Producer: Red Chillies Entertainment
Director: Amol Palekar
Cast: Shahrukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukherjee, Juhi Chawla, Suniel Shetty, Anupam Kher, Dilip Prabhavalkar, Rajpal Yadav
Music: M.M Kreem

In an era when most commercial films are getting munched up like popcorns, here is something that makes you sit and stare. There are endless things to catch your attention and enthrall, leaving you breathless. There is Bollywood messiah Shah Rukh Khan who even as a ghost tempts you to go for him. Everything associated with him stirs interest, and here is a film produced by him, which is certainly to be grabbed by people all over the world. There is Rani Mukerji who is going great in her career and had portrayed a beautiful role in ‘Black’. There is Amol Palekar the veteran actor, with his unique style of narrating a folk story. There is Amitabh Bachchan whose screen presence is enough to ignite a screen. There are picturesque sets, well shot scenes, Ravi K Chandran’s cinematography, fluid music of M.M Kreem and lots of things that make this ‘Paheli’ special!

‘Paheli’ offers Shah Rukh with a new dimension, in a new mould where he does something path breaking as an actor and producer. It’s a visual spectacle and a romantic saga, something that Shah Rukh has done umpteen times before, but again it’s much more than that. The simplicity about ‘Paheli’ is its strength. The narration is something that is ordinary but also unusual. The top-notch actors onscreen deviate from their regular stuff and build a spectrum that is appreciable. Amol Palekar with his vision of film making render a powerful and provoking impact. ‘Paheli’ is a breakthrough in genuineness, uniqueness and creativity. 
 
Lacchi (Rani Mukerji) is a forlorn lady left alone by her husband Kisan (Shah Rukh Khan) soon after marriage. Kisan is money minded and for business and commercial gain he leaves his home on the wedding night to return back after five years. Lacchi is left dejected and sad as long after too her husband doesn’t return. Her innocence and charm captivates a ghost (Shah Rukh Khan) who falls in love with her. Masking into the form of her husband he comes to her and she happily accepts him.

Love springs in the life of Lacchi who couldn’t have asked for more from her loving and caring husband. Even the family feels very happy on the comeback of their son. Everything goes along fine until after a span of four years, the real husband self returns back to claim his wife. Puzzle fills the air with the family and the villagers unable to make out the reality.  

The plot of the film weaves around Rajasthani folklore ‘Duvidha’ an interpretation by Vijaydan Detha. But transporting the folklore in a gripping manner is a task that is gigantic. The story is excellent and Amol Palekar with his creative hands imbue splendor to create magic. Just like folklore the events unveil one after another keeping the curiosity going. The first half is pretty slow making the viewer keen though post-interval the screenplay catches pace and breaths interest into the film. The paheli of relations take an innovative turn at the climax, leaving no scope of otherwise. 

Amol Palekar’s story and technique are merged to produce a quality rarely visible in the films of today. The film is superior in technique with special effects that are attractive and well executed. The film looks contemporary as well as earthy. Even the ghost in many appearances looks very much real. The narration prospers well and is the strength of the film. From the beginning to end Amol Palekar has worked wonder.
 
Sandhya Gokhale who has done the screenplay and dialogues scores in both the respective fields. Everything is very relevant to the milieu of the film. Screenplay is watertight with all things justifying itself. Ravi K. Chandran captivates with his cinematography, Muneesh Sappal enlivens the film with the sets, M.M. Kreem’s music is melodic and pleasant, and choreography by Farah Khan is well built. Even the nittiest and grittiest things have been taken care of.

Shah Rukh and Rani can be caught in the best of their forms. The immense versatility and the repertoire that both the actors hold become well evident here. Shah Rukh outdoes what he has done so far and builds a new fangled image of himself. Both as a ghost and a confused husband he delivers potential performance. For Rani it is yet another feather to her cap after ‘Black’ and ‘Bunty Aur Babli’. She moves ahead with confidence in a dominating manner. Suniel Shetty, Juhi Chawla and Amitabh Bachchan appear as cameo and suitably render their role. Though they’ve small roles yet they’re significant. Anupam Kher, Rajpal Yadav gives their best shot with light moments. Dilip Prabhavalkar, Neena Kulkarni, Padma Rani, Mohan Bhandari, Aasif Sheikh and A.K. Hangal are apt.

This is a very Indian film made in an Indian way, in building the quality and culture that Indian cinema held once upon a time. ‘Paheli’ is a film to be cherished for its efforts and premium feel.

The film is also a good investment in regard of the producer and distributor as they’re raking moolah from the very initials. It is sure to go strong overseas and in multiplexes making it an ideal viewing for the whole family. We cherish the great work of art!