THE CHARACTERS BEHIND K3G!
Written: 6th January 2002

Hi, my name is Tony, and this is my first column for radiosargam.com.

What do I write about? Anything.

Do I try to keep the peace? I try to - but I don't want to!

Do I try to offend people? Not people - just so-called 'superstars'.

Do I praise anyone? Of course I do - only those that I like!

Am I any good? That's for you guys to decide.

Let me start my job here by writing down my thoughts and views on K3G. I will not talk about the film, enough has been done on that already, I think its time to write a little on the characters of K3G.

Big names, star attractions, but did they deliver big performances?

Amitabh Bachchan:
Amitabh Bachchan fails to instil reality into his portrayal of Yashorvardhan Raichand, a billionaire who is a regular face on CNN. Although we never get to witness his tête-à-tête with Larry King - it would have been a delightful cliché if we had.

He plays an egotistic, arrogant, self-centred, whopping wealthy chauvinist! Something that he has done previously in 'Ek Rishtaa' and 'Mohabbatein', and will carry on to do so constantly for the probable future.

Amitabh Bachchan was one leading light I would never get exhausted of seeing on screen, I even enjoyed his performances in catastrophes such as 'Kohram' and 'Sooryavansham'. That performer had elegance and panache, something that magnetizes the viewer to watching even the dreariest of his films. But, and this is a big but, his K3G style roles are beginning to tire me. Amrish Puri's and the Anupam Kher's of this world could have done an improved job in this film. He doesn't give it any firepower at all.

His flirtatious scenes, with the prospective daughter-in-law Rani Mukherjee, are filthy, revolting and sordid to watch. He marvels at her good looks and dazzling physique in front of every Tom, Dick and Harry. He even boogie-woogies for her in the "Shava Shava song". During that part of the flick I thought he was about to walk down the aisle with her himself!

He lets his household tear apart because of his son's incorrect preference of wife. But later on, when his wife clarifies that a husband is supposed to be a God, and as he has split up the family - he is no God - he is just a significant other, he brings the family back together. His ideology and ethics go out of the window - and for what? Because he wants to be God, a supernatural being! Is that why he brings the family back together?

The closing scene in which he sobs and weeps; God! Give me a break! The rain on my window has more life on it. I would rather have gazed at that than this hogwash. That final scene belongs to Shah Rukh Khan, not Amitabh Bachchan.

Say "Shava Shava"? Not to Amitabh Bachchan!

Jaya Bachchan:
Plays the respected wife, who worships and admires her principally hyped-up spouse, and recognizes his every wish and command (Understandable!). Who does not have the courage to speak in contradiction to him, even when he is doing something incorrect? Who uses a footstool to reach up to the lengthy husband to assist him with fastening his tie (Funny!).

She adores her adopted offspring and knows exactly when and where he is (Weird!). It's a loving relationship with someone you just share memories with - not blood. And she doesn't have any creditable scenes with the younger sibling - someone she does have a bonding of blood (Amazing!).

Jaya has tried to do well as Nandini Raichand, but disappoints. It would have been better if we had Amitabh's character as a widower. Maybe then we could have digested his inappropriate and unfitting scenes with Rani Mukherjee.

This is the first time we see the real-life husband and wife on-screen since Silsila (nearly 20 years ago). They had chemistry between them then, they don't now! Jaya doesn't produce anything fresh and innovative for her character. It's pretty gloomy and dismal. She has fewer dialogues than Sylvester Stallone in a 'Rambo' film.

Let bygones be bygones - the less said about Jaya - the less time I squander writing this article. She doesn't have a valuable and significant role in the film at all.

Kareena Kapoor:
Bollywood's very own Alicia Silverstone. Good looking, sexy, and blooming gorgeous. Strives to dress in the bare minimum of garments, thus reducing Director Karan Johar's wardrobe budget.

With Kajol's character endeavouring to encourage Indian morals and values in foreign London, it is then a little tricky to work out why she lets her youthful younger sister parade in skimpy outfits, exploiting the kind of things that even English lasses are embarrassed to.

Her humorous scenes with brother-in-law Shah Rukh Khan are a real delight to observe. He shockingly tries to cover up her barely clad body, whereas she fearlessly rebukes to do so, enlightening him to the trend that is 'in'.

The sexual chemistry between her and Hrithik Roshan is luminous and dazzling. Not having substantial screen time together, they sparkle and glitter of each other. The wretchedness of 'Yaadein' will soon become a distant memory.

Kareena has executed the role to precision, her English verbalization is marvellous, and she genuinely looks 'decent' in those clothes. I can't picture another actress in her place.

