Woo-hoo! Friday WatchAlong!!! Grandpa’s family funeral weekend, and yet I am maintaining normalcy! Also, I’m pumped to watch this movie with y’all.
Gonna let Grandpa introduce it with his review (he asked for Indian movies to watch so he could understand my interests):
Jab Tak Hai Jaan Obviously a Bollywood production. Well done and a good love story mixed with some moderate action. The hero by working hard goes from part time jobs to owning and operating a successful restaurant. His love interest who is engaged to another takes a church vow of separation if his life will be saved after an accident. He goes off to Afghanistan and a dangerous position in the army. There another girl is involved. It is a good story and the scenes as filmed were interesting and sometimes spectacular. The two ladies were good actors and surprising to me very good dancers. As is usual in these films all of a sudden there are a whole bunch of people doing a elaborate dance routine. It was two minutes short of three hours and I view it all in one sitting.
Let’s see if we can be as good as Grandpa and view it all in one sitting! At 3pm Chicago time, I will put up an “and PLAY” comment on this post and we will all comment along together from there. Yaaaaaay!
dontcallitbollywood 
I do not like Kat’s sexy outfit.
LikeLike
I like it only in that it works perfectly as a dance outfit for her. Makes no sense as an actual costume for her character.
LikeLike
Where are you in the movie? I am at 36 and the song hasn’t started yet.
LikeLike
Hasn’t started for me either, I just know it is coming
LikeLike
Is this a callback to ‘Raj. naam toh suna hi hoga’??
LikeLike
Or, “Raj, we met at Bobby ki party”
LikeLike
Oh no I think it’s ‘Rahul’??? My bad
LikeLike
Okay the line where SRK tells Kat she doesn’t look Indian, and she tells him he does was pretty sweet.
LikeLike
And they have GREAT friend chemistry in this scene. I could totally by them as best friends who fall in love 2 years later, but I just never buy them as passionte love at first sight types.
LikeLike
I hate this mutual negging thing they have going on! But it’s such a sample of Bollywood that I’m not really going to think too much about it 🙂
LikeLike
*staple
LikeLike
At least it’s mutual! Not just him teaching her how to be “proper”.
LikeLike
Is it Bollywood or a classic staple of romances? Like the kids on the playground teasing the ones they like. Cross-cultural childish love.
LikeLike
Oh yes, this is definitely life the London backstreet raves, ahem
LikeLiked by 1 person
I mean, I worked minimum wage service jobs at the time this movie was filmed. WE didn’t get off work and go to all night raves, we got off work and went home and went to sleep.
LikeLike
YOU didn’t live in London!
LikeLike
Ah, that must be it
LikeLike
Oooh I like her hat!
LikeLike
Yash definitely trying to recreate DTPH here
LikeLike
They actually have a tabla at the rave… Love this xD
LikeLike
Of course! What kind of rave would it be without a tabla?
LikeLike
Not a desi enough one for these people, clearly!
LikeLike
I’m I the only one thinking “Shahrukh! Your knees! Your back! Your shoulder!”?
LikeLiked by 2 people
The songs in this movie are all bangers so far!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wait, was that a shirtless dude in parachute pants and a leather jacket behind SRK?
LikeLike
I think I saw him too!
LikeLike
SUCH A WEIRD LOOK!!! How does that even make sense?
LikeLike
So in the outdoor dance number – the dancers are wearing what they wore to the club, and some of them appeared to have worn underwear, and not much else.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Because they are the Youth of London. Also, in the making of, it was one of those “it’s actually 40 degrees out and we are dying” shoots. Everyone rushed into coats as soon as there was a cut.
LikeLiked by 2 people
And now snow. The Youth of London know how to prty!
LikeLike
Good backup dancers here for people probably not used to doing this kind of choreography
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, you can definitely tell the movies where they screened for actual trained dancers for the overseas shoots, versus just taking whoever showed up.
LikeLike
My favourite thing about Bollywood songs is that they exist in a fluid state between fully fantasy and fully real most of the times – helps us get immersed in the wacky plot shenanigans!
LikeLiked by 2 people
And pretend they aren’t FREEZING in the snow
LikeLike
That’s the real acting here!
