the film really starts moving along. The camel race(ABSOLUTEY BREATHTAKING), Shahrukhs interactions with other house members and with Rani(comedy) as well as the climax ensuresthe viewer is thoroughly entertained, absorbed and amused by the happenings in front of them.One wishes that Palekar had taken more care with two things 1) Developing the subplots a better. Take for example the Suniel Shetty-Juhi Chawla track which fails to register any impact on the viewer and seems poorly planned out 2) To define his characters better...although the characters of Shahrukh Khan(Ghost) and Rani Mukherji are well defined there are others like Shahrukh Khan(real), Suniel Shetty, Juhi Chawla who are poorly defined and appear to be only there as a favour to Shahrukh Khan and add star value. One must give credit for the amount of sensitiveness he puts into the emotional scenes between Shahrukh/Rani. Overall the direction by Palekar is good given the material and the fact it is an attempt at doing something different.NOTE that the film also deserves marks in authenticity. The manner in which Palekar has created this magical world is simply brilliant and right from the language spoken by the characters(Rajasthani dialect) to the dressing to the ambience....PAHELI manages to capture the entire LOOK of the fairytale....
The performances from the lead players are strong ...
Shahrukh Khan delivers a knockout performance in a dual role. Khan has played a dual role earlier in Mahesh Bhatts DUPLICATE and hammed it to a hilt. Here he gives a restrained performance for the most. As Kishan he gives good performance. His slightly gumby, nerdy and weird character comes off well and Khan manages to add his much known touch to it. In the pre-climax(Sequence with Amitabh) Khan overacts slightly with his hamming, maybe its his way of differentiating between the two characters. But it is Shahrukh Khans performance as the ghost that is the real scene stealer. A thoroughly sensitive, nuanced and polished performance which is bound to win accolades all over. There are no signs of the usual mannerisms when Shahrukh is playing the "ghost" and he is natural to the core. His delivery is fantastic as always and Khan strikes a chord in the emotional scenes with Rani.After SWADES he yet again delivers a KNOCKOUT performance as the "ghost". Its a pity he couldn't do the same for both characters..
Rani Mukherji who is having a brilliant year with BLACK and BUNTY AUR BABLI delivers yet another BRILLIANT performance. As Lachchi she again slips into her character with effortless ease and portrays the trials and tribulations of a wife who is in love with a man..who is not even real. She looks absolutely stunning and yet again delivers a fantastic performance. At this rate Rani Mukherji has already secured herself three award nominations so far this year.
The supporting cast is a mixed bag as most of them suffer to poor characterisation.
Anupam Kher as the greedy father plays his part with his usual comic flair and shares ace chemistry with Shahrukh(DDLJ, CHAHAAT).
Juhi Chawla looks stunning but sadly her role is not well defined for her to leave a huge impact. The scenes she does have she impresses..but one wishes she had more of role.
Suniel Shetty has a short cameo and barely any dialogues.
Neena Kulkarni doesn't have much footage but is natural.
Dillip Prabhvaklar and Rajpal Yadav impress in their comic roles succeed in raising the laughs.
Aditi Gorvirkar looks gorgeous, but a role not worth mentioning.
The voices of Nasseridian Shah and Ratna Shah are well done as the films narrators in the form of "gudiyas".
And finally Amitabh Bachchan....Bachchan is here only as a GUEST APPEARENCE in a role that is 10 minutes. Those expecting BLACK, WAQT or BUNTY AUR BABLI shouldn't bother as the film is an out an out Shahrukh Khan/Rani Mukherji show all the way. Bachchan plays a not-so-wise shepard who actually turns out to be wise and solves the PAHELI. His getup is great and his delivery and diction is flawless as one would expect. He is fantastic in his very small role.
The technical aspects in the movie are flawless to say the least. Shahrukh Khan as a producer deserves full marks presenting Rajasthan in all its full glory and fame in a thoroughly jaw dropping manner. Cinematography by K.D Chandran is AWARD WORTHY.The film is captured on celluloid like a beautiful painting or a childrens colourful fairytale. The dry deserts have never looked so sunny.....the sarees..the mansions...right down to even the bangles....PAHELI is a colourful affair which is apt and keeping in sync with the film. Art direction by Muneesh Sappal is also Award Worthy and will leave the viewer mesmerised.
Action by Allan Amin is as expected. Special mention must be made of the SFX which the movie is laden .The effects are 100% and not once do they appear fake. They don't appear forced either gel well with the movie.
In terms of music M.M Kreem yet again proves why he is one of the most underrated music directors we have in Bollywood currently. The film can be termed as an "musical" to an extent. One feels that there are too many songs and 1-2 songs can be given a chop, but the MOST of the songs are the "jaan" of the movie due to their grandeur and picturisations. Farah Khans choregraphy is simply outstanding. At times one feels it does have a touch of Bhansali to it which is a compliment on its own. DHEERE CHALNA, KANGNA RE, PHIR RAAT KATI, LAAGA RE JAL LAAGA, and MINNAT KARE are all just FANTASTIC and very melodious..this is the kind of music that makes you want to watch the movie a second time JUST for the songs.
All up where does that leave the film? PAHELI is a novel effort which is outstanding in places(Technical aspects, music, performances of Shahrukh/Rani) but lacks in others(Screenplay, sluggish first half, poorly etched characters) but despite the flaws the film is definetly worth a watch as it genuinely attempts to brings something different to the bigscreen with a genre that is hardly ever(if at all) witnessed in Indian Cinema...
Final Rating: * * * ¾
