Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001) User Reviews (168)

A grand, musical and emotional Bollywood extravaganza!

[Peter_Young · 6/10 · 12 July 2009]

Karan Johar's Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham is one of the most ravishing, grandiose and melodramatic Hindi films ever made. It is incredibly unrestrained and stormy in its emotional quotient, and yet so watchable, enjoyable and at times even pleasurable, that you can't but applaud to this spectacular show. It is one of the few films where overacting seems superb acting and overly melodramatic proceedings, despite being very cheesy and occasionally clichéd, become quite bearable. It combines realism and surrealism, comedy and heavy melodrama in a very unique style, which makes for an altogether colourful picture which is fun to watch.

The film is about relationships in family, about loving your parents and your family, about pride, values and regret. The well defined and written characters are used to create and present all these qualities. Even the least emotional scenes are accompanied by orchestrated violins, heavy piano and strikingly sad pictures on-screen. The film shows both the bright and dark sides of happy families, and while it never breaks new ground, never looks totally authentic, it is always entertaining in spite of its flaws. It depicts both the Indian traditional world and the western modern world and tries to bring them together in many instances.

Some of the film's too emotional scenes could have been better edited and partly cut. The cinematography is good, the sets are extremely lavish, and the narrative is effectively laden with numerous songs and many memorable moments of comedy and drama. The comedy provides great relief and lightens the otherwise more-than-enough drama, and the music is extraordinary. My favourite song is "Suraj Hua Maddham", a greatly melodious number wonderfully performed by Sonu Nigam and Alka Yagnik and extremely beautifully shot across some breathtaking locations. Needless to say, the chemistry between the two leads, Shahrukh Khan and Kajol, is as electrifying as ever.

Where acting goes, Amitabh Bachchan is restrained and displays well the hidden pain and the visible pride. Jaya Bachchan is superb as the subservient yet strong woman. Towards the end there is one very powerful scene in which she really stands out (you'll know which one). Shahrukh Khan in a typical, cynical and likable character, is great as always. Kajol utterly steals the show and proves her prowess as a gifted comedienne. She is hilarious in her comic scenes and equally shines in moments of drama. Her strong, charismatic presence is perhaps the best thing about this film. Farida Jalal provides excellent support. Hrithik and Kareena are unimpressive and inconsistent. Hrithik is over-expressive and far more emotional than required, and Kareena, while attractive and quite funny at times, badly overacts.

All in all, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham has bits of everything: drama, melodrama, romance and comedy, all presented wholeheartedly in true Hindi-film style with lots of tears and lots of fun. It is an example of Bollywood entertainment at its grandest, and works as such. This is a movie to be seen with one's family. Go for it.

I adored this movie!

[tarynblake · 8/10 · 18 January 2005]

I absolutely adore this movie. I borrowed it from an Indian friend and first of all fell IN LOVE with Hrithrik Roshan. Not even the bootleg tape I had could hide his beauty. I think I watched the movie 3 times in one week! Seeing as how the film is 3 1/2 hours long, that's saying a lot.

As always, Sharukh Khan is a pleasant diversion on screen. Kajol's character was a lot of fun too. It's nice to see a girl with spunk get her man! Nearly all of the songs and choreography were stellar. I will most definitely buy this one.

Like some of the other reviewers mentioned, there is definitely some over-acting but those few moments of suffering are rewarded with a variety of eye-candy. This film is definitely worth watching.

Decent, but takes much too long to get to the point

[Sir_AmirSyarif · 6/10 · 6 April 2020]

Despite the rousing tale and fine performances, 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...' is bogged down by its unnecessary lengthy run-time that takes much too long to get to the point and needless doses of drama.

