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Mohabbatein (Romance Movie ,2000)  Starring
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Synopsis
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge's super success catapulted Aditya Chopra to the top bracket of filmmakers in the country. But
instead of using the opportunity and going on a film manufacturing spree, he decided to bide his time and took a break to assist his
father, Yash Chopra on Dil To Pagal Hai.
He launched his film Mohabbatein last year and today, as the audiences have their appetites whetted, watching the promos of the
film on TV, Adi is giving finishing touches to his film that is due for release in Diwali.
Instead of sticking to the normal Yashraj Films format of just plain love stories, this time Aditya has ventured into a different
area. Though the film deals with three love stories, the film has layers and shades that make for great cinema.
Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan play strong supporting characters while Aishwarya Rai comes in the form of memory throughout the
film.
Despite the strong supporting star cast, Mohabbatein essentially remains the story of Jugal Hansraj, Uday Chopra and Jimmy
Shergill who are paired opposite Kimi Sharma, Shamita Shetty and Preeti Jhangiani respectively.
The story is set in a college run by a strict principal (Amitabh) who does not believe in any kind of frivolity. His world turns
topsy-turvy when a breezy professor (Shah Rukh) enters the college and befriends the students by being one of them. Aishwarya Rai
plays the Principal's dead daughter who is the bone of contention between the two.
The film has music by Jatin-Lalit and choreography by Farah Khan. This is the first Aditya Chopra film to release after Dilwale
Dulhania Le Jayenge and in that carries a lot of expectations.
Review
The 20 plus son's much hyped Refugee falls with a thud but the father keeps the hype alive and wins hands down with
Mohabbatein at 50 plus!
Mohabbatein has all the ingredients peculiar to Yash Raj films that also the audience seems to like forever, but the one
ingredient that dwarfs everything else in this three and a half hour Diwali treat is Amitabh Bachchan.
As a strict disciplinarian, a stern man, a patriarchal figure, Amitabh strikes just the right note. On seeing the film, you realize
that nobody but nobody else could have been Narayan Shankar.
Narayan Shankar is the head of a Gurukul, where he teaches all the rules and regulations of life with utmost commitment. He cherishes
values and imparts them to his students with great fervor. There's only one thing that he does not tolerate (probably intentionally),
does not profess, does not believe in, and that's love.
Six sprightly, vivacious young students come to study in his Gurukul. They do the forbidden. They fall in love. The patriarch is
outraged. The lovers feel helpless. Gradually they start accepting that their relationship was probably doomed from the start. Right
then steps in their savior in the form of a music teacher.
Raj Aryan is a matured man, has seen it all, gone through it all. He comes to the Gurukul with a purpose. Not only does he bail the
lovers out of the crisis, he also teaches a lesson or two of love to the patriarch. Shah Rukh Khan, one must admit, has made efforts
in giving a subdued performance. There are none of those compressed giggles nor any unnecessary sniffing.
Raj Aryan has a past that is related to Narayan Shankar. Shankar is unaware of this. As the story unfolds, we know that Raj is an
ex-student of Shankar's Gurukul and had fallen in love with his daughter, the lovely Aishwarya Rai.
Mohabbatein is unusual in a way that the principal protagonists do not have current love lives. Aishwarya is dead. She appears
in the film only as memories and nostalgia. So Shah Rukh is shown only to be a believer and preacher of romance and love.
The film's highlights are the one-to-one scenes of Amitabh and Shah Rukh. While the former is a veteran and his histrionics now seem
to be an extension of his charisma and aura, the latter gives a matured performance. Shah Rukh is finally a controlled performer with
Mohabbatein. He takes Amitabh head on and succeeds in giving compelling shots, not wincing even once.
There are other good actors, who have been wasted. They could have been put to better use or could have not been there at all. Anupam
Kher, Amrish Puri (in a 5 minute role), Shefali Chayya, Archana Puransingh, all fine actors, but not having much to do they contribute
to the film's length.
The surprise element in Mohabbatein makes you sit up and wonder what is it in Helen that jolts you even today? There's a
beautiful dance item by the golden girl of yesteryears, leaving you wanting for more.
The young newcomers look trained but don't do much except sing and wear fabulous clothes. The story is okay, but it is Amitabh and
Shah Rukh, who rise above their roles and give the film an altogether different feel, height and look. And if you must know that one
person who stands out in the crowd and gets the maximum applause on his entry, the answer is the clichéd, Amitabh Bachchan.
So go ahead and enjoy a Bachchan bonanza backed by an irrepressible Shah Rukh and a gorgeous Aishwarya. Mohabbatein looks like
a winner.