Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham
Old school Bollywood at its absolute zenith. Hindi cinema will still release some winners nowadays, but the charm of the 90s and 00s was one that you could feel in Hollywood blockbusters as well. Phones and other <PERSON>-esque, damn near tyrannical tech was its infancy, and movies wanted to inspire and entertain rather than lecture and shock audiences. Three and a half goddamn hours and I’m never once bored of Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. Did they squeeze in one or two songs that were perhaps unnecessary? Sure. The “Vande Mataram” and the Indian national anthem sequences were as patriotic as they are propaganda (nothing wrong with family friendly propaganda, Top Gun: Maverick saved cinema for a couple months). 292
But I’d be hard pressed to find a more moving scene than the final one between <PERSON> and <PERSON>. THAT’S how you conclude a movie.
The title song, “Suraj Hua Maddham,” and “Bole Chudiyan” are total masterpieces, both in musical composition and performance (all three of them are SRK stan porn essentially. Is there any movie star entrance cooler than <PERSON> hopping out of a helicopter rocking all black?). <PERSON>, <PERSON>, <PERSON> and the <PERSON> are all perfectly cast, I always think of their work here first when their names are mentioned (although for <PERSON> it’s probably his insane dance performance at the end of Dhoom 2). Melodramatic, sugary sweet, utterly devastating, life affirming, it’s got it all. Over the top sure, but no one else in the world had his finger on the money making pulse than <PERSON> did in 2001 (okay besides like <PERSON> for like three decades straight but you get my drift). Nostalgia, how much it means to me and my family, all that stuff plays a factor, but those giving RRR five stars really ought to check out this the next time they call that South Indian production their favorite Bollywood movie.
2001 Ranked
<PERSON> Ranked 223