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Dil Chahta Ha Ha
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 I was out buying popcorn while the opening credits of Dil Chahta Hai rolled, so I missed the name of the person who wrote the dialogues for this film. Hats off to him or her for the razor sharp wit, and to Aamir Khan and Saif Ali Khan for carrying off their roles with such aplomb. Hats off also to Akshaye Khanna for his understated performance and for being a treat for the eyes, the one whose make-over has really made a difference, all the fuss over Aamir Khan notwithstanding. Since I've believed Akshaye to be one of the hottest looking guys in Hindi films in recent years, I was happy just to watch him, and really, there's not much more he offers us in this film.Okay, so that wraps up the plus points of this "different" film. In any case, how is DCH really different? Is it because it claims to be different? Nah, all films do that. Is it because it has no plot or story? But then, that's fairly typical of Bollywood. Is it because it has no songs or dream sequences? Can't be, it has both. Is it because the heroine is virtually absent before the intermission? Perhaps, but which Hindi film offers the heroine pride of place anyway? Is it because, except for the 4 main actors, none of the rest can act to save their roles? Um, I think I may have a point there. Surely if they could afford to shoot in Australia, they could afford to hire decent actors for the supporting roles? And surely the still stunning Dimple could afford to get her teeth fixed once she knew she would actually have some lines in the film? Or is the film different because it is totally divorced from reality? Ah, that must be it. But not merely because it's divorced from reality - that's again common to most Hindi films - but because it's divorced from reality in such a slick fashion, if only in parts. Of course I had been forewarned of what to expect, having read debutant director Farhan Akhtar's interviews. He made no apologies for his film, he'd said. If it appealed only to a niche audience, if few people could relate to it, so be it. Wow, a new director with attitude! I nodded approvingly when I saw Aamir, Saif and Akshaye wearing their seat belts while driving from Mumbai to Goa. What a sophisticated and aware group of youngsters, setting such a good example. So what if Aamir swills beer while he's still at the wheel? Rules and responsible driving are for nerds, man. No apologies, remember? The view from a Mercedes and other fancy low-slung cars being driven in the film must be very different, especially at traffic signals. Perhaps that's why Saif can see only the "dil-shaped" balloons and turn up his nose at such square symbols of romance, setting off a lot of sniggers among the audience. I find those balloons disturbing too, but for a different reason. Perhaps it's because I drive a Santro, and true to its manufacturers' claims about its "tallboy design", I can always see who's holding up the balloons at these signals. It's usually 6-7 year old kids, dressed in rags, claiming they don't have enough to eat. But, I remembered in the nick of time, no apologies. What a drag I would be to bring this up! What fun it must have been for the young film-maker to poke fun at the older formula films, and their songs! (But when Troilus and Cressida sing, it's inspiring, and the opera with lyrics that no one can understand can convince a cynical hero of the power of love.) And what joy to think everyone actually fell for the line that his was a "different" and progressive film!! That got me thinking about the classic penned by his father over 25 years ago, Sholay. What a bold attempt it had made to even suggest that a widow could dare to dream of love. Of course, that could never work though, and her love interest had to die. And here's the "different" and "progressive" youngster of the contemporary, hip generation. He can do anything he wants, and does fall in love with an older woman. But can this adolescent just out of college admit he desires this woman? Of course not, it's got to be a "pure", hormonally-challenged devotion. And can this love actually be consummated? Don't be silly - the woman must die! All the more convenient for the young man to fall in love with a pretty young thing within six months. Towards the end, I was finally able to put my finger on what made this film different. It's the theory that "this generation" can do anything it wants, and take no responsibility for its actions! So Aamir can wait until Preity Zinta's wedding day to declare his love for her, and spirit her away. Preity can walk out of a wedding that she admits she was not coerced into, but one she was not in favour of and yet never objected to even once! Ah, so I could spot the "difference" - perhaps I'm not so out of step with the hip crowd as I thought. And I got my quota of laughs. How much more different do you want a movie to get, anyway? 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