RAJA
HINDUSTANI
1996
/ produced by Aly & Bunty Morani / directed by Dharmesh
Dharshan / starring Aamir Khan & Karisma Kapoor / music
by Nadeem-Shravan / lyrics by Sameer
It
all starts going downhill when Aamir stops shaving. That’s
the rule to remember when watching ‘Raja Hindustani,’
the film that swept India’s Filmfare awards in 1996 with
Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Actress. It’s not perfect,
especially as the second half caves toward a preposterous ending,
but until then it’s a pleasure to watch – and hear.
Aamir
Khan, a rather serious actor for Bollywood, might not put this
movie among his best. But ‘Raja Hindustani’ is a great
introduction to the range of emotions he plays so well, from
dippy to downright cruel. There’s also a surprisingly good
performance from the actress who rubs many fans of BollyWHAT
the wrong way, Karisma Kapoor. We’re not completely free
from the stricken-eyed scenes that mark her more recent roles,
but here she has a haughty/flirty presence that can be fun to
watch. In fact, this role as the Bombay rich girl who falls
for a rural taxi driver helped Kapoor break out of her slapstick
comedy rut.
Despite
the awards, ‘Raja Hindustani’ is still pure Bollywood
formula – two lovers against a disapproving family. But
it’s good formula saved by good music and its two delightful
stars. And it has no love triangle, which is refreshing. The
movie’s challenge, though, is filling its final hour and
a half. The first half ends on an upbeat note that in most films
means it’s time to roll the credits. Maybe they should
have done so here.
Kapoor
plays a rich girl who decides to take a holiday in the rural
town where her parents fell in love. Once they arrive, she and
her two gender-confused assistants bump into the good-hearted
but short-tempered Raja Hindustani, the taxi driver played by
Khan. As Bollywood dictates, Raja immediately falls in love
with the Memsahib and spends his time mooning and fighting over
her. To his dismay, he also ends up fighting with Memsahib as
the movie light-foots its way around the topic of class differences.
The makers of the movie also pull punches by making both characters
a wee bit dim. Their blossoming love is sweet but shallow, based
on Memsahib’s teasing and Raja’s clumsy good intentions.
Raja’s also a charming singer, however, and apparently
he can kiss.
Ah,
that kiss. There are none of the usual feints and shadowplay
when it comes to getting it on here. The rain-soaked kiss between
Raja and Memsahib, gaspingly long by Bollywood terms, certainly
helped propel ‘Raja Hindustani’ at the box office
and into history. (To those new to Indian movies, though, it’s
going to look like a whole lot of nothing. Or nibbling.)
The
rest of the plot is simple: Girl’s family disapproves.
Girl’s wicked stepmother schemes to break them up. Misunderstandings,
fighting, a big sloppy finish. Be prepared to suspend your disbelief
as the movie wears on, much as Raja suspends his shaving routine.
By the end, he looks and acts like a caveman, and it’s
hard to see why ... oh, never mind. See it for yourself.
‘Raja
Hindustani’ has a limited number of songs, but they’re
great stuff, especially when a heartbroken Raja expresses his
love at a gypsy-like gathering. And Johnny Lever, so irritating
in many movies as the comic relief, has a very funny appearance
as a Sikh, of all things. He also is given a love interest and
a bit of serious singing, which seems to be a rare chance for
him to be more than a doofus. Overall: If you’re looking
for a nice, warm muffin of a movie, something that pleases without
giving you gas, you can’t go wrong with this one.
-
reviewed by Kaya
