There's something about the understared simplicity but frequently organic Bollywood charm of Yash Chopra's 'Kabhi Kabhie' that always draws me for it. Amitabh Bachchan and Rakhi Gulzar was a freshly unusual pairing, and together they were as magical as Sahir Ludhinavi's intricately moving poetry that adores much of this beautifully made film, scripted uniquely and charmingly by Sarhadi and Pamela.

In his career, Yashji has also made some gritty, starkly grim dramas such as the Dhanbad-set Kaala Patthar, the dynamic Trishul and the courtroom drama of Waqt, but none of these supposedly powerful films could match the 'essential viewing' entertainment provided by his frothier, 'unconditional-love' brand of cinema, the progressiveness of the world in 'Silsila', the uniquely attractive 'Lamhe' ... There's something about the understared simplicity but frequently organic Bollywood charm of Yash Chopra's 'Kabhi Kabhie' that always draws me for it. Amitabh Bachchan and Rakhi Gulzar was a freshly unusual pairing, and together they were as magical as Sahir Ludhinavi's intricately moving poetry that adores much of this beautifully made film, scripted uniquely and charmingly by Sarhadi and Pamela.

In his career, Yashji has also made some gritty, starkly grim dramas such as the Dhanbad-set Kaala Patthar, the dynamic Trishul and the courtroom drama of Waqt, but none of these supposedly powerful films could match the 'essential viewing' entertainment provided by his frothier, 'unconditional-love' brand of cinema, the progressiveness of the world in 'Silsila', the uniquely attractive 'Lamhe', or the soul-stirring 'Chaandni'. And among that lot, the one that still stands tall is 'Kabhi Kabhie'. It's a little more dark than most of the films of its times and it's not afraid to be, but as it plays safe, it's more entertaining and fun than most dramas even today.

All the performances are charming- all the chemistries are charming. Rishi Kapoor and Nitu Singh aren't any less together even as they are the secondary, the lesser couple here. Waheeda Rehman is also astounding in her own small way. But stealing the show even from the interesting Amitabh Bachchan is Shashi Kapoor, who breathes life into the character of Rakhi's husband with prompt grace and intricacy.

Ahead of it's time, even today this soulful romantic stands as one of the most eloquently made romantics ever made. It's not the best Yash Chopra film for me ('Lamhe' is at another level), but it's still one of his best crafted ones.
4/5.   { Read More