Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani (2009)
I know many of you may be questioning my decision to celebrate an entire week of Katrina Kaif films. While she is one of the most bankable actresses in Bollywood, Katrina has surprisingly few champions among the critics and on the blogosphere. While I fully admit that there are better working actresses in Bombay, I don’t think anybody else brings to the table what Katrina does. Her reel life charisma reminds me a bit of Marilyn Monroe – womanly yet somehow still vulnerable, a combination that I’m sure is responsible for much of her box office appeal for the masses. On top of that, a look at Katrina’s films is also a look at a good cross-section of contemporary Bollywood and, so, even if you don’t find her as charming as I do, I think you might still find something of value in looking over her filmography.
Day #1 can be read here and Day #2 is here and Day #3 is here.
Since it was released in 2009, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani has become one of my go-to films when I need to be cheered up. Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, the film is essentially an old-fashioned screwball comedy with a modern aesthetic. Although Ranbir and Katrina have had their jodi sullied will all sorts of dirty talks from the likes of Deepika Padukone and Sonam Kapoor (jealously, thy name is rival starlet), after numerous re-watchings, the pairing still seems warm and fresh to me here.
The plot is fairly simple. Prem (Ranbir Kapoor) is a happy-go-lucky guy but he has no direction in life, which annoys his father. Prem falls for the sweet Jenny (Katrina Kaif), who seems him as just a friend. Jenny’s awful family tries to marry her off to some douche but Prem helps her run off only… she’s actually in love with some other douche (Upen Patel). And then, well… let’s just say it’s a happy ending. What I love about Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani is just how eager and uncool it is. There is no slow motion strutting or painfully self-consciously “cool” dialogues, instead you get good natured gags and a very sweet romance.
I understand (kind of) why it didn’t really catch on with some folks; Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani is silly but it’s exactly the kind of silly I like. The feel of the film is very old-fashioned, think of Kishore Kumar in Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi or Half Ticket and you get the idea. Broad humor, bright colors, gags you can see coming a mile away but still laugh at, and a lot of heart… that’s Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani. Along with the Prem-Jenny romance, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani has some other nice plot threads. Prem’s relationship with his father develops as Prem goes from a boy to a man. And the addition of douchey rich boy Upen Patel gives us a nice dose of my favorite theme: Money isn’t everything. Plus, since Jenny is a Christian, we get a cameo from my favorite celebrity... Sallu. I mean: Jesus-ji.
And Ranbir Kapoor is a joy to watch. He really is. Compared to him, the other young heroes out there are like specks of dust. It’s no contest. Ranbir just is. The film belongs to Ranbir Kapoor but Katrina holds her own against him. He is manic and she is calm. It works. He’ll mug for the camera and she gives that beatific smile that lets you know she’s in on the joke. They make such a good reel life couple that it will be a shame if Deepika and Sonam’s tattle-taleing stops them from working together again.
Since this is Katrina week, I’ll say that what really impressed me watching this again was that Katrina actually does de-glam very well. I never bought Priyanka as an average girl in Kaminey because she still troweled on the make-up and had that plastic face look but Kat does “average” quite well. It’s a shock when she puts on her “glam” look later in the film and we see just how different she can be. (The film is so good that this feels like the play-acting that it is.)
Prem and Jenny meet cute when he mistakes her for the girl he is supposed to kidnap. (Don't worry, it's all legit.) Poor Jenny is treated horribly by her family... But Prem cheers her up with flowers! And notice how she doesn't have make-up troweled on... we call that being a “regular girl.” Something Anushka Sharma did in Band Baaja Baaraat but Sonam and Deepika and Priyanka have yet to figure out. Possibly, I'm slightly biased since I work in a library, wear glasses, and (at work) a bun. Do you know how much I love that Jenny works in a library? Also, admire that figure! VAH! Christina Hendricks, eat your heart out! Oh, the classic smile-look away-smoulder combination... she does it so well... Let's not forget a cameo from SALLU! Oh you crazy kids! Don't you know you're crazy about each other? Ranbir just putting in a day's work at the Bubble Factory. Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani is far from a serious or ground-breaking film but it has a good-natured appeal to it that I find irresistible. Sometimes, all you need is a laugh, a dash of romance... and a trip to the bubble factory.
(Originally posted December 22, 2010)