Starcast: Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Uday Chopra, Shamita Shetty, Jugal Hansraj, Kim Sharma, Jimmy Shergill, Preeti Jhangiani, Anupam ...
Starcast: Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Uday Chopra, Shamita Shetty, Jugal Hansraj, Kim Sharma, Jimmy Shergill, Preeti Jhangiani, Anupam Kher, Archana Puran Singh and Amrish Puri. Special Appearance: Aishwarya Rai
Music: Jatin Lalit
Direction: Aditya Chopra
Watching Mohabbatein again feels like
flipping through an old photo album from college – cheesy, over-the-top, but
packed with moments that still make you grin. Aditya Chopra dropped this one in
2000 Diwali day (October 27), right after his smash hit Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, and it's basically
a big, glossy showdown between strict old-school rules and young, rebellious
romance. Set in this fancy all-boys boarding school called Gurukul, it's got
everything: epic music and enough drama to fill a monsoon season.
The story kicks off with Narayan Shankar, played by
the legend Amitabh Bachchan. He's the principal who's basically turned the
place into a fortress of discipline. No fun, no girls, no nonsense – his word
is law, and he's still haunted by his daughter's tragic love story from years
ago. Enter Raj Aryan Malhotra, aka Shah Rukh Khan in full charming mode, as the
new music teacher. SRK's all about love conquering all, sneaking in violins and
secret dances to shake things up. The real heart of the film, though, is three
pairs of young lovers: Sameer (Jugal Hansraj) crushing on his childhood buddy
Sanjana (Kim Sharma), Vicky (Uday Chopra) chasing Ishika (Shamita Shetty), and
Karan (Jimmy Sheirgill) falling for Kiran (Preeti Jhangiani). These guys are
the underdogs fighting the system, and their stories weave in with the big boss
battle between Amitabh and SRK.
Let's talk direction first. Aditya Chopra knows how
to make things look pretty – those autumn leaves falling everywhere, the grand
halls of Gurukul (shot at some stunning spots abroad), it all screams romance.
The film clocks in at over three hours, which is classic Bollywood, but it
doesn't drag as much as you'd think. The pacing builds nicely from quiet
tension to those explosive confrontations. Chopra's big on symbolism too –
violins for love, strict uniforms for control. It's not subtle, but subtlety isn't
what we're here for.
Acting-wise, this is peak star power. Amitabh
Bachchan is a beast as the stern principal. His voice booms, his eyes pierce –
you believe he's this unbreakable wall of tradition. But watch him in the
quieter scenes; there's real pain under that toughness, especially when
flashbacks hit about his daughter (Aishwarya Rai in a cameo that's pure
heartbreak). Shah Rukh Khan? He's the king of romance for a reason. That
dimpled smile, the way he delivers lines like "Pyaar ka pehla kadam dosti
hai" – it's corny, but it works!! He's got this effortless charisma that
makes you root for him, even when he's being a total rebel.
The supporting cast shines too. Uday Chopra as the
goofy Vicky brings the laughs – his comic timing is spot on, especially in
those awkward wooing scenes. Jugal and Jimmy are solid as the more serious
lovers, and the girls – Kim, Shamita, Preeti – are cute and spunky, though they
don't get as much depth. Special shoutout to Archana Puran Singh and Helen for
popping up in fun roles. And oh, the cameos! Aishwarya as Megha is ethereal,
even if it's brief. Amrish Puri, Anupam Kher – it's like a who's who of Bollywood
vets.
Music is the soul of Mohabbatein, hands down.
Jatin-Lalit composed chartbusters that are still on playlists today.
"Humko Humise Chura Lo" is that dreamy duet with SRK and Aishwarya
under the lights – pure magic. The title track with all the couples is
uplifting as hell. "Aankhein Khuli" is fun and flirty,"Soni
soni" is pure holi kaju katli,sweet as hell, "Pairon Mein Bandhan
Hai" tugs at the heartstrings, and "Chalte Chalte" gives those
nostalgic vibes. Udit Narayan, Lata Mangeshkar, the whole crew – vocals are
top-notch. The background score amps up the emotions, with those violin swells
during tense moments. If there's one reason this film endures, it's the
soundtrack. You can't help singing along.
It's all about love vs. tradition, the clash of
generations. Narayan represents rigid honor and fear of loss, while Raj pushes
for freedom and forgiveness. There's a message about how love isn't a
distraction but a strength, and how holding onto the past can destroy the
future. It's wrapped in Diwali celebrations and school antics, making it feel
festive and relatable. Sure, it's preachy at times – those long monologues –
but in 2000, it hit home for a lot of us navigating family expectations.
Flaws? Yeah, it's got 'em. The plot is predictable;
you know love will win from mile one. Some side stories feel rushed, and the
girls are sidelined – they are mere props than characters. The length could be
trimmed by 20 minutes without losing much. And , the whole "music teacher
revolutionizes school" trope is straight out of Dead Poets Society, but
with desi ,often silly twists.
Still, Mohabbatein is a comfort watch. It's not
groundbreaking cinema, but it's heartfelt entertainment. In a post-2000 world
of slick thrillers and biopics, this feels like a warm hug from simpler times.
It was a massive hit, raking in over 40 crores back then, and it cemented
Aditya's reputation as a romance maestro.
If you're in the mood for feels, fireworks (literal
and figurative), and SRK at his romantic best, queue it up. Go rewatch; you
won't regret it.
By Ayushmaan Mitra
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