I watched this film because it got one vote for Sight and Sound's once-a-decade list of the best films ever made, probably the only mainstream Bollywood movie ever to have achieved that distinction (though Satyajit Ray's works receive a number of votes). I wouldn't put it on my top 10 list of all time, as that one critic did, but I do think the film is wonderful.
It's not sophisticated. I'm pretty new to Bollywood films, having only watched a few highly-regarded ones so far, but my impression of them is that they are primarily about basic emotions (family, love) deeply felt. Broadly drawn emotions, no subtlety here. But these films seem to get to me, and this one did more than any of the others I've watched.
The sound effects are bad, and there's a small amount of broad humor that I think detracts from the film. The musical parts are pretty good. I think the lead was wonderfully cast, and the women are beautiful, as they invariably are in Indian films.
It's not sophisticated. I'm pretty new to Bollywood films, having only watched a few highly-regarded ones so far, but my impression of them is that they are primarily about basic emotions (family, love) deeply felt. Broadly drawn emotions, no subtlety here. But these films seem to get to me, and this one did more than any of the others I've watched.
The sound effects are bad, and there's a small amount of broad humor that I think detracts from the film. The musical parts are pretty good. I think the lead was wonderfully cast, and the women are beautiful, as they invariably are in Indian films.