A beautiful film about bringing families together

[punzelle · 10/10 · 22 February 2005]

This film shines from start to finish, and runs the gamut of emotions. The cinematography, sets, and costumes are brilliant. The sparkling performances of six of India's leading actors alone makes the movie worth seeing, even if some might not feel comfortable with the deep sentimentality displayed by the leading men (women are fine with this; American men sometimes find it unnerving). Hrithik Roshan is pure eye candy for women of all ages, somehow oozing sweetness and innocent sexuality at the same time. The catchy song and dance number he performs with the lovely Kareena Kapoor at their 'prom,' "You Are My Soniya," has gotten regular replays in this household for weeks (even by my 79-year old mother, who will say, "I need a Soniya fix" - it really cheers her up!). The other musical numbers are very enjoyable, too, and never seem out of place or at odds with the flow of the film. Shahrukh Khan is adorable, as always, as the favorite son, and can hold his own in the dance numbers, too. Kajol gets to show her comic side, and was great at it! And knowing that the 'parents,' Amitabh and Jaya are a married couple in 'real life' just makes their interactions in the film that much better. Don't miss this wonderful movie! If you see just one Hindi movie, make it this one! (I am adding this question, for anyone who knows the answer: I wanted to find out what actor played Rohan at about age 12; the cast list shows three names for "Fattie" but no further details for any of these actors. If you happen to know the answer, please email me at [e-mail]. Thank you!)

hoorah! for Bollywood!

[hansbearnl · 10/10 · 1 August 2002]

I have never been a Bollywood-fan, believe me. Especially with all those movies full of cobra's, killing and corrupt policemen. But today I decided to go for a handsome face on the poster of the cinema, and sat down to watch about 3 hours of typical Bollywoodfun. No regrets! A modern story about conflicts between generations, growing up in different ages, with different traditions. A story that will make the audience in many countries feel could be their own story of life. Even the music was not disturbing, and the humor is refreshing at times. The music is even for a westerner like me something to ad to my collection of cd's, and the only minor thing for me was the sudden apearance of Egytian pyramids as background for a romantic song. After movies from Indonesia have won my heart earlier in 2001, and France with 'Amelie', Bollywood is the next, with Hollywood loosing ground.

Life, love and then some....... all a lesson we should learn.

[betseyblue1 · 1 July 2004]

Saw it Own it. And not just because I'm a woman either. The movie is rather lengthy but well worth sending the message it sends, which is: Family is our most precious asset we can own in this world. No matter what Family is Family and you love them regardless of their choices, mistakes and what nots. This is the type of movie that should be shown to all, to wake up our society and make them realize that life and family are too precious to take for granted. I wish more people knew about this movie, it has a universal language and appeal. And while others may think its too long of a movie to watch, I say get an attention span. I wish American movies were more like this one. The musical numbers while at first seem a bit weird, are rather entertaining and joyful to watch. Excellent movie!!

6 Mistakes in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham

[andydgr8 · 6/10 · 21 May 2013]

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham went onto become a blockbuster hit in the year 2001. But, sometimes we are so focused on the romantic family drama that we tend to ignore the flaws in the movie.

I have listed some of the obvious oversights in this film:

1. The movie is set in the year 1999, where we see Amitabh Bachchan talking to his younger son Hrithik. He is seen using a Nokia 9000 Communicator cell phone in 1991 whereas the phone was launched in 1996. While we agree that Big B is the Shahenshah of all things cool, the film is stuck in a weird flashback flash-forward tussle.

2. We see Amitabh singing "Aati Kya Khandala" to his wife, in the flashback portion of the film which begins in 1991, whereas the movie Ghulam released in 1998. Aamir must have secretly released the movie seven years earlier so that Amitabh could a sing the cult song.

3. When Kareena a.k.a Pooja a.k.a Poo is leaving home for the college prom night, she is seen wearing a red outfit with a scarf. But, when she reaches the venue, her scarf disappears and she is seen wearing a red coat. We do believe she had a trunk full of clothes in her car. Unfortunately, Poo wasn't the most unfortunate part of the film.

4. When Kareena is leaving for prom night, Hrithik tells her that she's wearing two different sandals. Kareena dismisses him saying "It's fashion" and she leaves the house, with Robby, wearing two different sandals. Upon reaching the venue, we see her wearing the perfect pair of red stilettos. How Kareena?

5. When Hrithik first meets Kareena at their college, he is seen driving a red convertible Lamborghini Countach. Later in the movie, when he offers a lift to Shah Rukh Khan, his car magically changes into a silver Mercedes! Wow! Now only if we had such powers!

6. When Kareena Kapoor arrives at her college, she tells her minion 'Robbie' to park her car. Apparently, he couldn't understand her fake British Indian accent and you can still see the car parked where Kareena abandoned it.

