Jhoom Barabar Jhoom

Plot synopsis:
The film begins with a mysterious Romani people gypsy-like musician (Amitabh Bachchan) leading the crowds at Waterloo station in London in a dance to the title song.
At the station, two strangers, Rikki Thukral (Abhishek Bachchan) and Alvira Khan (Preity Zinta), wait for their respective friends arriving on the same train. Rikki is a fun-loving Punjabi from Bhatinda who lives in Southall, while Alvira is a sexy, elite class Pakistani from Lahore who is more assimilated into British culture. The two share a table in a café together and to kill the time they talk about how they met their partners-to-be.
Rikki says that he met his fiancé, Anaida Raza, at Hôtel Ritz Paris, the same night that Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al-Fayed left the hotel to take their last journey together. Rikki explains "When two lovers die, another two are born", as he fell in love with Anaida that night. Alvira says she met her fiancé, the dashing lawyer Steve Singh, at Madame Tussauds in London when he saved her from death by a falling Superman wax model. The encounter changed her life and she was smitten by the lawyer who also helped her sue Madame Tussauds for substantial damages.
As Rikki and Alvira talk they begin to enjoy each other's company and their different backgrounds cease to matter. They exchange numbers and go to meet their partners. However, it is then revealed that they had not gone to meet their respective partners. Rikki is in fact at the train station to meet his business partner, while Alvira is meeting her relatives. As they leave the station separately, they realise they are in love, but believe their love is unrequited, each of the other.
The two get in touch when Alvira calls Rikki, pretending it was a wrong number. They decide to meet up at a disco where there is a dance competition but both try to maintain that they are engaged. Out of desperation, Rikki hires Laila (Lara Dutta), a prostitute, to pose as Anaida, and Alvira fools and then blackmails Satvinder (Bobby Deol) to pretend to be Steve. The four meet at a club and take part in the dance competition, while throwing insults at each other. Rikki and Laila emerge as the winners but Alvira is jealous and storms out in tears.
Satvinder goes to Rikki's flat and tells him that he has fallen in love with Laila. He also tells him that Alvira is not engaged to him. Rikki, realising what has happened, goes to see Alvira, who is at first moping in bed and later tries to convince her cousin not to marry her. Rikki calls her from a neighbour's window. Then they confront each other and confess that they love each other and start to date while Satvinder and Laila go to Hollywood.
The film ends with the mysterious gypsy musician showing how Rikki and Alvira invented the stories about the non-existent lovers by taking inspiration from Alvira's newspaper and Rikki's comic book.

Tags: romantic

Review:
I saw Jhoom Barabar Jhoom while travelling in Rajasthan, in the Raj Mundir in Jaipur, which is, with some justification, described as the best cinema in Asia (and it certainly beats watching a film in a 'Multiplex' on a screen the size of a large TV in London).As the film ended and the huge audience of all ages rose, making its way into the grand, pretty foyer, I turned to an Indian man in his thirties next to me and asked him in Hindi if he liked it.
Not only this but there is something magical in the air at Waterloo Station, for a wondering busker, Amitabh Bachan, looking like a sixties drop out, is somehow mysteriously involved in the lively plot.The two leads, Bachan's son Abishek, and Preity Zinta, make engaging leads and, alongside the wonderfully outrageous Laura Dutta and Bobby Deol handle the film's sense of fun and comedy vigorously (though perhaps the nods to the famous Bachan/Deol partnership in Sholay goes too far).Another thing about Jhoon Barabar Jhoon is its sure sense of place, something few Indian films set in Britain can claim.
But that's where the fun lies.Abhishek Bachchan and Preity Zinta are introduced in very beginning of the film who from there carry forward a total mindless and fun filled sequence of events.
The crew involved in making the film and star-cast should be punished to watch the movie 10 times and I'm sure they'll also become unconscious.All the stars have been wasted of their potential, no screenplay, poor direction and confusing all the way.
I felt the person who would get the most mileage out of the movie would be the fashion designer/stylist of the movie which had a lot of outlandish costumes none more so than the attire of the Big B in the title song.The first half felt awkward although there were a few funny moments thanks to the Lara and Abhishek.
I felt Lara Dutta and Bobby Deol were the standout performers from the movie as they had the opportunity to portray characters that had different shades to it.
Abhishek took a bit of a risk by playing such a loud character...he does go a bit over the top at times but I still think he is a good actor and he has his moments.
