Twinkle Lights and Happy Fluff Abounding

Kismat Konnection, 2008
Directed by: Aziz Mirza

I was fully intent on watching Wake Up Sid this weekend because everyone in the universe has been going crazy over it, however, I got about 30 minutes into the film before I realized that I am Sid (detailed description to come when I finish the film!) and that their constant gushing about Mumbai was way to much to handle, since I'm going to BE THERE in MAY! I couldn't handle the combination of my chagrin over my similarities to Sid* and my over-pouring of happiness about Mumbai. I had to watch something else or I might have exploded into a million piece and died.

So I switched over to Kismat Konnection, a film I had been eying on Watch Instantly for a few months now... simply because the cover of the DVD just looked so delightful and full of twinkle lights (I'm a sucker for a good twinkle light...)

I read some of the reviews on Netflix and most of the people seemed rather so-so about the film, I was willing to give it a try since it has some of my key players (Shahid, Vidya and JUHI!) and because after a long, dreadful week all I wanted was brainless "fluff" (as one of the reviewers called it).

Perhaps it was the build up of a terrible week, but I adored this film. It was everything I needed, it had comedy, heart, super sweet, precious songs, a story I could get behind and crisp, beautiful cinematography.

First off, there was the use of my all-time favorite picture technique: the off-center, blurry-light background. Drop me on my head and kiss me, Aziz used this technique ALL OVER THE PLACE! Rather than overkill though, the effect really worked. It gave the film a mystical, magical feeling. I'm drooling just remembering it. If I could live in a blurry-twinkle-lighted world, I would. It was like food for my soul.

The story was so normal, so effortless. There were no "WTF" moments or deviations from the plot. It was strictly Raj Malhotra (nice name, haven't heard THAT before) and Priya and their lives. Granted there is some silliness, since Priya is Raj's lucky charm, but still... it seemed normal enough. It was just uncomplicated RomCom goodness. Let me indulge, ok?

 I have been streaming the music on Dhingana for the past 24 hours. I can't get enough! It's not on iTunes (boo!) but it is just such good music. At first I was rather concerned that my favorite song of the film, Dakhuda Tumhi Ho, was performed by a playback singer with the vocal qualities of a goat (it's a little shaky is all) but it's actually grown on me, because the song is just that good. I'm actually listening to it this very second, and I think my dil is smiling.

Hello? JUHI FREAKING CHAWLA! I love her, I have a crush on her, actually, always have... She played the eccentrically delightful gypsy who guides Raj through his life's woes. Her comedic ability still surprises me. I don't think I'll ever get over my first impression of her (as the dejected and cheated Seema in Salaam-e-Ishq) which was so serious and so emotional, but I'm getting there. I promise you I am! Also, she lived in a very Devdas-esque house with glittering mirrors and lush colors (not to mention her OWN fog machine!) Double plus!

I love the red walls and the blue lights. Design idea? Quite possibly...

I want a fog machine! 

This just made me giggle.

It took me almost half of the film to get aboard the Shahid/Vidya jodi. I love them both separatly, but they just seem to be on different planes that don't gel well. My real hangup was how much older Vidya's character looked compared to Shahid's. Yes, she's about three or four years older than him, but they way they dressed her and her hair style just made her look matronly. Church-y. Safe. It just contrasted awkwardly compared to Shahid's cool, effortless, young, vesty wardrobe. Vidya also has such a timeless, beautiful, mature face that it just looks out of place next to the rather babyish face of Shahid. Whatever their looks the two had chemistry, and oodles of it. I have offically named Shahid the new Prince of The Smoulder (SRK being God, and Shashi being King... is there something with "Sha.." names that just make them good at it?)

Anyone mind scooping me up off of the floor? I'm melt city over here.

The ending was kind of..."ehh". Instead of a huge shaadi and tears (well, there were tears...) there was a board meeting with a dramatic soapbox speech. I could have done with just five more minutes of pyaar at the end and not so much focus on the responisbilites of large companies. Regardless when the movie was over my mood was significantly improved and I was happy. It's not going to replace Jab We Met (the ultimate in RomComs!)  anytime soon, but it would be a good alternative.

Extra Cuteness!

Sure hun, I'll hold some nasty guy's head for you. 

Awwww!

Dard-e-Disco much?

Manpris! These have GOT to catch on amongst white people. 

I can't live without them. 

I was agog about that sweater/tie combo.

*I had switched to KK because I didn't want to have to watch myself on screen, oddly enough I found a lot of myself in Raj's character. He was the end-all of awesome in college, and since graduation had made nothing of his life, he was (in his eyes) a complete failure and unnoticed. I know what that feels like on a different level, I was the shizzz in high school, in college I'm pretty much invisible. That's a hard pill to swallow, and all of his outbursts of frustration and discomfort really made sense to me. That's probably what made this films so enrapturing for me, I really understood Raj's motivations and feelings.