Rahi Badal Gaye

To me, Rahi Badal Gaye was a very enjoyable movie when I first saw it. It is set in picturesque Kashmir in Northern India, and tells the story of two orphaned sisters, Bhavna and Sangeeta. Bhavna falls in love with a simple young man named Amar, who works as a guide for local tourists. When Sangeeta is molested by a young rich guy named Vikram, Amar saves her and beats up Vikram. A few days go by, and an angry Vikram kills Amar in front of Bhavna. As a result Bhavna loses her mental sanity and is unable to function. There the story takes its twists and turns. Rahi Badal Gaye has a very strong first half. The characters, the breathtaking landscapes of Kashmir, the relationship between the sisters and between the lovers, all create a heartwarming feel. It is the second half that lets the story a bit down, with a new character entering the story, and it is none other than Amar's lookalike. I could not think of a more clichéd idea than that. Both characters are played by Rishi Kapoor. He is wonderful as Amar, playing his role with simplicity that makes him very likable, but very average as Pavan, a role which makes him try hard to be cool, without much success. Shabana Azmi is excellent in yet another demanding role that she is always interested to play. This movie may not be one of those realistic art-house films she used to act in, but she still does a great job as Bhavna, playing her with restraint and grace. Padmini Kolhapure is okay, good in the first half but over the top in the second one. Among the supporting cast, Shakti Kapoor is a typical villain and Suresh Oberoi is very good as the doctor. The film's music, composed by the one and only, R.D. Burman, is outstanding. My favourite song is "Meri Dua Hai" in its first version. All in all, in spite of its flaws, Rahi Badal Gaye is a heartwarming picture. It has a far better first half but is overall a worthy film.