Trademark Karan Johar

[nomanali77 · 9/10 · 12 March 2006]

I respect Karan Johar. He is an honest director. There are a lot of young directors out there today that are taking the Hollywood approach to film making and the end result is a mish mash of a desi product in a foreign packaging. Karan Johar, on the other hand, takes a desi story, puts it in a desi package but only refines it more than most others do. What you get is a very good Bollywood movie that has elements of emotion, melodrama, comedy, family values, romance and music in equal doses. Yes, I admit that the story does leave a lot of questions unanswered, but that's OK considering the desired target market is one that is alright with that and sheds expectations of credibility before walking in to the cinema.

K3G is a beautiful example of what a good director can do. Agreed, the movie may not have been as great without the power star cast, but then, let us not forget that before those people are stars, they are very good actors. Well, except maybe Kareena and Hritik.

This is where the minus points are. Hritik did nothing but weep perpetually. Kareena played an overbearing slut. And to top it off, she and her friends all spoke American slang and also had that slight twang of an American accent. (PHAT: Pretty Hot And Tempting?? That's ghetto lingo!) And I really didn't like the national anthem thing. i felt it was a little pushed. I think KJ went a little overboard there in trying to make the NRI audience cry. The only time that trick has worked effectively was years ago in "naam" when Pankaj Udhas sang the "Chitthi Aayi Hai" song.

There are certain scenes that I found really well done in the movie. The last time Rahul meets Rohan before the latter goes off to boarding school, he has a talk with him about taking care of Mum, losing weight and joining he cricket team. They are sitting on a bench, side by side having this talk. Years later, in the second half of the movie, after Rahul realizes that his brother has been living with him all this while, the scene again cuts to them sitting on a bench, this time ten years later. It could've been shot anywhere, but the fact that the setting is so similar just makes it even more memorable.

The scene where Nandini (mom) meets Rahul after years at the shopping mall, she places her hand on his shoulder and he turns around. Wow.

And the finale of course. Amitabh breaking down with SRK.

One mustn't expect great international cinema here. this is what great Bollywood is all about.

Lazy................. Karan Johar

[bossT · 7/10 · 17 November 2005]

Bollywood films tend to fall into two camps.A-entertaining film...nonsensical story or B Intelligent film but no Box office. This film is firmly in camp A.

I'll tell you why.The film is amazing to look at in terms of the sets,costumes,song and dance numbers etc.etc.Needless to say it also has the biggest stars going in Bollywood BUT it is ....LAZY! It is a paint -by -numbers film. Amitabh Bachan is a big business mogul in the film .He and Jaya Bachan have two sons Hritik and Shah Rukh Khan, who was adopted. Everything is going great .Shah Rukh is lined up to get married to Rani and is being groomed to take over his Dad's business. Everything is sweet until he sets his eyes on Kajol who is doing a spur of the moment dance in Chandi Chowk and yes you guessed it - Shah Rukh Khan has before you can say SRK-Kajol chemistry post DDLJ and KKHH fallen in love.I mean she was not even looking hot.I mean c'mon Karan Johar that was pure laziness on your screenplay.You were playing on the audiences preconceptions to drive the story. In fact it is only after this dance that the lovebirds banter goes into overdrive with the audience lapping it up. Now Amitabh goes mad when he finds out and orders SRK out the house denouncing him .Now cue the story shifting to England where Kajol's younger village sister has turned into a slut called Poo and is attending Kings College London where everything rocks...although I attended it I don't recollect recess being quite as hip and zip as it is shown here.Again Karan has to produce a bit of new wave glam for the modern crowd with plenty of "Clueless' style jibes without the audience having to think too hard why a decent looking village girl would turn into a slut. Kareena overacts to death here. The chemistry with her and Hritik is spot on even if he dresses like a homosexual but I think we need to give Kareena her dues in filling a part few could have done.

The SRK -Kajol chemistry is great once things are underway -the two just exude a certain warmth which is heartfelt.Kajol is particularly amusing when talking in Hindi to one of the Mums of the schoolchildren and SRK is great in the scenes with Kareena where he is trying to exert a fatherly influence over her loose western ways. After twenty or so years and two massive dance numbers later following his ejection out of the house the climax builds when SRK returns back to the family home with Kajol and Amitabh Bachan says SPOILER ALERT***********You didn't have to take what I said seriously.........What!!!!!!!!!