LikeLike
I love them for that reason too, half-magic, half-real, but fully sincere in their effort (most of the time). Also, the songs are bangers! I love musicals so these films are so perfect for me. 😀
LikeLike
So to watch this I had a friend pick up the 1st grader, though I will have to leave to get the fourth & seventh graders later. But the first grader’s teacher forgot it was early dismissal and released the kids 20 minutes after the bell. So my kind friend will probably never be kind again after having to wait around for 20 minutes! But I’ve enjoyed the movie I’ve gotten to see!
LikeLike
So glad!
LikeLike
Kat is SO CUTE!!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Kat is like ‘ahaha wait who was talking about love’ *nervous laugh*
LikeLiked by 1 person
Shahrukh does this monologue sooooooooooooo well, and Adi wrote it for him perfectly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that he asks for her permission!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The train kiss scene is intense! BUt he must be standing on a stool to kiss her, or I guess they had her bend her knees.
LikeLike
I think it’s the stool honestly
LikeLiked by 1 person
THIS IS MY CONCERN ABOUT HER MARRYING VICKY! WE don’t need that in the wedding photos.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought Vicky was taller than SRK. He’s not?
LikeLike
I’m not sure! I’ve never cared enough to investigate until now. I just know Kat is really tall.
LikeLike
I have NEVER seen the London underground look this clean. Especially late at night. Where are all the people its safer not to catch the eye of? Frightened away by True Romance probably
LikeLiked by 1 person
UGH I am in the minority but I hate this train kiss so much! It is awkward. And weird.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like that SRK’s tux looks rented.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that his apartment looks cleaner now.. small signs that he’s also doing ok for himself??
LikeLike
I love this song so much because it’s such clever lyrics! Heer is from Heer-Ranjha and died sadly before her true love could save her. Sahiban is from Mirzya and her lover rescued her from her wedding. So the lyrics are “don’t call me Heer, I want to be Sahiban and have a Mirzya save me”.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooooh! Love the symbolism 🙂
LikeLike
But also, Sahiban eventually ends up unintentially causing Mirzya downfall/death, which also seems very symbolic here.
LikeLike
Maybe Kat’s fear? that their “forbidden” relationship is toxic to those around them?
LikeLike
This movie would work so much better if they cast actual young actors! If it was a really baby faced Kat making these silly decisions and being afraid of the future and stuff, I would have sympathy. But instead Kat just projects maturity and I feel like she should know better.
LikeLike
She just seems cold?? and emotionless
LikeLiked by 1 person
YES! I think it supposed to be something like “shock at the first time her protected young worldview is challenged”, but it just comes off odd. Like, Kajol in KKHH worked because she actual felt young when she was making stupid decisions and being all shocked and stuff.
LikeLiked by 1 person
… Just make the promise by yourself, why are you involving SRK in this?? He clearly wants to be more than friends?? Uuuugh this is Not going to be good?
LikeLike
This would again be better if she could come across as more young and immature, maybe??
LikeLike
Definitely. Like, “I have never had to do anything hard before and I need help”
LikeLike
Is she bargaining with God again? Cos that always works out so well
LikeLiked by 3 people
And is TOTALLY how God works!
LikeLike
Totally!
LikeLike
That, and spending most of his time focusing on who will win a sports game.
LikeLike
I agree the age thing is a real disconnect
LikeLike
Wait.. her mom wrote to her… so she wants to follow her heart now??? how what why
LikeLike
Oh ok.. she’s visiting her mom?? Cool
LikeLike
Yes what, what, what?
LikeLike
This is such a retirement dream tbh a vineyard somewhere nice and pleasant
LikeLiked by 1 person
YES!!! I don’t know if I want the hassle of owning a vinyard, but I would love to live on one when I retire. We have family friends that do that now and it is amazing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My dream is to move to either Soutern France or North Italy for the weather, the Alps, the sea or lakes close by. Someday!
LikeLiked by 1 person
YES!!! I want to live there for a few months at a time and then go live somewhere else. My in-laws do that now. They have and apartment in the U.S. but then go live in Europe for 3-4 months at a time. They were in Switzerland in 2019 and will be going to live in London in 2022.
At some point, my husband and I want to do a wine trip through France and Italy. We both love wine and can’t wait to do it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your in-laws are smart. Nice to spend a long vacation somewhere else when you have the time and money. Just enjoyable to live somewhere else entirely.
