Kajol, Kareena tops in superb tear-jerker

Background: The combination of ace filmmaker Karan Johar and his friend, Kajol, has resulted in blockbusters such asKuch Kuch Hota and My Name is Khan early this year.

Johar and Kajol also worked together in the family tear-jerker Khabi Khushi Khabie Gham, which starred Kareena Kapoor. While Johar and Kajol have developed a strong friendship, his bond with Kapoor soured after Khabi Khushi Khabie Gham. The feisty actress turned down Kal Ho Na Ho due to financial reasons.

After they put their differences aside and worked on the flop Kurbaan, Kapoor and Kajol were, undoubtedly, the only choices for the leading roles in We Are Family, inspired by the Hollywood flick Stepmom, which featured Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon. The movie also marks the directorial debut of Siddharth Malhotra, who was confidently supported by Dharma Productions. We Are Family, which ranks as one of the biggest films of the year, also stars Arjun Ramphal, who is having a great run at the box office after being highly appreciated in Houseful and Rajneeti.

STORY:

The movie poses an interesting question - can two women run a house? Well, that's the interesting dilemma that erupts in this powerful drama about the joys and sorrows of marriage and motherhood. The movie opens with a key pointer that Maya (Kajol) and Aman (Ramphal) were once married with three kids, but since their divorce three years ago, they have constantly shared a pleasant relationship. When Aman introduces a young and beautiful fashion designer named Shreya (Kapoor) to his ex-wife and children, all hell breaks loose as their first encounter turns out to be a disaster. However, when Maya learns of a tragedy, she makes difficult decisions that tears her world apart. What was once a happy family is about to undergo their most difficult journey ever.

DIRECTION:

I remember the immense excitement the first promotion of this movie created across the world. I remember raving like a typical Bollywood fanatic counting the days and nights before the released. But one thing is sure - it has not met my expectations, but actually superseded them.

Though inspired by Stepmom, Malhotra has carefully added the respected Indian values and cultures, and does a perfect job by balancing his characters in a riveting script. It's essentially the relationship between the two women that makes this movie hold tremendous appeal, especially for South African audiences. Maya and Shreya have different qualities and circumstances, equally loving and hating each other at the same time. It's a compelling tale with its fair share of cute and adorable light-hearted moments.

PERFORMANCES:

When Malhotra insisted he was not going to make this movie without Kajol, it was the right decision. I may be biased to the actress but her work is nothing short of impeccable. She is outstanding as Maya and gives another superlative performance, displaying so many emotions that cannot be matched by many other actresses. Kajol should be a front contender thus far in the category of Best Actress of the year.

Kapoor is a delight and the perfect choice as Shreya - she is sexy, smart and confident. Kapoor proves she will always rank as one of the greatest in this challenging industry. When these two women come together in the dramatic moments, their chemistry and acting skills are nothing short of world-class. Despite being slightly sidelined, Ramphal holds his owns with a restrained and subdued performance. He scores in the emotional scenes and lets his facial expressions do the talking, and he is superb. The kids are adorable and make the movie more appealing. The casting coup has to be the movie's strongest point. Thankfully, the leading ladies bonded well, while shooting progressed without any cat-fights.

WHAT I LIKED:

Everything from start to finish but some of the most memorable scenes include the party and the introduction of Shreya, the bond between Maya and the kids, the tragedy that occurs and events that follow the family having fun, dinner with the family and a masterful climax which will naturally increase the sale of tissues. The climax has to rank as one of the most clever and heart-breaking ever.

OVERALL:

I remember many years ago having a debate with colleague Varshan Sookhun as we disagreed about two actresses in the industry. While Sookhun was a huge Manisha Koirala fan, I predicted that Kajol would rule the industry for many years. Luckily, my prediction has come true. Take the family along, take the neighbours, take your friends because somewhere in our lives we all have come across a Maya and Shreya - two different women with the same passion and devotion to their family. We Are Family is a tear-jerker that ranks as one the most electrifying movies this year.