| Kal Ho Naa Ho | |
|---|---|
Kal Ho Naa Ho poster |
|
| Directed by | Nikhil Advani |
| Produced by | Yash Johar |
| Written by | Niranjan Iyengar Karan Johar |
| Narrated by | Preity Zinta |
| Starring | Jaya Bachchan Shahrukh Khan Saif Ali Khan Preity Zinta |
| Music by | Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy |
| Cinematography | Anil Mehta |
| Editing by | Sanjay Sankla |
| Distributed by | Dharma Productions |
| Release date(s) | 28 November 2003 |
| Running time | 184 mins |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi English |
| Budget | 30 crore (US$5.7 million)[1] |
| Box office | 77.95 crore (US$14.81 million)[2] |
Kal Ho Naa Ho (Hindi: कल हो ना हो, Urdu: کل ہو نہ ہو, literally Tomorrow Might Never Come) is a 2003 Hindi film set in New York City. It stars Shahrukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Saif Ali Khan and Jaya Bachchan. The film was directed by first-timer Nikhil Advani, it was produced by Yash Johar and co-written by Karan Johar, better known as the director of the hit films Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) and Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001). The movie is also noted for its soundtrack, which was a huge commercial and critical success and earned the composers Shankar Ehsaan Loy the National Film Award for Best Music Direction. The film was screened at the Valenciennes, Era New Horizons, Marrakech International and Helsinki Film Festival.
Unlike with many other Hindi productions, the film's makers also complied with international copyright laws and obtained the license to use Roy Orbison's "Oh, Pretty Woman" for an extended musical sequence taking place in the streets in New York.[3] The film was a critical and commercial success, becoming the second top-grossing movie domestically and the top-grossing Bollywood film in the overseas market that year.[4][5] When adjusted for inflation its total gross worldwide is 130 crores.[6]
Contents |
Naina Catherine Kapur (Preity Zinta) is an angry young girl, for more than one reason. Her father committed suicide when she needed him the most, leaving her mother Jennifer (Jaya Bachchan) to raise their two young children Shiv (Atith Naik) & Gia (Jhanak Shukla) all alone. The restaurant Jennifer operates is faltering. Furthermore, Naina's paternal grandmother, Lajjo (Sushma Seth), blames Jennifer for the suicide and refuses to accept Gia (Jhanak Shukla), a six-year-old girl whom Jennifer adopted, as her granddaughter, blaming her for bringing bad luck to the family. Naina has to put up with the daily fights that take place in the house as a result. The bright spots in her life are the toiling and tolerant Jennifer and Naina's bumbling MBA classmate Rohit (Saif Ali Khan).
Aman Mathur (Shahrukh Khan) arrives in Naina's neighbourhood and soon changes everything. Noticing the sadness of his new neighbours, he intervenes. His well-meaning interference in their activities, his revival of their financial condition, and his general optimism, soon change their lives for the better. Although Naina is initially reluctant to enjoy Aman's presence as others do and is irritated by his extroverted, overly-enthusiastic attitude, she grows to like him and eventually falls in love with him.
Meanwhile, her friend Rohit has been in love with her. On Aman's encouragement, he calls Naina for lunch but before he can confess to her, she reveals her love for Aman. Rohit informs Aman about this and leaves shortly for his parents' home. Naina goes to Aman's house where, to stop her from confessing her feelings to him, Aman tells her that he is married to a woman named Priya (Sonali Bendre), who is actually his doctor.
Aman, it is revealed, is dying of a severe condition that is progressively weakening his heart. Knowing that his lifespan is limited, he goes through life facilitating friendships and courtship, and urging people to enjoy themselves in the present moment since "Tomorrow might never come". His excursions into such altruism, eventually leads him to sacrifice his love for Naina and instead play matchmaker between her and Rohit. After a few weeks of courtship, Naina starts to like Rohit as more than just a friend. However, when she finds out that Aman has been helping Rohit to woo her, she gets very angry at them both. Eventually though, she accepts Rohit's proposal of marriage.
The tension within Naina's family also stops when Aman, after accidentally intercepting a personal letter addressed to Jennifer, reveals that Gia is Naina's half-sister through their father's extramarital affair. Jennifer's selfless acceptance of her husband's infidelity is what led to his suicide. Lajjo finally accepts Gia, and the now-united family wholeheartedly prepare for Rohit and Naina's wedding.
As the film progresses, Aman's health deteriorates. At the engagement party of Rohit and Naina, an episode of intense excitement nearly kills him. Naina, in a chance-encounter, meets Priya, Aman's supposed wife, and learns the truth of Priya being Aman's doctor. She then realises that Aman had lied about his marriage to hide his true condition, and possibly, the fact that he loves her too. She goes to see Aman, and although he defiantly refuses to admit his true feelings, she finally understands that he loves her as well. Aman convinces Naina to get married to Rohit anyway, because he knew he won't live much longer. She accepts, and shortly after Rohit and Naina marry. Aman eventually dies of his weakness, with both of them by his side.
Twenty years later, an older Naina relates the story of Aman's selfless love to a grown Gia. And, it is seen that she and Rohit now have a daughter of their own.
|
|
The film was written by Karan Johar with dialogue from Niranjan Iyengar and directed by his former assistant director Nikhil Advani. It was the last film to be produced by Yash Johar before his death. The choreography was by Farah Khan. Manish Malhotra designed the costumes of the three lead actors.