There was not enough chemistry between the lead pair although you could see that they are buddies.The music was excellent although Shaad Ali managed to drag all life out of the catchy title song since it pops up all over the film.
It simply has to be the worst movie of 2007 because it was complete lame about two strangers Abhishek & Preity met in a train station and told each other that they are already engaged, then they told their story when they first met.
Preity wanted to sue the owner of Madame Tussaud's and Bobby was fighting her case but all of a sudden the judge started singing like a squirrel and they started dancing & singing the Kiss of Love song.
The song numbers have been an artistic tradition Hindi films, and what particularly amazes me about all these films is the complete irrelevance of the song numbers to the film's story itself (unless it's a film like Dil To Pagal Hai, where the music is part of the script).I think Jhoom Barabar Jhoom is a brave attempt to make a film with the songs being part of the screenplay.
The fact that a great actress like Preity could even think of appearing in this film makes me want to slap her.
Jhoom Barabar Jhoom is a wonderful, eye-candy treat -- beautifully staged and filmed, full of snappy dialogue, an intriguing round-about plot with unexpected twists and turns, and tongue-in-cheek humor (such as a spoken reference to the London wax museum images of Amitji and Ashji --his real-life father and wife -- by Abhishek).
- Amitabh has a great recurring performance in this film, beautifully and memorably decked out as a composite Willie Nelson/vagabond/gypsy/hippie guitar player in his fringy coat-of-many-colors, complete with jewelry and feathers, entertaining the travelers at the train station while making musical observations on the romantic plot evolving between Abhishek and Preity, in two of their best performances to date.
Lara and Bobby were also great in their supporting roles, playing polar opposite characters from the first to last half of the film.
What if their love stories (flashbacks) took you through events such as Princess Diana's funeral and places like Madame Tussauds wax museum and a mad song and dance sequence at none other than Eiffel Tower!!!!Sounds Over The Top ????Wait that is just the first half !!!!What if.
You thought the first half was Over The Top????Then the second half is 'OVER whatever you can BLOODY IMAGINE'So what do I think about Shaad Ali's third directorial venture !!!!IT BLEW MY MIND AWAY.JHOOM BARABAR JHOOM ROCKS BABY !!!!Because somewhere between the 'Over The Top' phase and 'Over the Bloody Everything' phase I realized that this movie isn't supposed to be taken seriously or logically or practically.
He manages to look like a hot and suave Indo-Brit lawyer and then a silly Punjabi mama's boy with amazing finesse.Director Shaad Ali has a flare for comedy and that comes across effectively in the film.
Yes I am aware the above two statements sound contradictory but you'd understand what I mean when you watch the film.Also, Mr. Shaad does a fine job of extracting some 'real life' moments and making them fit seamlessly into the film which is as close to reality as Taj Mahal is from Eiffel Tower.Performances by Abhishek Bachchan and Lara Dutta ( in whatever little role she has) are brilliant.
Yes I am aware the above two statements sound contradictory but you'd understand what I mean when you watch the film.Also, Mr. Shaad does a fine job of extracting some 'real life' moments and making them fit seamlessly into the film which is as close to reality as Taj Mahal is from Eiffel Tower.Performances by Abhishek Bachchan and Lara Dutta ( in whatever little role she has) are brilliant.
And despite Abhishek's best efforts, you almost end up hating both the main characters, purely because the film has bored you senseless by the time proceedings really begin.
And by this I mean the introduction of the other two main characters (Bobby Deol and Lara Dutta) - this time in person rather than in the imaginary world of AB and PZ.Bobby Deol does a very good job considering that he is offered very little in the way of screen time.
Despite both BD and LD having peripheral parts in the film - they both, in my eyes, walk away with the honours as the most entertaining pair on screen.Amitabh Bachchan is wasted and only appears every time they need to break the monotony of the main characters.
Idiots don't fall in love.) If there is anything in the movie, then it's the lush cinematography, great editing works, that breathtaking 360-degree rotated view of Taj Mahal, the dance sequence in front of the Eiffel Tower, the Superman falling sequence at Madame Taussad, Lara Dutta's French accent + the swearing and everything, and Preity Zinta (her Brit accent does not seem to work out for me.) Abhishek Bachchan needs to seriously think about his selection of roles and Bobby Doel, welcome back.
Bobby Deol shows he has a comedy side to his acting, a great role to cast him in.Overall this is a fun film where you leave your brain at home and enjoy the ride from start to end.
