Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota Review

Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota....Nahin Hota Toh Kya Hota? Indian Cinema would have lost its brilliant masterpiece.

Four stories run parallel to each other. Like rivers that never meet, they merely glance at each other's existence, spare a smile. And move on. The end binds them together. In a unique manner. No, it's not your regular Hindi film where everyone comes to know each other to live happily ever after. The genius of Naseeruddin Shah makes a powerful and gut wrenching directorial debut with `Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota'.

 It signifies the question.What if things would have happened differently as compared with the way they actually happen. I am sure a few prudes will say that it's a movie for the intellectual class and lacks the Box Office seduction. The answer to that would be if the same film would have been made by a Hollywood filmmaker, the same wannabe critics would be saying "What a classic.Saying so much without saying much."

Naseer begins the show with a voiceover introducing the four disparate stories. Hemant (Jimmy Shergil) and newly wed wife Tillottama (Konkana Sen Sharma) are moved apart as Hemant returns to USA while Tillottama has to wait for an year before she can get the visa. Rahul Bhide (Ankur) is a bright graduate who is persuaded by his NRI friend Vineet to appear for his visa application form so that he can travel to America (The Land of Emigrants) to pursue higher education.

Saleem Rajabali (Irfan Khan) is a reluctant stock broker along with his younger brother Javed. The sudden murder of one of their clients DCP Paul (Boman Irani) forces their Amma (Saroj Khan) to make arrangements for them to flee to US overnight. Saleem is continually hurting because his love Namrata (Suhasini Mulay), an ageing-but-attractive dance researcher cheats on him. Even in US he continues to lust for her, miss her and get perplexed as to why a woman like her mattered so much to him. The street smart Raju Bhai (Paresh Rawal) organizes Gujarathi events and shows in US of A. He seemingly also indulges in illegal migration racket as well. Old flame Tara (Ratna Pathak Shah) re-enters his life with a daughter whom she wants to be sent to America so that she could stay away from her drunkard father.

The four stories have a common goal: America. They think (Or are convinced into thinking) that US, is where they can truly find happiness. With a little help from friends and a bit of fooling around with the US embassy guys in Mumbai, they are all set to follow their dreams. But they don't know what is in store for them. I wouldn't divulge the ending as it is a shocker. It's least expected and leaves you stunned with its force. All I would say is that Naseer has made a film that comes once in a life time. As a director, he is first rate. The theatre experience clearly comes in handy. To his credit he has handled the large cast expertly. They play their parts without attempting at being heroic. River of life flows unabated. Unaffected. 

Suhasini Mulay as the saucy-n-elegant Namrata with a flair for dance and having a good time with her `boys' is the real surprise and that's why I take her name first. She has been presented like no one can ever imagine her to be. The rustic mother of Bhuvan in `Lagaan' and as Akshay Khanna's concerned mother of `Dil Chahta Hai' she found a foothold as the mother of all films. But here when you see her kissing an uncomfortable looking Irfan Khan with a consummate ease, it takes you by surprise. And a good performance is the one that surprises you with its sheer belief. Irfan on the other hand is a bit of a let down as he is not totally himself in the role of a younger man in love with a much older woman. He comes into his own during that last phone call to Namrata where he confesses his unexplained love for her. Those tears and the dropping of the cell p