KAREEB 1998
BY
VIDHU VINOD CHOPRA
VVC is a very Indian filmmaker. Indianness just oozes out of
his work. Mission Kashmir, Kareeb, Parinda and 1942 A Love Story are such beautiful
films. Kareeb tells the saga of an innocent bum, Bobby Deol, who while idling
away his time, falls in love with a beautiful girl, Neha. The boy is the son of a rich, miserly father, played superbly by Saurabh Shukla. The girl is the daughter
of a widow, the very elegant and bubbly, Moushami Chatterjee. The film is set in
Raiwalsar (Himachal), and the beauty of the place is captured in its full glory.
Bobby Deol has no idea about acting. But VVC exploits this
naivety well and presents his dumbness as innocence. This works like magic. Bobby
has full sympathy of the audience throughout. Neha looks as soft as petals and has voice thinner than air. What a lovely couple the two of them make! But this
film belongs to Saurabh Shukla. Bloody asshole is outstanding in the mock-comic
role of a stern and miserly father, who comes up with these viciously, hilarious
lines to chide his son. No one else could have pulled this role with such elan.
Johny Lever has overdone his part, as is his wont. I dunno why he tries so hard and can never keep his limbs in check. But thankfully he is not much of an eyesore
here. Kareeb is a very watchable film, a labour of love, overloaded with sweetness
and innocence and although it does get stretched a bit in the second half, yet I
am surprised that it failed to do well at the box office when it got released. I would
watch this film for Saurabh Shukla.
#vidhuvinodchopra #saurabhshukla #bobbydeol #neha #johnylever
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