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November 4th 2013
Humanities 1100
International Film Critique
1) Title of Film: Kal Ho Naa Ho which means There May or May Not Be a Tomorrow, in
English.
2) Year of release: 2003
3) Language of Original Film: Hindi (with some mixed English)
4) Director: Umesh Shukia
5) Actors: Jaya Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Preity Zinta
6) Give a brief plot summary {150-250 words. DO NOT plagiarize from the web!]:
Set in Manhattan, the film starts off with Naina Kapur (Preity Zinta) narrating the story of
her life over her daily morning jog, and I quickly found out that this movie was a large
musical production, the choreographing and songs immediately captured me. Here she
introduces her mom Jennifer (Jaya Bachchan) who shares a love-hate relationship with her
mother-in-law Sushma, who comes across as overly critical of the way the mother
(Jennifer) does anything really, from her Catholic religion to her decision to adopt her
youngest daughter Gia. Jenifer the mom runs a diner with her best friend. We learn early on
that Naina`s father committed suicide, which left an enormous weight on the family,
emotionally and financially. Naina seems to have taken a lot of the family burdens upon
herself, looking after her little sister and brother and helping her mom deal with the
family's financial troubles. Between her family and the college load, she has no time for
parties or fun. Although it starts off very light hearted and fun you can see the struggles the
family has and how they are trying, but barley managing to hold it all together. Naina best
friend is buddy Rohit Patel (Saif Ali Khan). Their relationship in the beginning has almost a
brother sister dynamic. The days which are normally busy and tense, immediately perk up
as soon as Aman moves onto the same street and instantly magnates towards Naina, who is
irritated more than anything by Aman`s giddy vibe. Aman is almost a Godsend to this
family. He lifts the mood or relaxes tense conversations, he comforts them all in their
moments of despair, but most impressively his energy helps Naina to loosen up and have
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some fun. Just when you think life is just a big song and dance, there is a devastating twist
(I haven’t cried this much for a movie before) when you find out that Aman is dying! He has
grown real feeling for Naina, but has been trying to make Naina and Rohit realize that they
are perfect for each other. Although Naina loves Aman she knows he is sick and doesn’t
have long to go, she marries Rohit while Aman is still strong enough to attend, and he
seems happy knowing that she will be in good hands with Rohit. When Aman does pass
away. It is extremely emotional! But also very humorous. I think it might be the best
Bollywood movie I have ever seen.
7) Analyze the social and philosophical issues the film addresses. Make sure you include the
point of view of the movie, the context of the movie, what audience the movie is targeting, and
why. (i.e. you should address and reflect upon the “argument” or “meaning” of the work. This
should be an analysis, not just summary of issues in the movie). {At least 500 words}
There are so many underlying issues that this movie addresses; family, love, death, suicide,
religion, shame, marriage, and the list goes on. There is also the more obvious theme
running through it of Love and openness, giving and forgiving.
For example Jennifer, Naina's mom is an amazingly strong woman. She has put up with her
mother in laws harsh words and criticism for years, as the mother-in-law resents Jenifer
and her youngest daughter (Gia) who she believes to be adopted and the source of stress
that claimed her son’s life. But when Aman reveals the truth and everything is explained,
she finds out that her son previously had an affair and the result was Gia. She can’t believe
that Jenifer had the strength and courage to do what she did and adopt the child as her own
and forgive her husband, the mother-in-law`s attitude turns right around ,and she even
goes to church with Jenifer and asks them both (Jenifer and Gia) to forgive her.
There is also an element of sacrifice throughout the movie. This is most apparent when we
realize that Aman dying and rather than spend his last days with Naina (who is also in love
with Aman) he brings her together with Rohit. Coaching Rohit in romance and opening
Naina`s eyes to the potential in Rohit. Aman’s sacrifice is selfless and he even attends their
wedding. He knows that Naina can share her life with Rohit which is something that he
cannot give her, so in the interest of their happiness he sacrifices his own feelings and
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happiness for theirs. There is also the sacrifices that Jenifer (Nainas mom) has made. She
sacrificed her own comfort and put her feelings aside when she took in baby Gia to raise as
her own, and when she kept her husband’s affair a secret from her mother-in-law, even
though the mother-in-law took out her feelings of resentment on Jenifer. However I think
the main philosophical issue this movie addresses is only obvious towards the end, when
you find out Aman is dying. I think the director placed a lot of responsibility with Amans
character. As it is his character that is projecting the main message, which is, to enjoy life,
sing and dance, let loose and love, for harboring grudges, isolating yourself or having a
sinister outlook isn’t really living and will definitely not make your life or situation better.
This was how Naina and her family were living prior to Aman moving into the same street.
They were troubled, financially and emotionally with their father’s suicide, which amplified
and created a lot of other unnecessary conflicts. When Aman came into the scene, he
instantly lifted the mood of everyone and made them smile again. His cheerfulness,
helpfulness and his spontaneity rubbed off on everyone and they began enjoying life, and
seeing hope for their future.
Learning that Naina`s father had not just died but committed suicide really shone a
spotlight on how a tragedy like that absolutely devastates a family, and how long it can take
them to recover (if they recover).