Let's get this straight he kicks his son out of the house ,says he is not of the same blood(obviously for dramatical impact) and doesn't talk to him for the next twenty years and he says you didn't have to take what I said seriously...How pathetic is that Karan Johar.

Unfortunately you know what makes the box office tick and you are prepared to sacrifice everything to achieve that end.I gaped,I stared ,I laughed and I cried ....in incredulity at what is -entertaining nonsense.

P.S Why do all your dance routines have ten million people prancing in all of them it's almost as if you lack a certain amount of confidence in your film.Sanjay Leela Bhansali also seems to suffer from going over the top.

One of the BEST Bollywood Movie ever made

[Li_85 · 10/10 · 11 June 2006]

Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham known as K3G is one of the Best Bollywood Movies of all time. It was a Big Budget movie with the Big Giants of Bollywood together in one movie. It has the biggest opening in UK reaching Number 3 in the UK Top 10. It was directed by Karan Johar after the Huge Success of Kuch kuch hota hai, This film looked like a instant Hit judging from the trailers and Star Cast. Amitabh is Great in a powerful performance, Shah Rukh Khan is Superb in a wonderful role. Kajol is amusing and annoying, but her character is suppose to be dim, so she did entertain for a bit. Hritek Roshan is Fantastic in one of his best performances. Jaya Bachchan is Marvellous and full of emotions as the mother. Rani Mukherjee is Good in a small role. The only person that gave this film a slight weakness is Kareena Kapoor. Her character was so unrealistic and annoying, in reality if a person acted like that in college then they would of been laughed at bye me. This was a real delightful movie to enjoy watching with the family, but Kareena's character was a bit of a slapper, who did not look pretty and over acts. Overall a Great Movie.

Sociology of the rich and famous!

[HeadleyLamarr · 7/10 · 13 May 2007]

Karan's second film moves forward from exploring the meaning of love (in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai) to exploring the relationships within a family. What role do parents play in determining the fate of their children, and what happens when children go against their parents wishes? In Struwelpeter the child is punished badly! Thankfully Karan's protagonist does not suffer the same fate. Rahul (the ever effervescent Shahrukh) is the adopted scion of the rich and famous Raichand family over which the paterfamilias Yashwardhan (a grim Amitabh) rules with an iron fist. Rahul falls in love with the ordinary girl Anjali (an even more effervescent Kajol) and is told it cannot be. Fates determines otherwise and the family is rent apart when Rahul does marry Anjali. He goes into self imposed exile to London along with Anjali's younger sister Pooja. His younger brother Rohan is determined to reunite the family and sets out on a quest to find his brother in London.

This story has shades of the Ramayana except that Rama was sent into exile at his stepmother's behest. Here Karan creates an artificial barrier between father and son by making the protagonist an adopted son. This prevents them from talking it over as any normal family would. Yashwardhan is a tarter, Nandini (his wife - played by Jaya Bachchan) is a doormat, Rahul is overwhelmed by the favor his parents did by adopting him, Anjali is a demented nationalist, Pooja turns into the caricaturized Poo, Rohan is weepy and sentimental. So all characters are drawn in an extreme way and within that scripting they do what they are supposed to do very well. The families meet and part and meet again and then part again only to finally come together in a finale that is less weepy than that in KKHH but quite dramatic all the same.

The story is highly dramatized, the settings are over the top (except Chandni Chowk and even that is a set), the rich are extremely rich, and the poor ain't doing so bad either. All these are huge problems with the film. Amitabh is in his most cartoonish character ever - and he plays it one dimensionally. Hritik is bad as the son. The child stars are somewhat annoying - but I have a partiality for chubby kids so I didn't mind the young Rohan! What is good about the film? The comedy is actually quite funny. The acting by Kajol is great in the first half, she is stunningly beautiful and her bubbly personality has no fakeness to it. She owns the first half of the movie. In contrast SRK owns the second half as the head of a chaotic household in London. He is preoccupied (no doubt earning a living), concerned about the tiny clothes wearing sister-in-law, in love with his wife (you see enough stray moments of their banter to be quite sure) and pining for the estranged family but too proud to admit it. Kareena does her best to get into the skin of the character as a most annoying and brattish Poo. Jaya does a great job as the doormat wife who finally decides she has had enough. Rani is brilliant in a cameo as the bubbly Naina, Farida Jalal is great as the Nanny. The music is very good and Shava Shava, Bole Chudiyan, Yeh Ladka Hai Allah, You are my Sonia, Deewani Hai dekho are all catchy but THE standout song is Suraj Hua Maddham. The lyrics and picturization for this number are amazing.

