Khichdi - The Movie (2010)

TV serials are known for coping [Ahem, I mean taking inspiration from] Bollywood movies and stretching them into never ending sagas and soaps for the small screen but this is the first time [at least, in India] that a TV show is turned into a proper full fledge film. If you are a couch potato who watches everything that comes on the idiot box, you will remember khichdi as the hilarious insane weekly TV show that aired on star plus. Fast forward a few years and the same show has been transformed into a film. Khichdi – the movie takes the idiot box legacy to the silver screen!

Narrated by Jackie and Chucky, two wise kids from the hysterically crazy Parekh family, Khichdi – the movie revolves around Parekh family, which is dumb beyond belief. This family consists of Babuji, Hansa, Praful, Jayshri, Himanshu and the kids. Hansa’s brother Himanshu has an aim to have a memorable and legendary [more like filmy] love story. The fact that he’s not in love with anyone or not capable of attracting a sensible girl is a totally different story altogether. After the death of Hansa’s father whose last wish was to fulfill Himanshu’s aim, the entire Parekh family sets out to find a girl for Himanshu.

For no rhyme or reason, Parminder, Himanshu’s neighbor falls in love with him and the two get engaged without any hurdles. As they are about to get married, Himashu realizes there is nothing legendary in his love story and that’s when this ridiculous story takes an even more ridiculous turn! Thus begins the journey to make Himanshu’s love story a memorable, filmy and legendary one. So from here onwards the laugh riot starts. How, in this uproariously foolish process, they mess things up and how at the outrageous climax Himanshu finally wins his love back, makes up the insane story of Khichdi – the movie.

If you are one of those people who don’t care about the story and logic and want to have a good laugh, Khichdi – The Movie is for you! It’s one of those movies that don’t make sense at all but while watching it you still can’t help laughing throughout. Every dialogue is written in a way that it’s bound to give you a split on the sides. There isn’t even one serious scene in this movie. Even the death scene of Hansa’s father and the funeral have been injected with humor.

Supriya Pathak as Hansa has given a perfect performance in Khichdi, like she did in the serial. Her comic timing and senseless acting is flawless! Rajeev Mehta who played the role of Praful [Hansa's husband] has done equally well. Every scene they have enacted leaves you in a fit of laughter. The rest of the cast has done well and it’s their performance that makes Khichdi – The Movie what it is.

While we appreciate the actors, we cannot neglect the writer of the film. Aatish Kapadia the writer and the director of Khichdi has done a great job. His dialogues have literally breathed life into the various roles. Every dialogue is so funny that one is bound to stop thinking sense and laugh at it. Kudos to Aatish for that!

However this Khichdi does come with its flaws too. To begin with, the love story isn’t convincing at all. Himanshu and Parmindar look at each other and fall in love. That’s not even how love at first sight is. Also, agreed it was a comedy film but they have made fun of literally everything – from death sequences to funerals and even elders. There’s a part where Jayshri says “Babuji ko daal koyen main” and Himanshu picks up Babuji and throws him in the well. It was hilarious to see but since it’s a family movie one could argue as to what they are teaching kids who are also viewing.

Music of Khichdi – The Movie is an extremely weak point. Instead of putting in such a number, they should have cut the element of music altogether. The film would have remained equally good or actually better. Also, post interval the proceedings begin to drag. That’s when it looks like this is a collection of four episodes of Khichdi TV show put together and not an actual film.  The jokes become less funny and it seems like a cold drink that has been left for a while and has lost its fizz. They could have easily chopped off half an hour from the length and retained the charm.

The cameos by Farah Khan, Satish Shah and Deven Bhojani are pleasant surprises [which aren't surprises for you any more, thanks to yours truly]. All in all, Khichdi – The Movie is not targeting to those viewers who wear a thinking cap while watching a film. Watch it if you are a Khichdi fan or want to have a good laugh!  – Hafsah Sarfraz

Rating :- 2.5 out of 5

Cast and Production Credits

Year – 2010, Genre – Comedy, Country – India, Language – Hindi, Producer – Jamnadas Majethia, Director – Aatish Kapadia, Music Director – Raju Singh, Cast - Supriya Pathak, Anang Desai, Rajiv Mehta, Nimisha Vakharia, Girish Shahdev, Kesar Majethia, Markand Soni, Kirti Kulhari , Jamnadas Majethia, Satish Shah, Deven Bhojani

Jugal Hansraj in Masoom (1982)

This story of an illegitimate child is a real weepie, which picks up the theme of forgiveness that runs through so many Hindi movies. It is said to be based on Man, Woman and Child (1982), a film adapted from the book of the same name by Erich Segal of Love Story fame, although, in a seeming reversal of trends, this version by Gulzar seems less melodramatic than the western one.

D. K. Malhotra (Naseeruddin Shah) lives a seemingly idyllic life with his beautiful wife Indu (Shabana Azmi) and their two little girls, Twinkle (the young Urmila Matondkar, who later became a star in Rangeela) and Minni (Aradhana, a true star who, I believe, died soon after the film was made). However, it emerges that he had had an affair with Bhavna (Supriya Pathak), a desperately lonely woman, at his college reunion and a son, Rahul (the young Jugal Hansraj), was born. After Bhavna’s death, D. K. is told about Rahul, who comes to live with D. K.’s family in Delhi. Indu cannot forgive her husband, whom she now rejects, and refuses to accept Rahul. Indu uses harsh words to Rahul but occasionally moves towards him, only to draw away again. The girls welcome Rahul immediately and D. K. and Rahul develop a close relationship, although D. K. cannot bring himself to tell his son that he is his father whom he hopes one day will come to find him. Rahul finds a letter that reveals his parentage and runs away. Indu tries to accept him but cannot until the ultimate moment of the film.

The theme of forgiveness runs throughout. Even Bhavna’s ‘sin’ is forgiven by the narrative, as her affair with D. K. is explained as the action of someone deprived of all affection. The girls and Rahul are shown to be naturally forgiving and accepting of others, and are clearly the model to follow. Both the protagonists are in need of forgiveness: D. K. needs Indu to forgive him for his affair, while she needs to be forgiven for her refusal to let herself love an innocent (masoom) child because of her husband’s actions.

The pain of the two adult protagonists and Rahul is dwelt on at great length. It is occasionally verbalised, but the film uses gesture and performance, as well as song, to convey the emotions of the characters. The skill of the film-maker is to make us understand Indu’s treatment of Rahul, even while we sympathise with him. There is only one solution, namely the reunion of all the family, but the route to this is shown to be realistically difficult.

Masoom reveals a great upper-middle-class sensibility in its characters, their occupations and lifestyle. The women’s saris have an almost nostalgic value for a certain kind of elegance associated with the Delhi elite. The music is the light classical type, with haunting melodies by R. D. Burman and lyrics by Gulzar, including ‘Tujhse naaraz nahin zindagi’ (Lata Mangeshkar).

Naseeruddin Shah, one of India’s major acting talents, delivers an outstanding performance as the errant husband and devoted father, as does Shabana Azmi, who manages to portray her deep ambivalence to the child. Saeed Jaffrey, as always, provides strong support and the children are excellent.

Shekhar Kapur has made few Hindi films but all of them have been significant, including Mr India and Bandit Queen.

Cast and Production Credits

Year – 1982, Genre – Drama, Country – India, Language – Hindi, Producer – Chanda Dutt, Devi Dutt, Director – Shekhar Kapur, Music Director – R. D. Burman, Cast - Naseeruddin Shah, Saeed Jaffrey, Shabana Azmi, Supriya Pathak, Urmila Matondkar, Tanuja, Jugal Hansraj