I can't understand that many people don't like the movie ....I think many peole didn't understand it..You can sense the joy that went into the making of Jhoom Barabar Jhoom right from the time the title makes its appearance....Amitabh has a great cameo, Abhishek is different but good too - Preity is always beautiful...in this one i like here better than KANK...Lara and Bobby are great ..I've always like this couple...but I was surprised that i enjoy Bobby's play most...he plays this character with a lightness...and I have really enjoy it when he was on screen...have wait all time that he appears...I can only say go watch it!!!!
Also this movie has one of the greatest song clips that have been filmed in a long time.
Subtle and romantic are two words I'd never use to describe this film.It all begins with a nice song and dance number by Amitabh Bachchan.
Well, I may not be as objective in my judgement as others, as Preity Zinta stars, in this wonderful movie - but the weave of the story was sharp, and I had a great time watching it unfold.
and rest had no scope to perform.The song Jhoom Barabar Jhoom starts getting on your nerves by the time the movie reaches the end.
such a crap film....urghhhhh.still cant believe the whole film was based only on one single song 'jhoom barabar jhoom'...not a single song was good.Don't know what the dance director or dress designer did.prety's make up was good but oh my god ..abhishek looked like a village stage artist ,,bobby did well.Lara was OK..i couldn't understand why did Mr.big B played in such a weird role.very unrealistic and stupid story line.after shathya and bunty aur bubly...i think nobody will expect such a film .there was few fun in the film but it didn't cover the stupidity of the story.
This movie was so entertaining but it's really extremely enjoyable for everyone Superb story-line good screenplay great editing best direction perfect background music Songs are really splendid and entertaining Abhishek was superb Bobby was excellent Lara does well preity is good Amitabh is good in a supporting character Overall my rating is 7/10.
It is funny stylishly photographed and choreographed and Preity Zinta, Bobby Deolm, Lara Dutta and Abhishek Bachchan delivers some of the best acting I've seen from them – as usual you can see on Abhishek Bachchan whether he thinks the script is any good, as he is not a man to give at the door, if he doesn't like the script, it is like he is on holiday, or has gone on strike (just check Bluffmaster or the Dhoom films) but in this film it is obvious he likes what he is doing, he is involved and is obviously having fun.
Jhoom Barabar Jhoom is in point of fact the closest I've seen any Indian film come to Bend It Like Beckham.
From the way Abishek and Preity's characters tell their off-beat love stories to the way the movie climaxes, it is one funny moment after another.
The musical numbers are very stylized and full of humor as well, with Abishek chasing Lara Dutta and his "Ticket to Hollywood" and Bobby and Preity staying away from the "Kiss of Love" which has a very Moulin Rouge feel to it.
I found myself laughing every time Abishek said,"I got class!" And who can forget Bobby's "I hate you!" Jhoom Barabar Jhoom is a zany, off-beat love story with some great visuals and a very creative way of telling the story.
The story was good but what really saves the movie is the wonderful songs, my favourite being the title track.
but...only the first half is a wee bit boring.....good thing the interval comes after 55 minutes when the movie has started!......post interval the romantic song b/w the main protagonist comes......obviously to show the LOVE spark b/w them!
which i did!.....what choreography.......fantabulus........then the movie is suddenly ended.....so no scope of stretching it.......i feel.......yes story could have been improved....but then yash raj banner gives you lot more in return.......preity n abhishek combo....lara looks hot....n has some humorous lines in d movie....n for bobby....hmm he is OK.....amitabh is the new item boy.....lol......songs.....cinematography.....is to watch out for!!.
And that's Jhoom Barabar Jhoom: just enough of a story to carry things along -- Abhishek Bachchan as a confidently badly dressed Punjabi who deals in pirated Hindi dvds from Pakistan, and Preity Zinta as an Anglicized Pakistani girl who manages a high-end store: they meet in Waterloo Station and fall in love (we can tell!!
If you know old Hindi movies you'll have some extra fun, but if you don't you won't miss a thing that matters.) My favorite scenes include Bolnaa Halke Halke, a Bollywood "if I loved you" fantasy which joyfully traffics in all the conventions of the Big Romantic Song, including faraway nature settings, many costume changes (salwar-kameez for Preity, genius-level gaudy long Nehru coats for Abhishek), a tracking camera that circles the couple too many times and too fast, and the Taj Mahal.
JBJ is a classic example for theory that a great ensemble of a big production house, star-kids, a beauty queen, a queen bee and a great musical score does not guarantee a great film.The supporting cast has over shadowed the main leads, Lara was a delight to watch with her street antiques, while Bobby was the cute mama's boy.