8) What is your response to the message of the film? Why do you respond this way? Show that
you are thinking about your own thinking here and the biases/assumptions about the world you
bring to your viewing. Did the film change the way you view the subject? Why, or why not? {at
least 250 words}
The movie's main message encourages you to experience and enjoy even the smallest
moments of your life, to live every single moment of life to its fullest as there may or may
not be a tomorrow (which is the English meaning of the Hindi title). Naina is a young
woman who misses her father very much and allows it to prevent her from living life. Until
Aman shows up and gets past all her prickles and pins and teaches her how to smile, laugh,
live, and love.
I think this is a great message and I personally responded positively to this message.
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Cherishing life and enjoying the moments you have isn’t a new revelation, but as we deal
with life’s challenges and obstacles we often forget and loose enthusiasm for life’s ‘real’
moments and situations. It is nice if not necessary to be reminded of how fragile life is. It
shows you that "Life happens between the plans you make. If you are only waiting for this
big, big plan, you miss out on the smaller things, which you should be enjoying.
9) What cultural differences did you notice in the film (philosophical outlook, humor,
architecture, customs, clothes, cities, weather, food, music, dancing, lifestyles, etc.)? What did
you learn about history, economics or politics? (There are always differences; look for them). {at
least 250 words}
The cultural differences were very apparent. Even though the back drop is set in New York,
the movies overall roots were very Indian. The dance routines, songs and the color were
definitely not you’re your typical western pallet. I loved the traditional Indian dances, and I
loved that they also incorporated some western dance moves using hip hop clothes to a
couple of the numbers. It was a visual feast. Most of dances are very catchy, with eye
popping backdrops and costumes and of course with bright bold colors, and the
choreography was very creative.
I liked the humor of the movie is was slightly sarcastic, and sometimes is was slightly
slapstick, although they were in the states everything about it screamed Bollywood, I loved
it. The underlying religious tension between Jenifer the mom and the mother-in-law was
also something culturally different as the mother in law was Punjabi and Jenifer and her
children were Catholic, although this is probably something that is apparent in todays
western society there aren’t really a lot of movies who embrace it. The mother in law had a
very entertaining set of friends who would meet to play and sing their traditional Indian
instruments and songs (which had most of the neighborhood closing their windows). The
wedding between Naina and Rohit was also a glimpse into an Indian wedding (a wealthy
Indian wedding). The dances and the costumes were magnificent, it was a very traditional
Indian wedding. Aside from the flashy visuals there was a couple of underlying issues that
were culturally different. When Naina and her family are introduced in the opening scene
you also find out that they are all slightly disappointed in her for not being married, despite
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being in her twenties and despite the fact she is in university furthering her education. The
importance of marriage is also apparent when Aman doesn’t just set Rohit and Naina up
with the intentions they seriously date each other, he secures that Rohit proposes to her, as
the family eagerly waits in anticipation for the outcome.
10) What techniques did the filmmaker use that were different from what you see in the films
you normally watch? Think about lighting, dialogue, atmosphere, setting, music, and how the
filmmaker might play upon your own biases, etc.{150 words}
The film maker, Umesh Shukia knew how to play on the audience’s emotions, not just once
or twice, he had me (the audience) very emotionally invested in the story and the
characters, I think this is the main this difference to the movies I normally watch. I know
Bollywood movies thrive on their audience riding an emotional rollercoaster and typically
evoke most human emotions in just one sitting; but this movie went above and beyond,
even compared to the other Bollywood movies I have seen. The first half had me laughing
and feeling very pleasant about everything. The second half however, changed the laughter
to tears, then back to laughter, then to tears again. The journey that the movie took you on
was unique in itself, but to add the complex characters, with each of their own complicated
situations was far different from anything I usually watch. The director was able to lay the
foundations for some very serious and depressing issues while also being able to inject the
right amount of comedy at the right time, which is something I don’t think a lot of western
movies accomplish. Most movies are very 2d in comparison, as they only focus on
highlighting and developing one or two major story lines and lead characters.
11) Discuss how what you saw in the film relates to one of the assigned readings or class
discussions we have had. Be specific! {150 words}
One of the movies main themes was romance, although it did not fall neatly into one
category it did remind me of one of the scenes from the French movie we watched, Paris Je
Tiam. The story where the man who says he no longer loves his wife and is about to leave
her, finds out she is dying and stays by her side to later realize that by acting like a man in
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love he became a man in love. This reminds me of Naina as she was madly in love with
Aman. Although she didn’t know at the time of her engagement or wedding of the real
reason why they couldn’t be together, she acted like a woman in love towards the man she
liked. At the end there is a flash forward twenty years later; Naina is telling her daughter
the story of Aman, who she calls her first great love and how he taught her many thing, one
of them being to love Rohit (the child’s father), she then says that she was lucky to find a
husband in her best friend. This reminded me of the French man who became a man in love
by acting like one because she also acted like a woman in love and she became a woman in
love.
12) Why do you think I assigned an international film?
I think we were given this assignment so it would force us out of our comfort zones and
force us to watch something from a different culture in a different language and see how
other countries and cultures make movies. So we could appreciate the differences, but also
recognize the similarities in the themes that surpass the mere country of production as
they are all usually based on human emotions and circumstance which is a universal
subject.
Review Page
I choose this assignment for my E-Portfolio as It was one of my favorites. I felt as if I
achieved most of the learning outcomes written on the syllabus, like the ability to read and
review and interpret the story well. I think I demonstrated the ability to think
independently, analytically, critically and creatively about the movie. I also think I was able
to demonstrate the arguments and conflicts of the characters as well as to evaluate the
geographical effects and economic, political and religious ramifications. I also think I was
able to relate culturally to the movie and their situation.
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