Phir Milenge [DVD]

First and foremost, I would like to appreciate the effort that has been put in by all the cast and crew of the film to make this film extremely watchable again and again and again...

Secondly, the performance given by Ms. Shilpa Shetty is laudable. I mean, she is such a treat to watch on screen. Even Abhishk and Salman have put in a wonderful performance.

Last but not the least, Revathi, the captain of the ship (sorry for using the cliché) has put in a lot of effort to make the film look simple, real, and stunning (at least to the Indian society). Of course, the mail plot of the film is inspired from the Hollywood flick Philadelphia. But the characterizations, screenplay are trailer-made for bollywood movie goers.

Despite the fate of this film at the box-office, i recommend the film to all. Though there is another film ( My brother Nikhil) based on the same AIDS concept, i think, Phir.. is better.

This movie was made in 2004 when HIV/AIDS issue was on the forefront. I very much give credit to the director, Revathy for tackling this topic. I especially give Kudos to Shelpa Shetty and Salman Khan for being a part of this project. Their participation was risky and daring and could have been detrimental to their careers. Thankfully, it was not ! As I watched the movie in 2013 and reflect on the progress we have made in treatment of this horrible disease, I can't help but wonder if Rohit would have survived.

This film is entertaining in the sense that you see actors tackling a touchy topic - which they did very well. It's not Phildelphia - but it is by subject matter. The departure ( and what adds to Phir Milenge) is the understanding of Hindi culture - in other words, the broken Tabu's that resulted in Rohit and Tamanna's situation. Interestingly enough the message that came through for me was less of the fact the Tamanna had HIV, but " HOW " she became infected; traditional v. contemporary.

The acting is powerful in this movie. Salman Khan's portrayal in the final stages of AIDS brings tears to your eyes. Some reviews have said he didn't look " sick enough " at the end. I would say until you've actually known people in the final stages, you can't comment. I've seen worse, I've seen better. I think they did a commendable job. Tamanna's realization that she is HIV positive is explosive. You hate her boss for his ignorance. Her lawyer's journey from rejection to acceptance was typical yet well done - and you realized his turnabout when he presents his closing argument in court - full of passion for doing the right thing.

This was a departure for Hindi films - but one that was worth it. The music was OK. But I loved Jeene Ke Ishare. It's the kind of melody that sticks with you long after the movie. If you are a new SK fan, this is movie is important to see - you get another view of his talent and acting ability. His role is listed as Cameo, but the screen time he had was powerful.

This is a good film to own - hard to get but worth it !