/> DVD Review: Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma, Vinay Pathak
Director: Aditya Chopra
Producer: Yash Chopra and Aditya Chopra
Music: Salim-Sulaiman
Lyrics: Jaideep Sahni

THE FILM

If at all one has to hail a superb climax for a film, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi would be the forerunner by a long distance. In fact, it's the very climax of the film which makes it such an endearing watch that one is tempted to watch it all over again.

The point where Anushka starts realizing that Raj and Suri are the same person, the film's graph reaches a high point. While Suri is dancing in the way Raj was doing in all the rehearsals, the expressions on Anushka's face have to be seen to be believed as she looks all perplexed and bewildered while her body is dancing mechanically to the tune of 'Dancing Jodi'.

This is the point where Aditya Chopra demonstrates a great hold of the proceedings as the sense of surprise and guilt is mixed well with some excellent support from the music and choreography departments.

So why has the climax been described at the very beginning of this review? The reason is simple. Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi could never have been the film that it eventually turned out to be if not for it's brilliant climax.

This is one heartwarming sequence that forces you to go back and revisit this dramatic romantic tale which indeed was different. No wonder, the film turned out to be one of the biggest blockbusters of Shah Rukh's career when released late last year.

Of course, an excellent climax by no means undermines a very good start that the film's narrative takes.

Right from the moment Shah Rukh and Anushka get married out of the blue to the time Anushka declares that she could never love Shah Rukh to the time Shah Rukh starts making adjustments in his life - it is one emotional journey that results in moist eyes for majority of viewers.

In fact your heart goes out to the man as he starts falling in love with the girl 'haule haule'.

Raj is a clear alter ago of Suri as he does everything that Suri could never imagine doing. He breaks rules, flirts around, is all goofy - and all of this is to gain access to the love which he couldn't find in his own house from his own wife.

Presentation of this dilemma could have been shown in multiple ways. Either it may have turned out to be an out and out comedy with a Golmaal kind of a narrative or it could have gone an intellectual way with the metaphor being on your face or it could have become an out and out art house cinema.

However, Aditya Chopra applies a different route altogether and comes up with a dramatic love story that has quite a few heartwarming moments interspersed into the narrative.

Of course, cinematic liberties are quite a few, but then all of that is attributed to 'rab' since it is conveniently declared that it is HE who decides what should happen and what shouldn't!

The movie does fizzle a little towards the pre-climax because by that time the audience starts craving for some action on screen but there is none of that that takes place.

The Sumo wrestling sequence is truly forced and leads to yawns instead of smiles. But as said earlier, it's the entire segment of the film towards the very end that brings back spark into the proceedings. And the spark is such that it just fires up the screen and illuminates it strongly enough to leave a lasting impression.

PACKAGING

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi wins brownie points for an excellent plastic casing that it comes in. While the trademark Suri/Raj twin effect is available yet again on the inlay card, the overall presentation of the DVD lends it an exclusive touch.

DURATION

The film's duration is 164 minutes

SPECIAL FEATURES

The film comes with the bonus features that include:

- The Making of the Film
- The Making of the Songs ('Haule Haule', 'Dance Pe Chance', 'Phir Milenge Chalte Chalte')
- Deleted Scenes
- SRK Unplugged
- SRK and Anushka in conversation

For a major part of the audience, it's a pleasure to hear Shah Rukh talk about films, whether they are his own or of others. In the DVD of Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, one gets to hear Shah Rukh talk about the film for more than an hour which is quite some bonus, especially for those who loved the film.

He talks, and talks and continues to talk and what makes it special is the animated tone that he applies while explaining his character, the mannerisms, the reasons behind signing the film, the bond that he shares with Aditya Chopra, the rapport he shared with Anushka and most interestingly, the real life characters on whom he based Suri and Raj!

With quite a lot to offer to the viewers, the DVD takes them behind the scenes with ample footage of what really happened on the sets, the rehearsals, song recording and some hilarious goof ups.

Also watch out for all the innovation and improvisations that the actors (especially Shah Rukh) indulged in while the shots were being canned.

Though it's a disappointment not to see or hear an ever elusive Aditya Chora, Shah Rukh along with Anushka and other crew members more than make up for it.

And then lastly, there is this really involving conversation between Shah Rukh and Anushka which had made quite an impression when it was first seen in the world of internet and TV after the release of Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi.

Relive the moments as you get an opportunity to be privy to this entire conversation as it is included as a part of the bonus DVD.

The disappointing part of this DVD though is the 'Deleted Scenes' section.

There are as many as six deleted scenes included here but not even a single scene stands out. In fact they were best left out of the final cut even though all of them featured Shah Rukh Khan.

While a couple of them have Shah Rukh and Vinay Pathak in a conversation, the remaining feature Anushka Sharma. However, all of them are best forgotten after they are seen for the first time.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

- 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen Presentation
- Subtitles in English, Arabic, Dutch, Telugu, Tamil
- Dolby Digital 5.1 and Stereo

PRICE

Rs. 399/ =

CONCLUSION

Want to watch a clean family movie at home? Then go for Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. In any case, with nothing playing on screens due to stand off between producers and multiplexes, this DVD is your best bet to get your much needed dose of Bollywood entertainment at home.