Yay! I love French and Italian wine (the young sort, too old and sour and it just tastes bad to me). That’s a brilliant idea!!
LikeLike
Oh, Rishi and Neetu are so wonderful here
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love them here!
LikeLike
Neetu and Rishi are so cute together! And this was when Kat was dating/engaged to Ranbir, so it’s like they were welcoming her into the family. Well, at least on film.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Aww!
LikeLike
And I now see – she’s the Indian mom, who actually looks more Indian than the Indian actor who plays the dad.
LikeLike
Wait didn’t they get divorced?? Also doesn’t the other parents have rights in a divorce?? This is so stupid
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Punjabi song thing was so clever!
LikeLike
No, she was BAD, so she didn’t get to see her daughter ever again. I guess?
LikeLike
Exactly. It is unclear whether she just chose to run away with Rishi and abandon her child or whether this was forced by Anupam. The way it is presented, Neetu just ran away.
LikeLike
Maybe it’s that in Neetu’s own mind, once she left with Rishi, she didn’t have the “right” to be with her daughter? Because the women in this family have some insane concept of bargaining with fate?
LikeLike
They are all so weird!
LikeLike
So my friend dropped off the 1st grader and she looked at the computer screen and said “Oh it’s that short guy again” – I should note this friend is 5ft 1inches tall. Poor SRK.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh that is harsh! Still, for a short guy, he gets by somehow 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Also, I think Kat’s head is bigger than his? He is a tiny tiny little man.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hold on did she just.. completely change her mind about her mom… what just happened?
LikeLike
Yes! One conversation that makes her go “oh right, you were 19 and in an arranged marriage, maybe it makes sense that you weren’t happy?”
LikeLike
Like… not even conflicting feelings… how could you have left me… nothing??
LikeLike
And then we never see or hear about her mother again!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of course Neetu made a mistake. She still left her child! (Unless Anupam made her or something like that).
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think.. she did want to keep contact with Kat?? At least that’s what I thought from her letter?
LikeLike
They are a sweet couple, but I have no idea how anyone could love Rishi.
LikeLike
Movie Rishi is fine, IRL is not
LikeLike
Can’t wait for the tossed coffee cup!
LikeLike
Look at him respecting her clearly stated wishes from earlier! Making sure she really changed her mind!
LikeLiked by 2 people
As great as the song ‘Saans’ is, this just doesn’t work and looks more awkward than romantic
LikeLiked by 2 people
Srk just looks awkward/bored throughout. That was the most sexless phonebox moment EVA
LikeLike
The background music goes ‘danger!’ to me!
LikeLike
I’m cool with the love scenes, but the aerobic running in a prom dress is kinda weird.
LikeLike
Ooooh I love this song! Again, I did NOT know it was from this movie!
LikeLike
A telephone booth has got to be the most awkward place to make out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just don’t get how this was developed as a “never-ending love”!!! It reads so much more logically as “youthful passion that burns out in age”. Although I guess if the contrast is with the proper 21 year old arranged marriage that is totally passionateless, it could work?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have seen people make out on train platforms, in movie theaters, and in libraries, airport lounges, etc. etc. But never on public transit. Public transit is GROSS.
LikeLike
The kissing and the sexy scenes in this movie make me soo uncomfortable!!! And I never ever feel that way in other movies.
LikeLiked by 3 people
It just feels cold and unemotional to me. There isn’t any chemistry here!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s like they are just going through the mechanics of it and trying to force it or something.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Normally, I would be hooting and hollering for these scenes. Here, I just want to look away!
LikeLike
YES! I thought it was SRK, but it makes total sense in JHMS. So it’s just SRK in this particular movie.
LikeLike
Yes. It is somehow both of them in this movie. I just feel embarrassed and awkward and want to look away! It weirdly makes me anxious in this movie.
LikeLike
And yet, Kat with Salman in the Tiger films, and SRK with Anushka in JHMS, totally works.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yupp.
LikeLike
Have not clocked any sexiness at so far…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wait until we get back to Old SRK!!! Old is Gold.
LikeLike
They both seem kind of awkward the whole time!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve thought about this way too much, but I’m gonna say this loft is a space Kat’s father is developing and it is currently empty so they can use it for their trysts. Because right now Kat is supposed to be living in the house with her Dad.
LikeLike