Kisses on lips and neck. Flirtation. Song with sensual dancing between characters. Character shown in boxer shorts for humor rather than in a sexual context.
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Brand names seen frequently on clothing and products including DKNY, Levi's, Speedo, Ralph Lauren, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, and Nescafe. Mention of Romeo + Juliet movie.
Violence & Scariness
a little
A character dies, who is a wife and mother, and returns as a ghostlike figure, though it is not played for scares. Scenes in hospital with some machines shown and passing mention of internal bleeding. Pushing, shoving, and hair pulling in play fights between both adults and children.
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Love can be found in friendship. It's important to be empathetic and think of the happiness of others.
Positive Role Models
some
Rahul is arrogant and shows little care for the numerous women he dates in college. Later he still has arrogant tendencies but is dedicated to his daughter, who he puts first. Young Anjali can be mischievous but wants her father to be happy and covets letters from her late mother over material gifts on her birthday. Tina is aware of the power of her beauty, but is also compassionate and selfless on some occasions. Anjali Sharma has the confidence to be herself, even when that doesn't fit in, but struggles to show vulnerability.
Diverse Representations
a little
A Bollywood movie with a largely all-Indian cast and Hindi as the main language. Some gender stereotypes reinforced. Female character who doesn't dress in traditionally feminine clothes is ridiculed when she attempts to emulate the clothes and make-up of others. She is attractive to a male character only later when she grows her hair and wears saris. Talk of "manly clothes" and "behaving like a girl." A character says another is not "Indian enough," having lived in London, and challenges them to sing a song in Hindi to prove themself. Female characters in larger roles mostly shown as strong and confident in challenging men.
Parents need to know that Kuch Kuch Hota Hai is a romantic Bollywood movie -- with mostly Hindi dialogue and English subtitles -- that has occasional bad language and some stereotypical portrayals. It centers on the romance between two former college sweethearts, Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) and Anjali (Kajol), who are reunited by Rahul's young daughter. There is some kissing and flirtation, as well as intimate moments between characters during songs. There is the death of a wife and mother, who reappears as a ghost, although these scenes are not played for scares. In terms of the language, "s--t" is used a number of times. The film is largely set in a college and includes bright fashions and lots of fun, colorful musical numbers, as well as more romantic songs. Brand names are featured quite heavily on clothing and other items, but not directly referenced by characters. Some characters are cliched, such as a ladies' man and a "tomboy," but most are given kind qualities and some complexity as well. Though the running time is almost three hours, the pace still feels energetic and humorous touches help keep the tone light for much of the film. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
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What's the Story?
In KUCH KUCH HOTA HAI, after reading a letter from her late mother, eight-year-old Anjali (Sana Saeed) sets her mind on reuniting her father, Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan), with his college sweetheart. But have their feelings changed after all these years?
Full of energy, humor, and a lot of heart, this 1990s Bollywood drama takes some traditional elements and merges them with a more modern college setting for a sweet, if not wildly original tale. There are stereotypical aspects to some of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai's characters, while some are played entirely for laughs. But there is enough complexity amid the three leads to maintain interest and enjoyment through the nearly three-hour running time.
Musical numbers bring humor into some dances, while others enjoy the soft-focus romantic moments of more classical Bollywood fare, full of breathy suggestion but not too much overt sexuality. There are some genuinely touching moments, particularly between father and daughter, and a likability to most characters -- even those being ridiculed -- that make it hard to ignore the pull of this colorful whirlwind that charts a love triangle through decades.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the nature of love in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. What were the differences/similarities between the different types of love portrayed in the film – such as friendship and romantic love?
Talk about the bad language used in the movie. Did it seem appropriate for a movie like this? What did it contribute to the movie?
The film centers on a love triangle, which is a plot device used in many films. Can you think of other examples from movies? How did this compare?
In what ways is gender referenced in the film? What does it say about traditional gender roles?
If Hindi is not a language you speak, how did you find the subtitles? Were they distracting or did you get used to them quickly? Has it inspired you to seek out other non-English movies?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
