Movie Review: Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani (2009) starring Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif
Director/s: Rajkumar Santoshi
Music: Pritam
Star Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Salman Khan
What happens when a director known for his hard-hitting subject orientated films decides to go down the path of a romantic comedy? Well we get to find out the answer to this question if we watch this week’s big release Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani.
With comedy flick’s making exceptional money at the Box Office, a recent example being the Ajay Devgan produced All The Best, it becomes feasible for Rajkumar Santoshi to do the same. After all it’s the returns the film receives that count at the end.
Not content on casting the run-of-the-mill comedy stalwarts, Santoshi brings together two of the industry’s leading eye-candy sensations, Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif. Having never before seen together on screen, the pairing has become the most awaited ‘Jodi’ of 2009. Do they manage to create chemistry? And does Santoshi successfully direct a potential box office winner in this genre? The answer to both questions is a resounding YES!
Do take note of one thing though before you decide to go and watch this on the big screen, the story is not refreshing and certainly not something never seen before. But, the acting by the lead pair and the breathtaking music by Pritam are quite simply astounding.
Ranbir Kapoor plays Prem, a happy-go-lucky chap who likes to see smiles on everyone’s faces. Katrina Kaif is Jenny, the beautiful adopted daughter of foster parents who don’t really give her much time. You see our little Jenny is starving for love and attention and this handsome guy Prem is bursting to give out love. So it makes sense for both to meet and fall in love and be happy ever after, doesn’t it? But as always there have to be twists.
Even though Jenny is unloved she does love ‘someone’ and that someone in this story is Upen Patel. When Prem sees how much Jenny is infatuated with Upen Patel he tries to get the pair married, so that they can live happily ever after. After all Prem likes to see smiles on everyone’s faces even if that means he has to break his own heart.
The rest of the story sees Prem going to great lengths to achieve his task. But, as expected, in the end he wins the girl… or does he?
The film has a handful of great scenes that many will enjoy including one where Bollywood bad-boy Salman Khan makes an unexpected cameo. The one negative aspect of the story is the love between Katrina and Upen’s characters; totally unbelievable and contrived for the story.
Direction wise, Santoshi does show that he can move with the times by making a film that the masses will enjoy and not a select few. After his recent failures many were wandering if he had indeed run his course in Bollywood as a renowned filmmaker. His direction here answers that question.
Pritam has proved once again that when he doesn’t steal music from others he can make quality tunes of his own. APKGK has a soundtrack that will be remembered for many years to come.
Saawariya, Bachna Ae Haseeno and then Wake Up Sid all showed us that Ranbir Kapoor certainly has his family genes for acting. With Shah Rukh Khan now reaching the end of his tenure as King of Bollywood, Ranbir Kapoor will likely take that throne. Other young actors, such as Imran Khan and Shahid Kapur, just don’t have the Factor of X that this boy has; one to watch out for in the years to come.
Many think of Katrina Kaif as just being lucky; she picks films that do well and her acting is very poor. But time and again she proves her critics wrong. After successfully pulling in a hard-hitting performance in New York, in APKGZ she continues to show her versatile powers. If Ranbir is the next Shah Rukh Khan then this baby is the next Kajol; but saying that, Katrina has the potential to exceed far ahead. Keep on going Kat!
Business wise APKGK has all the plus points to create waves at theatres all over the country. This is a film to put on your must-watch list of 2009.
RS RATING: 8/10
Reviewed by Tony
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this is stupid dude!!!u write a review for the movie don get other stars here ok!!!!!look srk is the eternal king of bollywood ok if u want to scrap his name do it when he gives a string of flops like salman!!!!!
hahhaaa ur rite arvind…bt rbr is also best ya..!!
nice chemistry…cute love story…
Katrina has the potential to exceed far ahead. Keep on going Kat!!!!!