Movie Monday March 13: Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!

I originally picked this Bollywood classic, Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! for last week while I was in India, but didn’t get a chance to finish watching or writing. The wedding trip was amazing, so I decided to write about this movie this week. I first watched it in a Bollywood cinema class I took in college, but the bride also recommended it for guests who were unfamiliar with Indian wedding traditions.

**Warning, mild spoilers ahead, so if you haven’t watched the movie yet, what are you doing?**

Prem (Salman Khan) and Nisha (Madhuri Dixit) are the unlikeliest couple. They bicker, fight, and play pranks on each other, though all in good fun. Their siblings Rajesh (Mohnish Bahl) and Pooja (Renuka Shahane), on the other hand, are getting married. Though an arranged marriage by their respective families, Rajesh and Pooja genuinely fall for each other. Through the wedding preparations and parties, Prem and Nisha also start to fall in love. They keep it a secret, however, waiting for the right time to tell their families. Before that, Pooja suffers a tragic accident after giving birth to her and Rajesh’s son. The two families decide that Nisha should marry Rajesh and become a mother to her nephew. Nisha thinks that everyone is talking about her marrying Prem, so she unknowingly agrees. Both her and Prem decide to put their feelings aside for the good of their families. When Rajesh finds out, though, he decides that the couple deserves happiness. In the end Prem and Nisha marry with much joy from everyone.

So, What Do I Think?

Though I’d seen Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! before, I was happy to watch it again. It’s fun and there are catchy musical numbers, but with 199 minute run time, it’s quite long. Still, I enjoyed watching it. With such a wedding centric theme, it definitely got me in an Indian wedding mindset. Some of the events and ceremonies in the movie I actually got to participate in in real life. One of the most fun was the shoe stealing during the ceremony. The bride’s relatives try to steal the groom’s shoes while the groom’s side has to hide and then resteal them. This injects a bit of fun during a long ceremony.

Both Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit are Bollywood royalty. They are amazing performers, through both their acting and dancing. One thing I love about really good Bollywood performers is how much they can emote with a single look. Both Khan and Dixit do this well. Small instances during songs and even during large ensemble scenes, both actors create moments of emotional intensity between them. 

The ensemble cast also does a great job. I’ve seen many of these actors in other movies, including Reema Lagoo, Alok Nath, and Mohnish Bahl, but the most recognizable to many would be Anupam Kher. If you’ve seen the TV show New Amsterdam, Bend It Like Beckham, or Silver Linings Playbook, then you’ve seen him. He’s one of several Bollywood actors who’ve broken into Hollywood and beyond.

Like almost all Bollywood movies, musical numbers are ingrained into the plot structure. “Didi Tera Devar Deewana” is a fun comedic number showing the teasing relationship between Prem, Nisha, and other family members. “Wah Wah Ramji” shows Pooja and Rajesh getting engaged while their families celebrate and thank the gods for their union. “Pehla Pehla Pyar” is the romantic climax as Prem and Nisha finally admit their true feelings towards each other. The fourteen songs each serve a purpose, whether it’s to expose emotions, show an event, or be a montage. While there are many cultural nuances I probably missed, the lyrics and dancing sometimes provide an explanation to the scene.

Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! is a fun movie for both kids and adults and a great introduction to Indian weddings as well as other culturally relevant events. I enjoyed my second watch of the movie and will probably watch it again at some point.

I’d give Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! 7.5 deus ex machina Tuffies out of 10. (You’ll have to watch the movie to get that one)