Review of Chandni

Chandni (1989)
5/10
Sridevi is the only reason to watch this film
6 July 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Despite the great success of this film, Chandni is quite frankly one of Yash Chopra's weakest films in terms of script. I mean, it's too typical to be convincing: a girl loves a guy, then he has an accident and becomes invalid, he doesn't want her anymore because he thinks she is too good for him, she leaves, she meets another guy who falls for her. Before they marry, the second guy meets the first guy, who all of a sudden is no longer invalid, and as expected they become friends. That's when we get a very typical love triangle and some annoyingly melodramatic proceedings, more tears than real emotion. The climax and the ending are predictable to the core, and in many instances throughout the film the dialogues are quite cheap ("Oh my love for her made me a normal person again").

But the film is not that bad after all and has good points too. It flows well, the music is beautiful and the film is well-located. Sridevi is the main highlight of the film with her natural acting, trademark saris and well danced song numbers. One particular instrumental dance number to which she dances in the fields is astonishing, and she looks so smashing hot! The film is considered to be a classic today, and I do understand why. This clearly is not because the film is exceptionally good, but the fact that it brought a huge welcome change to commercial Hindi cinema after several years of mindless and violent action films. The film re-introduced romantic musicals which were endearing and visually beautiful, and were somehow lost and assimilated in the 1980s. It's great that the one who reintroduced them is Yash Chopra, the one who actually makes them best.
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