Hrithik ka magic chalega kya?

Saw it. Liked it. And forgot it. Just like that. Which does not mean the film isn’t good. Just that my attention span is small. Also, that I believe Koi.... has come 20 years too late.
Of course, the critics are right in awarding so many stars and half-marks (what’s with those?) to the season’s most talked about movie. And it’s true that all those who’ve seen it have come away raving. Rightly so. It is a slick production with slick special effects and slick performances. No debate on that front. Agreed, it was a brave decision to go against the candy-floss trend and venture into space (literally).
At an estimated budget of Rs 30 crore, one could call it a pricey gamble. A really pricey one. But at the end of the day, does any of this add up to greatness? The answer, alas, is ‘no’. Any creative endeavour that has a tried-and-tested borrowed concept at its very core, flirts, with a ‘me-too’ tag, that’s hard to defend.
While watching the film at a private screening last week, I couldn’t help but think, “why ET?� It was too close an encounter of the third kind, for comfort. But perhaps that’s a minority opinion (the box office will confirm it, I’m sure). However, once the desi ET called Jadoo got into the frame, I sort of lost interest. And found my mind wandering — not the best sign in a three-hour-long mega production.
Sure, Jadoo is awfully cute and all that. Sure, they have done a good job with the special effects. But for God’s sake, if a ‘critter’ had to be created from scratch for a Bollywood blockbuster, why did the critter have to resemble his Hollywood cousin? Agreed, Jadoo had to be cuddly and irresistible. But did he have to be a blooming clone??
I think, the film would’ve worked brilliantly with or without Jadoo and the alien-angle. It had enough going for it, with Hrithik’s stupendous performance. Just the fact that one of Bollywood’s most-talented actors could pull off such a convincing, credible and heart-warming act (which required him to get under the skin of an unspoilt eight-year-old boy) was sufficient USP to hold the film together. Jadoo wasn’t really required. Yes, if the film had to appeal to the kiddies in the audience the transformation of Hrithik from simpleton to stud, could’ve taken place, using a human situation. After all, in Hindi films, it’s love that performs miracles. Love, not extra-terrestrials.
The bigger issue is specifically the kiddie angle. Spielberg had tapped into it in an era of pre-Internet generation children. Kids whose fascination for outer-space fantasies was far more acute. Today’s bachchas are hellishly savvy, street-smart and over-exposed, to fall for a blue-faced animated reptilian creature. This is the age of Lara Croft and tomb raiders.
Violence and sex — yes, that too. Pre-teens talk knowledgeably about condoms and STDs. The age of innocence died a long time ago. In such an environment, it really requires guts (and serious money) to make a film like Koi Mil Gaya... To that extent, one must hand it to Rakesh Roshan. He has put his moolah where his mouth is. And done so smartly, using the two best acting resources in the film industry today — his son Hrithik and the dependable Zinta.
If the film clicks big-time (black market tickets going for 500 bucks over the weekend??) it will vindicate the Roshans. And who knows, even succeed in rewriting established Bollywood rules, the same way Mr India did, many moons ago. Koi..... could well go on to break records and grab every available film award in India. Hrithik, of course, will richly deserve all the statuettes coming his way. But even, from his point of view, Koi..... poses a challenge and a risk. Bollywood pundits are mistakenly referring to Hrithik’s tour-de- force as a ‘comeback’ film.
Hard to say, frankly. He deserves the applause. He needs it. He’s earned it. Dustin Hoffman in Rainman Hrithik is not. In fact, it’s unclear what he’s supposed to be — but autistic, he definitely ain’t. Forget all that. Since when were Hindi movies about authenticity and accurate representation? Let’s just say, he’s done a good.... great... job playing a kid.