A Extraordinary Movie Disguised as Something Ordinary

Rating: 10/10 (14 December 2008)

Let me just qualify my review by saying the following: I am a Shahrukh Khan Fan. I did not like KANK and Om Shanti Om. I loved Swades, Don, and Chak De! India.
Now, for the review. I know most reviews have talked about the story, the cast, the director, etc., and you've probably gotten tired of reading and hearing about it, so I'm going to cut directly to the chase.
The movie is simple, sweet, and safe. It has a charm. It's the same charm which was last seen in Kal Ho Naa Ho, and before that K3G, Mohabattein, KKHH, Dil To Pagal Hai, and DDLJ (the Chopra/Johar/SRK classics). You feel the same emotions you did while watching those: you laugh, you cry, and most of all, you enjoy. You hear the same kind of emotional background music, the same kind of dialogs, and you see the same kind of picturized scenes. And that's what makes it so good -- that feeling you experienced 15 years earlier is back. So if you didn't like any of those I mention above, forget liking RNBDJ. If you loved them, you'll like RNBDJ if you ignore and close your mind to the biased reviews.
Shahrukh Khan is as good as he can get, and I don't know what to say apart from that. His performance is on par with that of all his other classics, and far far better than his non-classics such as Om Shanti Om and KANK. Surindhar Sani is just plain believable -- he is me, or the guy next door. Anoushka Sharma is brilliantly cast. Apart from being a great debut for her, she really fits the role of Taani. If Taani was played by an established actress such as Kajol or Rani or Preity, I don't think it would've worked as well. She's the simple Delhi/Punjabi girl, and complements Shahrukh's performance as the simple Delhi/Punjabi guy. Their pair just works. The other great (and only other?) performance is Vinay Pathak, who really shines just like the two main leads.
The story is fulfilling to say the least. Sure, it has its gaps and some might argue how believable it really is, to which I can't help by responding: IT'S A MOVIE. Have you seen DDLJ lately? Or KKHH? Or any movie which is considered a classic? They all have ridiculously unrealistic plot lines! If you don't believe me, get out that old VCD and give it a watch. No, I don't think the Rahul from KKHH would have had an affair with his college girlfriend after his wife's death, or the Raj Aryan of Mohabattein after-death sightings of Aishwarya Rai. If the "unrealistic plot" is the only reason you're not going to like this movie, I think it's fair to conclude that you don't like Bollywood movies, or even movies as whole. (I have to wonder about these people, how do they manage watching any sci-fi movie in the world?)
Now for the music, I'll willingly admit: I wasn't a fan the first time I heard it. In fact, I was sorely disappointed. Apart from Haule Haule, none of the tracks appealed to me, and 'Dance Pe Chance' just seemed old and lame. But over the last couple of weeks, they've really grown on me, and after watching the movie, I'll go as far as saying that I've become a fan. 'Tujh Me Rab Dikhta Hai' is a masterpiece. 'Phir Milenge Chalte Chalte' is well-pictured (except for Preity Zinta's appearance. What went wrong there?!). 'Haule Haule' is excellent. 'Dance Pe Chance' fits well with the plot and Raj's character. Sure, it's no DDLJ or KKHH in this matter, but it's damn good and fitting.
In all, if you've watched it and liked the movie, I think you'll agree with me, and if you haven't watched it yet, I hope you'll agree once you see it: RNBDJ is an otherwise-classic overshadowed by the recent events in Mumbai and (rumors say) Yash Raj's unwillingness to pay "top critics" for a 5-star review, which is why people like Taran Adarsh and Rajeev Masand, who have been known to 5-star 'classics' such as Karzzz and Om Shanti Om, and 1-star (real) classics such as Swades, Don, and Chak De!, have given an otherwise-extraordinary movie an ordinary rating. If there is one thing you can take away from this review, it's this: DON'T BELIEVE THEM. Watch it with your family or loved one. Once again be overwhelmed the nostalgia of the other Chopra/SRK flicks. Laugh. Cry. Have fun. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, DON'T MISS THE END CREDITS!!!!!