I watched Hum Aapke Hain Koun for first time and loved it: A millennial’s tackle Sooraj Barjatya’s escapist fantasy

Director Sooraj Barjatya turned a 12 months older at present; he’s 55 now. And it appeared like the appropriate event to look at his legacy-defining blockbuster, Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, for the primary time not too long ago on Netflix. Little did I do know that I used to be signing up for an over three-hour-long continuous move of celebratory songs and occasional strokes of melodrama. And surprisingly, I did take pleasure in it.
Of course, the movie which launched in 1994 is replete with old style gender roles that appears regressive from the vantage level of hindsight. We mustn’t overlook that the movie was a mirrored image of its occasions, the place patriarchy dominated the mainstream with out many challenges. However, we can’t lengthen the identical leniency to Sooraj Barjatya for making Prem Ratan Dhan Payo in 2015. That movie is a sign of Sooraj’s deep-seated conviction to proceed his mission of instructing girls their place in society. Now, that’s a debate for one more time.
Director Sooraj Barjatya is celebrating his fifty fifth birthday at present. (Photo: Varinder Chawla)
In Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, Sooraj marries his observations about an excellent Indian household together with his imaginative and prescient of an ideal world, the place it’s near unattainable to discover a sight of human struggling. In a method, the movie promotes the concept that the basis reason for all troubles is the need of individuals for social mobility. And surrendering to the established order ante is the answer to all human sufferings. Imagine, when individuals don’t need issues like social progress, rights, equality and recognition of their skills. A society the place mediocrity is widely known, fed, nourished and revered.

In the utopian fantasy of Sooraj, working-class individuals are so grateful that their boss’s household treats them with respect and kindness. Maybe they felt it was an enchancment, from dominant-class cruelty. And the ladies are content material with enjoying the second fiddle to males of their lives. They don’t nurture an ambition of their very own and they’re satisfied that the very purpose they have been placed on earth was to help and entertain males. Every character that populates Sooraj’s fantasy in Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, form of behaves that they dwell underneath a monarchy. They have a sworn obligation to serve the throne, which is adorned by the boys of the Nath household (Kailash Nath, Rajesh Nath and Prem Nath). Yes, this movie sells loads of problematic concepts. No two questions on it.
Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit in Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (Photo: Express Archive)
However, for a minute, let’s low cost the questionable concepts that Sooraj’s movie promotes and purchase into the premise of his fantasia. When you take into account Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! purely from a cinematic viewpoint, this movie is a revelation. It is sort of gusty of Sooraj to solely consider a movie, sans main narrative jolts, by way of engrossing sing-a-longs, elaborately choreographed, high-energy dance numbers and not using a trace of unhappiness. It is a celebration of life that hardly understands ache. So a lot in order that, there is no such thing as a music to mourn the dying of an vital character. Mind you, it is a movie the place everybody breaks right into a music and dance, on the drop of a hat.

And the Nath household will get over the ache of irreplaceable loss over just a few awfully-written melodramatic strains and begins planning for one more wedding ceremony. That’s how a lot Sooraj despises the concept of grief and the human drama that follows it.
And but, it’s such enjoyable to look at this escapist fantasy. Especially due to its strong music composed by Raam Laxman. The songs sung by SP Balasubramaniam and Lata Mangeshkar stays the mainstay.
Also, Salman Khan’s efficiency was a revelation. Who thought he might transfer like that? He is so fluid on this movie versus his trademark rigidity we’ve grown accustomed to.