Hum Aapke Hain Koun [DVD] [2006]

This is generally a much loved Bollywood movie released in 1994. I think it has to be assessed within that time-frame.
It has all the simplicity and naivete that Hollywood did in the 50s and early 60s. Its the sort of movie Doris Day would have starred in in terms of nice people and family values. It has scenes such as two whole families sitting in a circle and playing a game of pass the cushion and when the music stops the person holding it has to perform some forfeit piece of poetry or music. Now this tells you something about the times in itself.
It is a long movie and there are many more songs than you tend to get these days. The songs were generally lively but I haven't felt tempted to download them. I did find the movie went on a bit at times though I know not all viewers felt that.
It is a piece that informs a lot about Indian customs with quite long scenes laying out cultural practices around weddings and allied rituals. These are people who put family first and will sacrifice personal desires for family sake. The families intermarried are idyllic except for an aunt who provides selfish, greedy contrast.
I came to Salman Khan movies this millennium and its interesting to see him younger. He is less self-conscious here and dances a lot better. I particularly noted the freer movement around his shoulders and wonder if all the bodybuilding since has locked him up there and restricted his range of movement!
All actors are good and the 2 leads (Salman and Madhuri Dixit) have good chemistry in what is, unashamedly, a building romantic tale.
There is nothing new here but it has its own period charms. For those who don't like sentimental or cute, for art-house cinema lovers and those who only like more real or recent stuff, this may not be for you. However for those who like Bollywood musicals this is one of the best loved in the genre- which won a swathe of awards when it was released.

Just as the film Titanic (1997) is the largest grossing film in the world, Hum Aapke Hain Koun (aka HAHK) is presently one of the most successful Indian films in the world. The film opened in 1994 to full houses for months on end and many went on to see it two or three times on the big screen. This was further helped when the director, Sooraj B. Barjatya, insisted that the film would never be released for home viewing until he requested it. When it did finally come out (five years later) on VHS and VCD the sales were quite spectacular and since then many viewers who had only been renting Indian films, began to purchase original titles on VHS and now DVD for their own personal use.

The director`s last film, Maine Pyar Kiya (1989), gave Indian cinema a new lease of life after the introduction of cable and satellite television in India was hitting hard on box office sales. Many Indian films then began to copy Maine Pyar Kiya thinking that they could create the same success. This led to the growth of the romantic drama/comedy genre till audiences were tired and box-office sales plummeted downwards. When HAHK was released it re-introduced the forgotten family drama/comedy genre to audiences, which now inspire many films like Hero No.1 (1996), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) and the UK Blockbuster Kabhi Kushi Kabhie Gham (2001).

It was a hard task for Sooraj R. Barjatya to meet up with audience expectations after his previous blockbuster, Maine Pyar Kiya. The love story was huge and its accompanied soundtrack is still hummed by Bollywood audiences. Still, the director managed to make a film that not only excels in technical values but also explores a genre that was forgotten during the 1980s and 90s which mostly consisted of action and romantic films. HAHK was actually inspired by a previous film called Nadiyaa Ke Pyar, which was produced by the same people behind this film.

HAHK is a film, which outlines Indian culture, values, tradition and customs and is uniquely told through songs and musical numbers. This elevates its storytelling technique as dialogue could have made the film quite tedious and not has as detailed as the lyrics. The films production design is also created in mind with the script; from the designs of the lavish sets, to the vibrant costumes, active choreography and shots, which would have no-more then five people performing on the screen. Editing is tight and the three and a half hour duration time is never tiresome as every moment is justified. Performance from the talented cast is notable, especially from Madhuri Dixit, Aloknath and Monish Behl.

The film makes for excellent family entertainment that will make you laugh, dance and cry. Wonderful stuff.

For Bollywood lovers, a milestone movie, lively and colourful and full of love and family values; even for those who don't belong to indian culture, it's a great movie all the same, because of its artistic and technical level, both referring to the actors performances and the music and dance numbers, with many a tunes that will stay with you for a long time.