Film Review: Jhoom Barabar Jhoom

I could have stayed home and watched Indian television. I guess that is what others were doing. There were only two other people in the theatre. I don’t imagine it will be around for long. It is only playing in one theatre and only on the weekend. I love Indian food and enjoy all the Bollywood films. If you have never seen one you owe it to yourself to have the experience.
The story is not important. It usually deals with a beautiful girl in love with the handsome man. There are endless problems and in the end the happy couple end up together. It is all done in a highly melodramatic fashion. There is a lot of dance and music. In the midst of a highly emotional scene the characters might break into song and dance. The numbers feature a large cast. The costumes are brilliant. The Indian stars are exquisitely beautiful and have bodies to make anyone jealous. You can never analyze the plot. It is often ridiculous and silly. You have to watch as if you are viewing a pageant.
In this case the story begins with a very unique character dressed in a brilliant coat and hat. He plays a strange guitar and sings a song. He becomes the storyteller. He also closes the film. You feel as if you are watching a folktale. A beautiful girl wants a handsome young man. Another man wants the beautiful young girl. They try to trick one another into getting the lover. Tricks and games are played. But of course you know that all will end as it should. It is like an opera in a way. The Indian music has its own sound. Most of the film has English subtitles.