In the dross of over the top bhajans, karwa chauths and patriotic fervor we have such amazing gems as the confrontation between Jaya and SRK in a mall in London; we have the parallels between SRK taking leave of his brother on a park bench and reuniting with his brother on another park bench - beautifully crafted moments; the sequence between SRK and Kajol where he tells her why it hurts so much more if you are an adopted son - these sequences should convince you that these are people who have honed their acting craft well. But such moments tend to get lost in the otherwise pedestrian nature of the rest of the film. Perhaps Karan will someday assemble a movie that will have mostly gems and little dross! However, K3G is a GOOD timepass film and has enough sprinkling of gems that you might just end up watching it again.

Best Family Movie ever made in the world.

[MananShah-1252 · 10/10 · 6 January 2020]

No Words for this movie.. it's all about emotions..

A Bollywood epic?

[calilawyer · 7/10 · 13 March 2024]

PROS:

1. Hrithik Roshan is great in his role. His interactions with his estranged family and his brother carry the most emotional weight in the movie.

2. Jaya Bachan is excellent.

3. Amitabh is great although I didn't buy some of his character's motivations and decisions, however, that has more to do with the writing.

4. SRK is good although a bit crabby as the head of household. Surprisingly, I don't think he had much to do in this movie.

CONS:

1. Unconvincing plot. I don't buy SRK would directly disobey his father for a woman he met a couple of days ago. Then after intending to break things off with her after his father has voiced his disapproval (due to the respect he has for him) he does a 180 and shotguns the decision to elope with her solely based on the death of her father. It just isn't believable. I also don't buy that Amitabh would disown his child, whom he clearly loved so much and was willing to do anything for, solely based on his choice of whom to marry.

2. Overacting by Kajol in literally every scene she is in. She is terrible.

3. Overacting by Kareena Kapoor as Poo especially in cringe scenes where she is acting like she is all that, claiming how hot she is and speaking in a fake British accent. The makeup is so caked on in some scenes that she looks like a tr@NN¥. Thankfully, her performance tones down and becomes much more restrained as the film progresses. She becomes a lot more likable.

4. How does the mom sense her son arrives every time before she sees him? Hmmm, could be that he arrives in a helicopter directly in front of the house? LOL.

5. The reveal that Hrithik is SRK's brother is underwhelming and there is no way the Indian kid memorized that whole speech or sang that song in front of everyone. There are many other ways the big reveal could have happened and this seemed like an odd choice.

6. Extremely melodramatic.

Garbage Movie

[motu-973-335264 · 1/10 · 10 February 2011]

This movie sucks big-time. I saw this after it won several awards. the story line is nonsense - its completely unrealistic and unpalatable. Not only that none of the actors seem very believable - what a waste of good talent on an idiotic story - the same cast and money could have made 2 or 3 great movies - Its the Story Stupid - somehow Bollywood doesn't get it. These extravagant movies are just so fantastic that they seem to have no basis in reality - and the Bollywood film industry seems completely stupid to keep awarding such films year after year. Someday they may still learn. I even like songs and dances but in the context of a good story anything is OK - this movie was utterly nonsense - wish I could give it negative rating.

Sweeping

[ginger_sonny · 9 August 2004]

Glossy emotional drama, bringing together talent across the acting generations of Indian cinema.

With a cast that reads like a Who's Who of Indian cinema, Karan Johar's film focuses on the tensions within a divided family, namely the rift between strict disciplinarian father Yashovardhan (played by Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan) and his estranged son, Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan).

