It’s time to chat about a new Bollywood movie and with Jab We Met, we have a more traditional rom-com formula. At least more traditional to what I am used to here in the US. I went in expecting an opposites attract storyline, but it turned into so much more than the surface fluffy story I was expecting. So join me as I share what I enjoyed and why I think this would be the perfect starter Bollywood movie for a novice viewer.

SYNOPSIS:

A depressed wealthy businessman finds his life changing after he meets a spunky and care-free young woman. (IDMb)

THE PLOT

This movie had so many great layers that I was not expecting. Once again, proving that having a 3+ hour movie is not necessarily a bad thing. I also loved how we got a juxtaposition of the OTP’s character development. At the beginning of the show, Aditya is at the lowest of lows, even considering ending things for good. But that was when he met Geet. A bubbly chatterbox who took over the role of guardian angel when she noticed her train companion’s depressed mood. They have adventures, and Aditya gets another lease on life,, at which time he can be there for Geet when life gives her a few unwelcome surprises. All in all, the plot was really well-paced.

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Three movies into this movie review series, and I have found that I need to judge these films and their cinematography on more than just the dance numbers since they are always so much fun. So I am going to mention a few things beyond the flashy colors that caught my eye. I really liked how the director was able to use Geet’s character to always keep the scenes really animated. Whether Geet was drinking a bottle of water or crazily running away from the crazy situations she put herself in, the camera ate up her mannerisms and made the viewer fall in love with her along with her leading man.

The other technical moment that really dragged me into the story was the scenes filmed near the Himalayas (at least, I was assuming they were the Himalayan mountain range since they were so awe-inspiring and majestic.) The area was just so gorgeous that it made me want to jump on a plane and visit.

CHARACTER OBSERVATIONS

There was so much character growth both as a couple and individually that time flew by. Geet and Aditya were such a great OTP and had a very positive outlook for the most part. And the few moments of depressing created great plot development and didn’t linger for very long. They had me swooning and hoping for their happy ever after from their first scene together. So much so that I would say that this is one of the better romances I have watched of any country, and I look forward to rewatching in the future.

I also loved the energy and positive family feels that Geet’s family provided. Their house was just full of chaos, people, and opinions but was held together with a ton of love. All of the extended family moments just were a cherry on top of an already great show.

OVERALL REACTION

If you couldn’t tell by now, I loved this movie and gave it a very solid 8.5/10. It is also joining my “I need a positive romance” list for those days when I just need something to cheer me up. I highly recommend this movie, especially if you are trying to get your friends and family to give Bollywood movies a chance. It is not too far from a Western watcher’s comfort zone but gives you a nice flavor of Indian culture. It truly is a perfect gateway movie.

Til our next Bollywood adventure,

Kmuse

Dramas with a Side of Kimchi