Pre-production of the film began in 2003. Kareena Kapoor was initially the first choice for Naina, but due to money issues she refused the role.[7] Preity Zinta was the immediate next choice,[8] and according to the director of the film, Nikhil Advani, "Somewhere at the back of my mind she [Zinta] was always Naina Catherine Kapur. She understands that lifestyle. She didn't have to do anything."[8]
Shooting began in 2003 in New York City. A major portion of the movie was also shot in Toronto due to production costs in New York City.[9]
The film was released in India on 28 November 2003.
It was the second Bollywood film to attain wide release in Germany in early 2005 (the first was Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham).[10] Since the film's release, Bollywood movies have become increasingly popular in Germany, and other Indian films have also been shown on prime time television and have sold well on DVD.[11] The movie was released in Poland in May 2006 as Gdyby jutra nie bylo (If Tomorrow Never Comes),[12] and in France in 2005 as New-York Masala.[10]
Kal Ho Naa Ho was well received by critics. Taran Adarsh gave the film 4 out of 5 stars and said: "Yes, Kal Ho Naa Ho does live up to the expectations. Yes, the SRK-Karan Johar magic does cast a spell the third time around. The film works, courtesy SRK's incredible performance and Karan's deft writing."[13] Archana Vohra from NDTV gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, stating, "Advani ... seems to have come up with an innovative way to present a done to death plot," later adding that "irrespective of the frills, fancy clothes and well-dressed stars, the film does strike a chord and is a brilliant debut by Nikhil Advani."[14] Rediff.com, in a positive review, wrote, "The film is fresh in treatment and storytelling. Shah Rukh excels as the supercool Aman. You understand why it is difficult for Karan to work with any other actor, because SRK steals the show with a designer-made role. Given SRK's performance, it is all the more important to take note of Saif, whose Rohit Patel will be remembered just as much as his Sameer in Dil Chahta Hai. Saif is first-rate, and your heart goes out to this under-rated actor. Preity Zinta slips into character beautifully. Right from the preppy spectacles to her no-nonsense demeanor, Preity captures the spirit of Naina Kapur. She has never looked so pretty. Kal Ho Naa Ho will carry you with its exuberance."[15] Mayank Shekhar in his review for Mid-Day gave it 3.5 stars out of 5 and wrote, "Yes, this is soft-focus, sweet background score, ‘life is simplistic’ escapist cinema. But the bottom line: at the end of the day, it works and is worth your entertainment bucks. And that’s saying a lot."[16] In a positive review, Dave Kehr from The New York Times concluded, "This is a rich meal that may best be reserved for stomachs accustomed to such bountiful fare."[17] Komal Nahta from Outlook, in a three-star review, remarked, "[writer] Johar has packaged the drama so very contemporarily that the final product holds its own. Undoubtedly, [the film] is one of the cleverest love triangles in Hindi cinema."[18] Ziya Us Salam wrote for The Hindu, "Watch Kal Ho Naa Ho. It is like life. It gives you reason to be disappointed, just as it gives you reason to hope."[19] In a four-star review, Jitesh Pillai of Filmfare wrote, "Anyone (which means almost everyone) who has loved and lost will recognize that Kal Ho Naa Ho is a bittersweet valentine to unrequited love. Nikhil Advani makes the sensational debut that other directors only dream of."[20]
The film also received some mixed reviews, Ram Kamal Mukherjee from Stardust praised the film's performances, technical aspects and its entertainment value, but noted several flaws in its "logistic part".[21] Rama Sharma from The Tribune concluded, "Kal Ho Na Ho is a usual filmi love web with a cosmopolitan appeal and a lot of comedy packed in the first half."[22] Jami Bernard from New York Daily News wrote, "Bollywood musicals, those big, loud, colorful extravaganzas from India, are an acquired taste and much of "Kal Ho Naa Ho" doesn't translate easily," though he further noted, "All three leads grow on you."[23]
Anupama Chopra, in a positive review, wrote, "Advani, who learned family film formula with masters Aditya Chopra and Karan Johar, emerges as a distinctive voice with his first film. Written by Johar, the film revisits old ground-NRIs, wedding song, snazzy club number and Shah Rukh-but also evolves the formula. It has technical pizzazz (split screens, in-camera dialogue) and an urbane wit despite snags like sub-plots with pat endings or a lame pre-interval portion. The dialogue by Niranjan Iyengar is perfectly pitched and the performances uniformly good."[24] Chopra included the film in her list of "Top Ten Movies of The Year", ranked fifth.[25]
Kal Ho Naa Ho was the second top-grossing movie of the year. It had a total net gross of 35 crores in India alone, and was declared a hit. It also made an additional Rs 12 crores in the USA and 9 crores in the UK collecting a total of 27 crores and thus becoming the top-grossing Bollywood film in the overseas market that year. The film made a total of 77 crores worldwide.[4][5] when adjusted for inflation its total gross worldwide is 130 crores.[6]
The soundtrack of the film was released on 27 September 2003 in various formats. The music is conducted by award-winning trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, with lyrics authored by Javed Akhtar. The music went on to do well at the charts, and became one of the most successful music albums of the year.[26] Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy won their first Filmfare Best Music Director Award for this soundtrack, as well as the National Film Award for Best Music Direction.
Kal Ho Naa Ho received many awards and nominations. The awards it won are highlighted in bold:
|
||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||