With Bollywood heart-throb Hrithik Roshan in the role of brother Rohan and Kareena Kapoor as sister Pooja, the A-list cast is completed by Jaya Bachchan. Following the fortunes of wealthy non-resident Indians in the UK, the film takes in beautiful locations from the British Museum to Blenheim Palace and serves as a paean to the motherland, India.

K3G (as it is more commonly known) is a glossy emotional drama, bringing together talent across the acting generations and includes the show-stopping number 'Shava Shava.'

Get the tissues! This one is a real tear-jerker!

[joya64 · 10/10 · 7 April 2003]

K3G is an intense, mature, and entertaining film. Shahrukh plays the role of a son(Rahul),who worships the ground his father walks on, and would do anything to avoid hurting him. The day comes, however, when he falls in love with an "ordinary" girl named Angali, and dashes his father's hopes and dreams for him to pieces. The intense emotion displayed as the two have a falling out, not soon to be reconciled, is heartbreaking. It splits the family apart and it will take everything a younger son (Rohan)has to try and reunite them.

Shahrukh shines (as usual), as the creative actor he is, in this wonderful family film.

If you haven't seen this film yet, you don't know what you're missing! But have a box of tissues at hand.

~ written by Simran

One of the finest Indian cinema movies ever made....

[Angelus2 · 10/10 · 11 June 2008]

This film has a brilliant cast which makes it work.

The Raichand family is one of the richest and privileged. While on a family visit Rahul, the elder son falls in love with a girl and so romance ensues; however Yash Raichand the father of Rahul decides he has picked the perfect girl and makes an ultimatum with Rahul. Either marry the girl of his fathers choice or leave for good. Rahul leaves...But the second half of the movie focuses on Rohit; Rahul's younger brother who makes it his mission to reunite his broken home.

Every actor plays their role with enough emotion and charisma and makes the film an emotional journey. Like all bollywood movies the sets are stunning and the music is catchy. I caught this in the cinema with my family; the songs and acting fits perfectly with each other. Yeh Ladki hai Allah! is one of my personal favourites.

Here we see a rare insight, where three legends stand side by side. Amitabh Bachan who was the past, Shahrukh who is the present and Hrithik Roshan who will most likely be the future. This movie is pure bollywood, it holds the ideals and values that the South Asian community hold and watching this on the big screen makes one feel a sense of sadness and excitement.I would recommend this to all film lovers and for first time Indian Cinema fans.

Hritik cannot tie his laces!

[virindra · 7/10 · 14 August 2006]

I really liked this film. There are many comments on this site about what was good about it. So I am going to write what was NOT good about this film. In bollywood films the number 3 is a very important number. When Hritik slams the ball in a game of cricket he hits the ball 3 times. I don't know why, but it has no extra effect on my if he would hit it once or thrice.

I don't say anything more about sharukh's overacting. But the way he won Kajol's heart at the bracelet store was amazing.

Hritik goes to London to study. He is a very educated man. But still he cannot tie a knot in the laces of his shoes. How dumb are you then? Why didn't he buy shoes without laces? The conflict between Amitabh and Sharukh wasn't new, we saw that in Mohabbatein too...

Hritik goes by car to college, in a Lamborghini! Yeah right... at college it's all about dancing, showing your muscles, driving expensive cars and motorcycles. Oh yes... and getting the most beautiful girl. (Well, with make-up on at least).

But did this movie reach it's goal? Yes it did.

Love and forever love

[navka · 10/10 · 8 January 2003]

"I shall pass through this world, but once! Therefore any good that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now, let me not differ or neglect it. Cause I shall not pass this way again!".

Yes, this film makes above statement true! To be in love with anybody makes everthing better and more agreeable, your girl, boy or your parents. Also you should do it for your own sake! Cause nobody can live with it (love). About the movie must say that Indian movie stars could not performed their roles better, they were perfect and honestly my heart beats faster every time I see this movie! About its director, I must add that he made an acceptable movie with a perfect collection of movie stars, lyrivs and music that are unique in all indian films. This movie worth to be seen by any human being, to understand that to be in love is something worthy even in this new century! Be in love forever.

Sometimes Good, Sometimes Disappointing

[gila_film · 7/10 · 5 February 2002]

Okay, this is a follow up of "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" from Karan Johar, and I've been expecting this. Then, this movie come to theater near me and I watch it. Well, I must say...not bad, not bad at all, but, ironically, almost like the title, this movie "sometimes good but sometimes disappointing".