One fails to understand why a classy girl like Alvira falls for the piracy-specialist Rikki.This movie has everything in the book for a good film, except a story, which was clearly missing from the big picture.
It was like watching a movie of nicely choreographed music videos, all the songs make you jhoom literally, and cinematography was top notch.
'Jhoom Barabar Jhoom' starts, intervals, the interval of the post interval (that is an interval that takes place when you've finished watching three thirds of the movie) and ends with Amitabh Bachchan's 'item number' (which is the title song itself).
Yash Chopra this banner has given several hits, many nonsense films have worked from their bannerSo here comes JBJ after the success of D:2 and average business of TRRPThe film brought Abhishek Bachchan(riding on the high of GURU that time) The usual Preity Zinta, useless Bobby and the trying hard to make a place for herself Lara DuttaPoor Bobby and Preity felt doing a YRF film will give them a hit hence they signed it But ??????The film became a turkey The film is a boring nonsense film you can sleep instead of watchingThe first half is monotonous, i watched it in the theatre and fell like sleeping, The film goes on and on with the fake stories and the endless bak bak by Abhi and PreitySecond half is better when the true identities are revealed but then except some funny scenes the film is again bad The dance competition though well handled is too long and the climax is crap And what was Amitabh doing in the film?
dancing like a joker Even the characterization of Bobby as a nerd is forgotten in the dance competitionDirection by Shaad Ali is terrible, can't believe the same guy gave us SAATHIYA Music is okayAmongst actors Abhishek looks like a South Indian actor with that long oily hair and the beard and he tries very hard and does well in some scenes but irritates in many scenes Bobby Deol is bad in the first half, in fact you can't hear his lines properly in some scenes In 2nd half he is better but nothing great Lara Dutta emerges the best of the lot, does a great job and that brings us to Preity Preity who is called a sensible actress, can't believe she did such a crap film, she is the most irritating here Amongst rest Amitabh must stop doing his son a favour and monkeying around.
But even those get annoying...seeing Amitabh Bachchan (in a pointless cameo) and company repeat the title song 6 times throughout the movie is enough too drive a person insane.
On the other hand, Lara/Bobby gave credible performances as Abhi and Preity's love interests and lended some life to the film.
I bought this movie because of its cover which looked colorful and the title was nice.What ever this is pathetic.Worst from Yash raj who has given us great movies like Chandni,Lamhe,Darr,Dilwale Dulhania Li Jayenge,Dil To Pagal Hai etc.The story oens when Rikki and Alvida meet they tell the story of how they meet their fiancé.Thats first half.Second half revels that the fiancé tale was false.Now Rikki wants to meet Stevee they find other people Sukhwinder and Lila.Abhisek gives a disastrous performance in an unusual character.Lara is so sexy but she could not save this movie from being the worst movie she gives an annoying performance as Anaida and Terrible performance as Lila.Preity who is talented gives her worst acting to date.Bobby is useless.Piyush is irritating and unfunny.The others are mediocre at best.The cinematography is eye pleasing with beautiful locales of London,Waterloo station and Paris and not to forget hotel Ritz and many more.Song picturisaations of Kiss of Love,Ticket to Hollywood,JbJ(Not the Bachan one) are extremely eye pleasing.Costumes are smashing.Bachan just plays a stupid joker coming 5 times without no reason and singing the mediocre title track.Everything else is bad.Script is Awful,Screenplay is Awful,Songs are forgettable.Direction is usual plain bad.Avoid at all costs(even the soundtrack also avoid it).
Nevertheless, Preity Zinta was really gorgeous, Lara was beautiful, Abhishek and Bobby were eh.The only thing I loved were the songs which make me wanna dance.
This is probably the first Yash Raj Film that didn't live up to all the hype created :( Yet Shankar, Eshaan, and Loy live up to their standard when it comes to GREAT music which really makes you want to Jhoom Barabar Jhoom!!!.
The only saving grace was that of Lara Dutta's real character appearing in the second half of the movie.
Meanwhile, Abhishek meets Preity on the station and they end up describing their love-stories (Lara Dutta and Bobby Deol torment us as a part of this narration).
Because Bobby is a great actor, and Yash Chopra makes good movies.
The story between these tho was too predictable.It was funny that Amitabh Bachchan played in a song in this movie.
Lately they have also been known for promoting some young talented directors."Jhoom Barabar Jhoom" (JBJ) is the third movie coming from Shaad Ali after his previous two-"Saathiya" and "Bunty Or Babli".