Article Updated 03 July, 2005 06:23:06 AM IST   Paheli - Another view By Hinna Kausar ©2005 Bollyvista.com   Editor's Note: Every now and then, it is good to hear what our readers think about a movie and with that thought in mind, we decided to host a review by one of our readers and occasional contributor, Hinna Kausar. The purpose of this review is to give you another point of view on the movie, in addition to the one by our Regular Movie Critic, Prema K. Ultimately, you, the reader, should be your own critic so just watch the film and let us know what you think. When you leave the cinema and you are talking about and still thinking about the film you have just watched you know that it has made a significant impact on you. That is just what 'Paheli' did. Based on the novel 'Duvidha' by Vijay Dan Detha directed by none other than Amol Palekar, this is not exactly conventional cinema, although the star line up of Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukherjee, Juhi Chawla, Suniel Shetty, Anupam Kher and Amitabh Bachchan would say otherwise. 'Paheli' is the story of a young girl Rani Mukherjee who marries a selfish and greedy man who runs off on the wedding night on a business trip. And then a ghost takes the shape and form of the husband and takes the greedy husband's place. Both the characters are played by Shah Rukh Khan. The 'Paheli' is when the real husband returns back home to his wife and she is faced with the decision of whom to accept. Set in Rajasthan the whole feel of the film is captured between the realism and fantasy of this folk tale. Watching the film one can clearly see the time and effort that has been spent in order to create the mood and atmosphere and it has quite rightly done so. The costumes, the settings the bright colours used throughout simply light up the screen. The accents and dialect used from the Rajasthan region gives the film more weight and authenticity and although one can say this is commercial cinema the manner in which the language issue is approached gives a different slant to the movie therefore leaning towards Palekar's 'Art' style of movies. However the dance and music sequences adds that touch of 'Bollywood Flavour' that todays commercial market craves, but in a tasteful manner that completes the picture. Are Shah Rukh and Rani the new Shah Rukh and Kajol? You decide. Both seem quite comfortable with each other and manage to portray the immense deep love and feelings towards one another that their characters require, not just by the shows of affection visually but by the manner in which their dialogues are delivered. It will melt the hardest of hearts!! It seems so believable and real you crave more! Even though the film seems like a "women's film" as it is based around the suffering and hardships those women face whose spouses leave, the sub-plot of Juhi Chawla's story should have been enhanced slightly and perhaps more interaction with Suniel Shetty should have been shown. Amitabh's role was small but important and it definitely worth the wait! His appearance is of great importance as is that of Anupam Kher who plays Shah Rukh's father, adding some comedy value to this. Making this a light hearted and enjoyable film that doesn't take itself too seriously, alongside the special effects that are used. Much needed for the visual representation on screen, impressive and not overly done which can lose the tone of the film. Final verdict, this is a film worth watching on the big screen, just make sure you don't go alone. **** (FOUR STARS) *poor; **average; ***good; ****very good; *****excellent   close   Print this Article http://www.bollyvista.com   http://www.bollyvista.com/article/a/29/5164