The plot is good, but it also fill with the thing that 'doesn't need' and it makes me bored (especially for the most scene of Hritik and Kareena). It didn't get to the point of the story.

Karan Johar is full with spirit to revisited the great success oh K2H2, and that make this movie full with the 'color' of that movie. For example, both name of Shahrukh and Kajol's characters are similar by the K2H2's character name, Rahul and Anjali (he even put the main theme on one of the song). Even the character it self is a look like (and many similarity).

But, after all, this movie is not that bad. It's a great movie, and it deserve to watch . Also, please remember the main theme of the movie, "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham", Life is sometimes Happy but it sometimes sad.

7/10

My favorite movie Kabhi Khushi Kabhi gham

[akshadamuralidhar · 10/10 · 15 December 2019]

My favorite movie Kabhi Khushi Kabhi gham.Rahul is a adopt of yashovardhan and nandini.

abit of a mish mash

[neilperera20 · 6/10 · 7 August 2002]

This film is good for escapism but nothing else. Heralded as one of the most expensive hindi films of all time, it is a shame to see alot of that money go to waste. The film looks far cheaper than its budget suggests. Then theres the story. The film is closely related to Karen johars previous film Kuch Kuch hota hai, but like this film, k3g suffers from the overuse of bollywood cliches. Two girls and a guy, which one will he fall for etc.. Due to the overuse of cliche's and cheesy songs, it s difficult to sympathise with the charcaters. They are essentially lifeless and the tiresome length of the film almost makes you want the film to end. It is a better effort from bollywood but that is not saying much. Ignore the hype, this film is average.

5/10

Sometimes fascinating, sometimes tedious

[StevePulaski · 8/10 · 8 December 2013]

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... seems to embody every quintessential element to be found in a Bollywood production. Films from India seem to always include energetic song and dance rituals, emotional sentimentality, a strong showcase of the country's culture and customs, and explicit emphasis on the importance of family and the bond that only blood can bring.

The last Bollywood film I was fortunate enough to see was 3 Idiots, a film that was not only a very funny comedy but an immensely effective culture experience, shedding light on the high suicide rate in the country's teen population. We were told that because of the pressure parents put on their offspring, if success is not achieved by the sons or daughters through grades, income, or upward mobility, some look to suicide as an outlet. It's a depressing statistic, and rarely would you see an American comedy (or any comedy for that matter) incorporate that fact with stupid humor. Director Rajkumar Hirani boldly crafted the film into a two and a half hour emotional roller-coaster that was always entertaining and never boring. I loved it and it was a brilliant film to begin my journey through Bollywood cinema.

Kabhi Kushi Kabhie Gham... (which translates literally to "Sometimes Happiness, Sometimes Sadness" in English) is a solid film to further the journey with Bollywood cinema, concerning the Raichand family, an affluent family in India. The household of the family is controlled by Yashvardhan "Yash" Raichand (Amitabh Bachchan), is an immensely successful businessman, living with his wife Nandini (Jaya Bachchan) and their two sons Rahul and Rohan. Rahul, the older son, was adopted at birth and learns of this at the tender age of eight.

Rahul is eventually disowned by Yash for marrying a woman of a lower socioeconomic standing then the Raichand family, and for that reason, the Raichand family is now incomplete. However, there is hope. When Rohan returns home after a decade in boarding school, he is informed of his brother's adoption and is well aware of his father disowning his younger half. Rohan then decides to try and reunite his family, making the Raichand family the complete unity it hasn't been for years.

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... seems to iterate traditionalist Indian values and ideas that a family cannot function unless a family is together at all times. There is an argument to be had in its portrayal of a family and its functionality when a link is missing. However, I am more prepared to make the argument that the film's two hundred and ten minute runtime is more than enough a complaint in itself. The film doesn't need to be this long, and lengthy song and dance routines cloud the film's overall message, which could be reiterated in two and a half hours. For a film locked in conservative family values, it makes a liberal use of its time.

