Common Sense Media Review
By Tom Cassidy
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Feel-good Bollywood family drama balances sadness and joy.
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Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
What's the Story?
In KABHI KHUSHI KABHIE GHAM..., Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan), a rich young man, falls for a young free spirited woman and chooses love over his father's wishes to uphold tradition. Seeing the hurt his family feels at this division, youngest son Rohan (Hrithik Roshan) vows to reunite his family.
Is It Any Good?
The star power of this brilliant Bollywood production blasts this captivating family drama into the next sphere with its heightened emotions translating directly to the viewer. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... is a joy on many levels, be it the exuberant glee of a relationship blossoming or a long-awaited reunion that is fist-pumpingly thrilling. Equally, the melodrama of a big heartbreak or a quiet yearning is devastating, in the best possible way. Injecting some nuance to a familiar star-crossed lovers story, the addition of feelings around adoption adds an interesting angle and helps further twist the knife on emotional moments. During the musical sections, the dances and performances are pure escapist bliss and the immaculate visual storytelling in these moments is something to behold.
Even among uniformly excellent performances, Kajol stands out as remarkable. As the free-spirited, sometimes clumsy but always headstrong Anjali, she has to provide a believable reason for Rahul to choose between love and his family and fortune. Her ability to roll out multiple emotions in a single scene, causing laughter and tears within a heartbeat is a performance to be relished. While the movie falters a little when the story reaches London (the U.K. cast performances are no match for the Indian cast), the culture clash comedy and eventual emotional payoff makes this detour worth it. For captivating movie magic that provides lavish escapism and gripping, emotional drama, Kabhi Kushi Kabhie Ghah... is a triumph.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the family traditions portrayed in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.... Did you think the father was right to say keeping a family tradition going is more important than love? Do you have any traditions in your own family? What are the pros and cons?
Humility, perseverance, communication, and compassion are some of the character strengths displayed in the movie. Why are these so important? Can you think of a time when you've shown these traits?
The film touches on forgiveness and showing emotions. Why is it important to forgive and not bottle up your emotions? Can you think of a time when you've forgiven someone? How did you feel afterwards?
In the movie, the family celebrates Diwali. Is this a festival you celebrate? How do you do it? If you don't celebrate it, what do you know about Diwali?
How is dancing viewed in your culture? Are there any events that regularly feature dancing? Did you enjoy the dance sequences in this movie?
Movie Details
- In theaters: December 14, 2001
- On DVD or streaming: September 2, 2003
- Cast: Shah Rukh Khan , Kajol , Amitabh Bachchan
- Director: Karan Johar
- Inclusion Information: Indian/South Asian directors, Indian/South Asian actors, Female actors, Indian/South Asian writers
- Studio: Yash Raj Films
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters , Music and Sing-Along
- Character Strengths: Communication , Compassion , Humility , Perseverance
- Run time: 210 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 17, 2023
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