What a great flick, my God! This film, directed by Mansoor Khan, is a action romance about two rival gangs, one led by Shahrukh Khan (Eagles) and the other by Sharad Kapoor (Bichoo). They detest each other and constantly engage in violent street fights. The story focuses mainly on Khan's gang and centers mostly around his and Aishwarya Rai's characters. The two star as two Christian twins, Max and Shirley, who love each other very much. Soon comes Sharad Kapoor's younger brother, Rahul, played by Chandrachur Singh, and tries to woo Shirley. There starts the conflict.
The film is crazy, wild and surprising in the way it depicts modern street fighters in poor suburbs. The street fights are well shot. They are not overdone in any way. You will not see the typical superheroes of the 1980s who, all alone, could fight hundred gangsters and rest without a pimple. The love story is well portrayed. Chandrachur's character is well-written and he is portrayed as an intelligent, level-headed and humanly kind person and this comes pretty well across Aishwarya's spoiled and beautiful Shirley. The many instances that build their relationship, from the first days when she rejects him, the days when she tortures him badly to those when she can't live without him, flow brilliantly with the film's environment and mood.
Shahrukh Khan's character of a street-smart tough is atypically cruel and violent, but the actor is just stellar in this unusual role. He works with electrifying presence, creating another confident, cool and charismatic persona, excelling in action sequences, and getting everything about this part, whether it's body language or dialogue delivery, just spot on. It's a nice paradox watching him in a completely non-romantic role (he does romance Priya Gill's character, but just in several insignificant portions and that too in a very non-romantic way), but then again there's more to it as he would give his life for his beloved sister. This is according to me one of his more memorable roles.
Aishwarya is very effective and likable as Shirley, and acts even more convincingly in later portions when she turns into a suffering woman longing for her beloved. And what I really love about her is that she is never too high about her (gorgeous) looks. I mean, she romances the not-so-good-looking Chandrachur, and still manages to make him a completely great match for her with her believable expression of love for him. Frankly, in the beginning it does feel like she's really way too beautiful for him for them to make a believable couple. BUT after watching the film and Chandrachur's good performance I must admit I can't see anyone else but him in this film. Other cast members, all of whom I liked, include Sharad Kapoor as the other gang leader, Sharat Saxena as the strict policeman, and Nadira, in the last film appearance of her career.
The film's music by Anu Malik is fantastic. "Hai Mera Dil" is my favourite, and along with the melodious "Hare Hare" lightens the love story. "Apun Bola" sung by Shahrukh Khan himself is also a nice song. In a few words, 'Josh' is very modern, super-cool and an altogether enjoyable film. It is light, at times funny, at times dramatic, at times exciting, and is generally very well directed and acted, with great music, amazing settings and locations, and above-all -- a good story. I recommend.