However, the message rings strong - if debatable - and the performances by talented Indian actors such as Bachchan, Kajol (as Rahul's wife), along with Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan, who play the adult versions of Rahul and Rohan, respectively. Their devotion to this material that runs at an opus-length is marvelous and never seems to diminish at any point in the film. Moreover, The song and dance rituals are always a blast. It will take a solid week for me to stop singing "Say Shava Shava," and the infectious cinematography and production values that seem to follow each number keep the film at an absurdly lively status. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... seems to have a limitless amount of energy, and given the enormity of its production, its scope, and its music, it shouldn't be completed in one sitting for a first time viewing.

Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Kajol, Hrithik Roshan, and Kareena Kapoor. Directed by: Karan Johar.

What an impressive cast! You can't help but like the film with all these Bollywood heavyweights in the film! It's too bad the second half is a bit disappointing.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 24 August 2021]

"Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham..." is an amazing film simply because of its cast. It's hard to imagine, but they managed to cast Amitabh Bachchan with Shah Rukh Khan!! But that's not all.... Amitabh's real life wife, Jaya, plays his wife and that's not all...Hrithik Roshan (possibly the prettiest man in all of Bollywood) and Kareena Kapoor are in the film as well!! Talk about a high powered cast!!

The first half of the story is the best part and it's told in a lengthy flashback. Apparently the Raichand family is immensely wealthy....not just millionaires but probably billionaires by western standards. The oldest son, Rahul (Khan), is adopted but loved as much as if was their biological child. He has just returned from abroad for his father's 50th birthday. The youngest, Rohan (later played by the thin and beautiful Roshan) is mostly a chubby kid who is out to lunch a bit during the flashback. The Raichands all are immensely happy and it seems to be a loving and wonderful family. HOWEVER (and there always seems to be a however), Rahul falls for Anjali (Kajol)...and this is a problem because she is from a middle class family. Now considering that the caste system still exists to some extent in India (despite laws to the contrary), this won't do.....Rahul is expected to marry a girl from a rich, well connected family. But, inexplicably, he falls for the rather clumsy Anjali...much to the traditional father's dismay. And now Rahul has to make a choice....to marry his true love or allow his parents to pick his mate, like so many Indian families still do today. And, whatever choice he makes, he must live with it one way or the other...and it might mean destroying his happy family. Of course there's much more to the story...this is only the first half and it's best you just see it yourself to see what is next.

This film features romance, nice acting, some amazing dance scenes and locations shoots in Britain and Egypt. There certainly is a lot to like in this one and it illustrates a common theme in many of the Indian films I have seen...marrying for love versus marrying to please the parents. This is not to say the film is perfect...but the first half of the film comes darn close. In the second half, unfortunately, the character Pooja (Kapoor), Anjali's sister, is a larger part of the film and unlike the first portion, she is like a totally different person....and incredibly obnoxious and self-absorbed. She seems to be the female version of the overused playboy trope in Indian films and her style and character seem as if they come from an entirely different movie...and a bad one at that. Frankly, I just wish they'd not bothered with this character as couldn't help but alienate some viewers because this is an incredibly spoiled lady. It's a shame, as the second half of the movie is decent...but pairing up this brat with Rohan seemed like a mistake...his character deserved better. Removing her and this subplot certainly would have helped the film. Because of this, I had to knock off a point or two from my rating....though it still is a very good film despite this.

For the first half, I give the film a 9. For the second half a 6...not just because of Pooja but because it was needlessly drug out once Rohan meets Rahul in London....as Rohan not revealing who he is just seemed silly as well as an excuse to stretch the film to 3 1/2 hours when it could have been handled better in 2 1/2. An overall score of 7 seems reasonable. Still worth seeing...particularly to see some fine actors.

Terrible movie...unwatchable

[lazybones2011 · 1/10 · 12 September 2008]

It is not often that you find a grand movie with all the super stars plain unwatchable but K3G is one such movie. The reason is plain and simple: almost everything about this movie is fake.

The movie talks about loving your parents but throughout it is impossible not to feel that all emotions have been manufactured. There is a complete lack of realism and people seem to cry at every available opportunity.

The scene where all children at school (including British) sing the Indian national anthem is one of the worst scenes in a very long time. It was so cheap and you feel like asking what is going on?

The movie is just all gloss. There is no substance or soul.