Hrithik Roshan:
Following 'Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai', our Duggu has constantly been unsuccessful in attaining a hit feature film at the box office, but it looks as if he has that covered with K3G. Now that is not because he is working alongside the most paramount names in the industry, the likes of Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Amitabh Bachchan, but because he has come across as to whom the film belongs to -- partly.

If Kajol was splendid in the first half, then Hrithik is super-splendid in the second half. He comes up leaps and bounds in his demanding and gripping scenes with maestros Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, outperforming them both in their own backyard. This is quite an achievement for a young artiste like him. He deserves a pat on the back. Nobody steals scenes from the masters, but he has. Knockout!

On the negative side, we never get to vision scenes between brother and sister-in-law on their passion and enthusiasm for cricket, scenes that are restricted only between him and Shah Rukh Khan. That is a pity!

One would have assumed that Hrithik's part would be unimportant and insignificant in a film with such a scintillating line up, but that assumption is wide of the mark, Hrithik's character is crucial to the movie. He takes the responsibility with his teeth and leaves a bite-mark that will show for as long as the film is remembered.

Attaboy Hrithik! May you reside in Bollywood for long! .

Shah Rukh Khan:
Aamir Khan performed the role of 'Bhuvan' to perfection in 'Lagaan', Sunny gave credibility to his depiction of Gadar's 'Tara Singh', but Shah Rukh Khan has surpassed both in characterizing Rahul Raichand. His symbolic illustration of the adopted elder son of the Raichand's is flawless and faultless.

All three should be in the running for 'Best Actor' awards at many ceremonies to come, but if Shah Rukh Khan fails to take the gongs, it will be a huge disappointment.

His luxurious introduction in the film made me wonder if we were about to witness the emergence of President George Bush, but even he would not get such a grand entry. This was the spectacular arrival of the star of this film, none other than Mr Bollywood himself. Aeroplanes, helicopters, and top of the range shades, all integrated together effectively to welcome him home.

The character of Rahul Raichand demanded an array of emotions, love, comedy, sadness etc., and Shah Rukh Khan was first-rate on each occasion. Not once did we detect a slack or weakness in the acting. Karan Johar would never have had such expectations, he just wanted that run of the mill SRK doing his bit for the film but he got a little extra, Christmas dinner with all the trimmings.

We had romance and affection with Kajol, jesting and clowning with Kareena, grief and misery with Amitabh, brotherly love with Hrithik, and sorrow and depression with Jaya. This was the multitalented absolute 100% package from the 'Showman of The New Millennium'.

Karan Johar has stated that he would never make a movie without Mr Khan, and I would agree with him on that. When you have Shah Rukh in a big-banner flick, you are certain to get a big-bang performance from him - guaranteed.

Kajol:
Kajol, as you have never seen her before, and quite possibly never will. What a performance, what an outstanding and astonishing performance. I just don't have the verbal skill to illustrate in writing what a thrilling masterpiece demonstration of acting this is.

Kajol looks right at home as Anjali. She played a kind of hippy youngster in the first-half of 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai', and she seems to have completely reversed the car for 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Ghum'. Playing the character to the thread, whom you instantly start to adore, never get weary and exhausted of, someone who illuminates your hearts and minds with beyond belief chatter. She is an authentic genius at the fooling around antics. This is god-given incomparable talent, held in reserve for only the best, and the best is none other than Mrs Devgan - aka our very own attractive, cute, adorable sweetie Kajol.

Playing the simple down to earth girl from 'Chandni Chowk', a nice and wonderful place somewhere in Delhi. She loves Cricket and adores Sachin Tendulkar, marries a rich son of an industrialist, never gets the blessing from father-in-law, moves away from lovable India, hates the westernised and un-Indian values of London, and longs to return back to 'Chandni Chowk'.

This is just inch perfectionism from Kajol. Hard to imagine that this was the same Kajol we saw in filmi-farces such as 'Raju Chacha' and 'Kuch Khatti Kuch Mithee'. Films in which the directors botched up to bring out the run of the mill Kajol, let alone the breathtaking and bizarre Kajol we have observed here. Now should we be praising and applauding Kajol on this out-of-this-world performance, or does that compliment go to director Karan Johar? A bit of both I think, don't you agree?

Could this be Kajol's final film though, we hope not, we want more of this Kajol and we want it soon! There was talk of 'The Spirit Of K3G', what was that? After watching the film I can gladly say, by putting my hand on my heart, that Kajol is 'The Spirit Of K3G'.

Hope you guys liked my first column for this website. I try not to offend anybody or anything - I just write down what is in my heart. Please do send me feedback with your thoughts on this K3G character article. I would like to read what you guys think of me, my style of writing, and what other subjects I should write about. I hope to contribute more for radiosargam.com in the near future. Watch out for my articles!

TONY!