I am no expert on Indian films, though compared to most other Americans I definitely am unusual because I have seen a couple hundred films from this country. In seeing these films, one thing I have noticed is that in many of the country's movies which were made up to about 2000 is that the musical numbers were often very poor-- with music and singing that is obviously canned*. This is NOT the case today...and the musical numbers are often fantastic in the films and the highlight of the pictures. But with "Koyla", it comes in near the end of this more primitive period...and the musical numbers are pretty awful. Add to that some terrible overacting by the comic relief in the film (such as the Doctor** and his idiot son) and you've already got a couple serious strikes against this movie from the onset. The director, Rakesh Roshan, clearly can be blamed for much of this.
The story finds Raja Saab (Amrish Puri) the Lord of the land. While on the surface he seems like a kind and just man, it's all an act. At heart, he's evil, cruel and a total jerk-face--as is his awful younger brother. Saab is a dirty old man who has eyed the lovely Gauri (Madhuri Dixit). But she refuses to consent to any marriage until she can see a photo of her fiancé. Since Raja Saab is old, he decides to substitute the photo of his handsome mute servant, Shanker (Shah Rukh Khan). Not surprisingly, when Gauri sees the dirty old man on their wedding day, she refuses to marry and Raja Saab's anger is unleashed and she's kept his prisoner. Rape and murder are among the infamous things Saab and his brother commit following this wedding rebuff. But since Shah Rukh Khan always seems to play the handsome hero, you will likely assume that by the end of the picture all will be well and justice will be restored...or will it? After all, once Saab's wrath in unleashed on poor Shanker, he might not live long enough to do anything heroic.
The shame of all this is that the plot is quite good and there is a good film hidden underneath the occasional overacting, lapses in writing and mediocre canned singing. I cannot see giving this one anything better than a 5 because of these defects...and this is a bit generous. While I usually hate remakes, this one could stand a remake. Put Shah Rukh Khan in it again...and get rid of the awful comic relief!!!
*The first musical number is the strangest. The song is sung by Gauri and a bunch of children and it's all about the cannabis they've just eaten!
**The Doctor behaves almost exactly like Le Fou in "Beauty and the Beast". However, "Beauty and the Beast" is a cartoon that is mostly for kids...so why does the Doctor behave almost like a cartoon?! Yes, the acting is that broad and that bad with him and a few of the comic relief characters.
The story finds Raja Saab (Amrish Puri) the Lord of the land. While on the surface he seems like a kind and just man, it's all an act. At heart, he's evil, cruel and a total jerk-face--as is his awful younger brother. Saab is a dirty old man who has eyed the lovely Gauri (Madhuri Dixit). But she refuses to consent to any marriage until she can see a photo of her fiancé. Since Raja Saab is old, he decides to substitute the photo of his handsome mute servant, Shanker (Shah Rukh Khan). Not surprisingly, when Gauri sees the dirty old man on their wedding day, she refuses to marry and Raja Saab's anger is unleashed and she's kept his prisoner. Rape and murder are among the infamous things Saab and his brother commit following this wedding rebuff. But since Shah Rukh Khan always seems to play the handsome hero, you will likely assume that by the end of the picture all will be well and justice will be restored...or will it? After all, once Saab's wrath in unleashed on poor Shanker, he might not live long enough to do anything heroic.
The shame of all this is that the plot is quite good and there is a good film hidden underneath the occasional overacting, lapses in writing and mediocre canned singing. I cannot see giving this one anything better than a 5 because of these defects...and this is a bit generous. While I usually hate remakes, this one could stand a remake. Put Shah Rukh Khan in it again...and get rid of the awful comic relief!!!
*The first musical number is the strangest. The song is sung by Gauri and a bunch of children and it's all about the cannabis they've just eaten!
**The Doctor behaves almost exactly like Le Fou in "Beauty and the Beast". However, "Beauty and the Beast" is a cartoon that is mostly for kids...so why does the Doctor behave almost like a cartoon?! Yes, the acting is that broad and that bad with him and a few of the comic relief characters.