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Birthday Special: The Best Karan Johar Film? VOTE!
Gloss, grandeur, good looks and a rich dose of old-school sentimentality are trademarks of a Karan Johar film.
At the same time his remarkable eloquence, media-savvy methods and formidable connections with the entire film industry irrespective of who's sparring with whom makes this undeniably charming filmmaker, chat show host and stylist an inevitable brand name.
Born to a film family, his producer father Yash Johar produced hits like Dostana and Gumrah but it was his son's directorial debut, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and its tremendous success that resurrected the Dharma banner into a sought-after production house.
There hasn't t been a dull moment ever since with K Jo, as he's fondly referred to, not only making efforts to get out of his 'fancy' comfort zone but also promoting fresh talent to get behind-the-scene.
On May 25, the man turns 40. On the occasion, we profile some of his most favourably received films.
Vote for your favourite at the end.
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
The experience of assisting and acting in Aditya Chopra's celebrated romance, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge proved to be turning point in Karan's professional career. Encouraged by his friend and filmmaker Adi's response, he directed Kuch Kuch Hota Hai with the same actors -- Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, along with Rani Mukerji and Salman Khan, in a film that packed in a perfect measure of entertainment and emotionality.
KKHH also introduced Bollywood to the concept of 'cool' with its stock of branded hoodies, colourful sweat pants and chic miniskirts. With his upcoming Student of the Year, featuring newcomers Alia Bhatt, Siddharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan, K Jo returns to the genre of campus capers.
Read the review here
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham
K Jo's tribute to family drew heavy-duty melodrama courtesy its estranged father-son plot.
But its unmistakably lavish production values, striking visuals and star-studded credits (Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Kajol, Kareena Kapoor and Rani Mukerji) ensure we've enough time to grab a 'chill pill.'
While it unabashedly catered to the NRI viewership and influenced the scale and style of the Big Fat Indian Wedding with its show and pomp, K3G's real triumph lies in its director's ability to tug the heartstrings of a famously fickle audience.
Read the review here
Kal Ho Naa Ho
K Jo limited himself to writing the story and script for this one while handling former assistant Nikhil Advani the responsibility of helming Kal Ho Naa Ho.
Again, its New York setting and urban sensibilities appeared to be largely targeted at a phoren audience but the resident desis too were more than willing to shed a tear or flash a smile at Shah Rukh Khan doing an Anand, Saif Ali Khan's hilarious dating disasters and Preity Zinta's bespectacled Betty.
Read the review here
Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna
Karan Johar decided to explore mature relationships by tackling the subject of infidelity in Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna.
While not everyone was convinced about this Silsila in New York, curiosity ensured it makes some hefty profits going on to become one of the highest grossing films in the overseas circuit.
Although sticking to his familiar approach of snappy humour blended with tender moments, KANK goes all the way, even if a less passionately so, in demonstrating the break-up of two marriages and picking an unconventional climax. A risky move by K Jo's standards and Bollywood norms but it worked.
Read the review here
Dostana
Unlike the 1980 Dostana, produced by his father Yash Johar, this new take on friendship, directed by Tarun Mansukhani, is about two friends pretending to be homosexuals in order to obtain a flat. Complications arise when both of them fall for the same girl who sticks to staying buddies with both assuming they are gay.
Despite its forward sentiments, Dostana embraces a demure stance when it comes to endorsement or establishing any specific view.
This Miami-set comedy starring a slender Priyanka Chopra, beefy John Abraham and clownish Abhishek Bachchan is much too amazed by its own premise or flaunting its line-up of beach bodies to dig deeper.
Let's hope Dostana 2 can remedy that.
Wake Up Sid
Breezy, light and pleasant, Karan Johar's Wake Up Sid's appeal lies in its sweet, simple depiction of how opposites attract and inspire.
Ranbir Kapoor's Sid is a good-for-nothing Ritchie Rich when he bumps into an independent albeit vulnerable, slightly older Aisha, played by Konkona Sen Sharma.
His coming-of-age, her realisations, their engaging interactions and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's vivacious soundtrack (along with a guest composition by Amit Trivedi) makes Ayaan Mukerji's directorial debut a laudable first effort.
Read the review here
My Name is Khan
Known to be more receptive towards the showmanship aspect of cinema, Karan Johar took a visibly atypical approach with My Name is Khan. Getting out of comfort zone doesn't necessarily translate to low-budget. And so the scale is decidedly massive but the tone is laboriously sombre.
He reunites his KKHH pair, only this time, Shah Rukh Khan plays an Asperger's syndrome patient whereas Kajol is a single mom. How they come together, fall apart following a terrible tragedy and come together again when Khan conducts a messiah-like mission conveys the intent and gravity of the hard-hitting MNIK.Agneepath
Remakes are a tricky proposition. But Karan Johar's determination to see super-hit against Agneepath, previously produced by his father but met a disappointing fate at the BO, egged him to recreate a sleek new version of the Amitabh Bachchan starrer with stars like Hrithik Roshan, Sanjay Dutt, Priyanka Chopra, Rishi Kapoor and Katrina Kaif under first-timer Karan Malhotra's directions.
Agneepath, cleverly, went the tribute route instead of ripping off its source scene-to-scene. Both critics and audience appreciated Hrithik Roshan's stirring effort combined with Dutt and Kapoor's ferocious turn as the revenge drama's evil elements.
Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu
Just when the viewer was starting to cringe at the influx of terribly derivative rom-coms like Anjaana Anjaani, I Hate Luv Storys, Break Ke Baad and ilk, K Jo's Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu came in life a fresh whiff with its plucky attitude and relatable humour.
The distinct flavours of Imran Khan and Kareena Kapoor's capricious yet endearing chemistry and the unexaggerated manner in which director Shakun Batra allows their relationship, together with their contrasting surroundings, to take its course is most amusing and rewarding.
Read the review here
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