Khoya Khoya Chand (2007)

Absolutely Fantastic

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Khoya Khoya Chand did not get great reviews and I do wonder sometimes whether professional critics are always fair.Anyway, I saw the film just now on TV and I loved it. The dark plot with several shades of interesting grey was most engrossing, keeping me glued to the screen, commercial breaks notwithstanding.The star cast was superb and they all did justice to their roles. Shiny was brilliant as Zafar. I feel sorry for Shiny Ahuja who's film career is over due to much publicised reasons not necessary to go in to here.Soha was a young Sharmila Tagore reinvented, she really is a carbon copy of her mother! Vinay Pathak, Rajat Kapur and all the rest were very very good. The costumes and period settings were wonderful as was the cinematography. I really liked this movie.There is no need for me to repeat the story here, suffice it to say that this is a most enjoyable movie and well worth a watch for those who have not already seen it. Khoya Khoya Chand surely deserved a better innings at the box office.

The vintage, the color, the sensuality, the acting, photography and the music-Oh the music..by Moitra, is spell binding, so much so I saw this movie about eleven times and the music never ceases to enchant me like music of "Evita". Shantanu Moitra has incredible handle on the musical instruments and he is the latter day R.D.Burman. The two actors stand out with such glee. Rajat Kapoor and Soniya Jehan are credit to Films. But Soha's acting is so pure and subtle with little nuances (like "Nighat" shaking her head to the directors instructions-so typical of Indian gestures.) This movie has an intricate and innate beauty like "Mai Madhuri Dixit" but the credit should go to Mishra for directing and Subash Jha for producing and putting together this incredible cast. This movie is what movie making is all about. Soha Ali Khan and Shiny Ahuha have pure magic and old fashioned romance. This movie should have gotten awards for Best Film, Best Direction, Best Acting (Soha), Best Music and Best Photography. I know this movie was shown at Palm Springs Film Festival but was hardly noticed by the media (these Mumbai chamchas who have no class or taste. These bums are busy wiping the bottom of the Three Scum maggots who are put on pedestal by cheap front benchers who are the kind who spit in the theaters)

Movies from Sudhir Mishra's basket as always stand apart from the rest of the crowd. The subjects he chooses, the characters he brings to life and the way he presents them on the celluloid has always been different. And Khoya Khoya Chaand is no different. This time around he attempts a period movie against the backdrop of the Indian film Industry (I would abstain from using the word Bollywood as I very much doubt if the term existed in 1960's). He takes bits and pieces from the film magazines, scandals, rumours and biographies to weave a plot and base it on the love-story between the writer/director and the actress. Sounds familiar? Well, fact meets fiction and a thin line separates the two. For a novice it would seem KKC is a tale taking snippets predominantly from the lives of Guru Dutt, Waheeda Rehman, Meena Kumari, Nargis, Kamal Amrohi, Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar. And perhaps more, if one were to ask an expert on the subject. As with Sudhir Mishra's movies he infuses the grey shades to the characters owing to which they flesh out very much true-to-life. ם Shiny Ahuja:: Does a good job. Its evident that his character loosely inspired on the life of Guru Dutt and perhaps Raj Kapoor.ם Soha Ali Khan:: Quite a matured performance indeed. Her character has many layers and safely manages to deliver the goods. I am sure the inputs from Mum must have helped.ם Vinay Pathak:: Initially you feel the actor is wasted in a pathetic character, but in second half the character gains momentum.ם Rajat Kapoor:: As usual dependable. ם Sonya Jehan:: Extremely pretty however her performance seemed very plastic. The set, makeup, songs, dances, costumes (and even the telephone ring) transport you into the era of 60's. Everybody who has contributed to the movie deserves to be acknowledged for the valiant effort. KKC is not Om Shanti Om, the goody-goody glorified industry, it is not Bollywood Calling, the dark satire and neither Luck By Chance which portrays the industry from the struggler's perspective but yes - it belong to the same genre. It does not shy away to tell the darker side of the industry and attempts to realistically portray the picture behind the iron wall without being derogatory. The movie caters to a cross-section of audience hence there is hardly any room for commercial or wider acceptance.

Disappointing, to say the least. This movie doesn't even come close to Hazaaron Khwaahishen Aisi. This was a movie with so much potential, but Sudhir Mishra's apparent self-indulgence makes it almost painful watching in parts. Khoya Khoya Chand was never meant to target the commercial audience, but I doubt many people will be able to appreciate the plot, especially the second half. It is a movie that tries to celebrate itself without achieving an iota of greatness.Shiny Ahuja is brilliant, as usual, and Soha Ali Khan tries, but her role demanded someone more expressive, like Vidya Balan. The performances though are completely negated by the story. The last half-hour is a tragedy, both in the movie, and for the audience.