Pardes (SRK, Mahima Chaudhary, Amrish Puri)
Aug 8, 2015 7:48:49 GMT
odadune and dancelover like this
Post by aspiringfilmmaker on Aug 8, 2015 7:48:49 GMT
This is a film, that to my surprise, hasn't been discussed yet in the Film Fair section, and that in general isn't really as celebrated as SRK's other great films (DDLJ, KKHH, etc) even though it was a huge success at the box office in 1997. Pardes was the first Hindi film I ever watched (I was a little over two years old, and only remember bits and pieces of it, most notably the "I Love My India" and "Meri Mehbooba" songs) and though I was far too young to even fathom the images rushing past my living room VCR, there was something about the film's overall feel - the music, the visuals, and SRK's presence that struck a chord with me. When I saw the film at an older age, I was able to understand the deep nuances behind the performances and dramatics going on. What I find interesting about Pardes is that it leaves a lot to be discussed - many hate the points it's trying to make, while others love the patriotic feel. As an NRI myself, I relate to what the film is trying to say - trying to achieve a balance between the individualistic attitude of Western society and the family-centered attitude of Indian society.
Personally, I think it's one of SRK's best performances along with Paheli, Chak De India, and Swades. He sheds his typical Raj/Rahul image to play a more mature character that is forced to lie through his teeth to the girl he loves as a result of his filial duty towards Amrish Puri's character. The emotional vulnerability he brings forth on screen through his subtle expressions and restrained dialogue delivery speaks volumes and strikes a chord with the viewer. Mahima Chaudhary was beautiful as the village girl who may be innocent in the first half but learns how to stand her ground in the second half. The music by Nadeem Shravan is fantastic - all of the songs with their visuals are poetry in motion. Also, this marked a new kind of genre for Subhash Ghai - usually the master of grand dramas like Ram Lakhan and Saudagar, who skilfully took a simple story and portrayed it with grandeur without making it showy or superficial.
What are your thoughts on Pardes? Please share.
Personally, I think it's one of SRK's best performances along with Paheli, Chak De India, and Swades. He sheds his typical Raj/Rahul image to play a more mature character that is forced to lie through his teeth to the girl he loves as a result of his filial duty towards Amrish Puri's character. The emotional vulnerability he brings forth on screen through his subtle expressions and restrained dialogue delivery speaks volumes and strikes a chord with the viewer. Mahima Chaudhary was beautiful as the village girl who may be innocent in the first half but learns how to stand her ground in the second half. The music by Nadeem Shravan is fantastic - all of the songs with their visuals are poetry in motion. Also, this marked a new kind of genre for Subhash Ghai - usually the master of grand dramas like Ram Lakhan and Saudagar, who skilfully took a simple story and portrayed it with grandeur without making it showy or superficial.
What are your thoughts on Pardes? Please share.