Krrish, 2006

I feel very lucky to live in an area that is literally peppered with Indian movie theaters. I know there's a lot of Bollywood fans who have to depend on Internet shopping, movie rentals, or three-hour drives to satisfy their lust for Indian films. I, however, can easily reach at least five or six different theaters. Heck, there's one only two blocks from my college campus.

Still, I was surprised yesterday when my friend Reshma found that Krrish was playing not far from her home in the Bronx... in a mainstream theater. I was incredulous, but right there on the billboard, sandwiched between Superman Returns and Click, was the most recent Hrithik Roshan starrer.

Another advantage that I have when it comes to watching films is that I'm never alone. Some friends and family might discourage obsessive behavior over movies in a language I can't understand - mine enable it. And so yesterday I went to the theater with Reshma and Listy and our smuggled snacks to enjoy what proved to be a completely entertaining film.

Krrish is the sequel to Koi... Mil Gaya, but you don't need to see the latter to understand the former. For fear of spoiling one movie to summarize the next, I'll try to keep this brief. Krishna (Hrithik Roshan) has inherited superpowers from his father, Rohit (also Hrithik Roshan). However, after tragedy strikes, Krishna is raised alone by his grandmother (Rekha, always looking beautiful). When Krishna's talents become apparent, Grandma tries to hide him from the world by taking him to the most remote area possible, where Krishna grows up with the same naivete that his father had. Grandma doesn't want him to be exploited because of his superpowers.

Apparently, Krishna's powers include (but are not limited to):

1. Running faster than horses and through traffic
2. Fishing well
3. Climbing mountains like a spider
4. Swimming like a fish
5. Exceptional hearing
6. Saving children from burning blazes
7. Bouncing off boats
8. Setting the table
9. Fixing broken ankles
10. Dancing like an idiot at times
11. Dancing fluidly at times, despite his muscle mass
12. Swordplay

Enter Priya (Priyanka Chopra), an NRI from Singapore who comes to the area with her friend Honey (who annoyed me so much I will not even dignify her by looking up her name) as part as an "adventure camp" (in case you aren't tired of parantheses, I just thought it would be interesting to note that the camp is led by the same actor who seriously injured Amitabh Bachchan with a powerful punch on the set of 1983's Coolie). Of course, like his father, Krishna likes to play jokes on the pretty girls that he likes in order to win their affection.

Priya, however, must return to Singapore, but is dismayed when she is fired from her position at a television station. Honey comes up with a plan to use Krishna to get their jobs back, but it requires Priya feigning love for Krishna (he's totally smitten with her, but she doesn't reciprocate). Several songs and fiery blazes later, Priya does fall for him (I don't think I'm spoiling anything here), but now Krishna has bigger problems to worry about, like saving the world.

Strangely enough, the eponymous Krrish (Krisha's alter-ego) doesn't emerge until about two hours into the movie. Having promised Grandma that he wouldn't do anything to stand out, he dons the mask in times of trouble (mostly because, well, you can't sit back and watch the world's cutest children perish in a fiery pit of despair). However, confusion regarding the mask leads at least one innocent man's death, which is the one end that isn't really tied up in the film that I really wish had been.

Naseeruddin Shah plays a Mogambo-like villain (he's even got a Mogambo-like lair and catchphrase), Dr. Siddhant Arya, who wants to build a computer that can see the future so that, essentially, he can play God. At first it seemed like a hilariously ludicrous idea, but the movie depends on this computer, and so I can let it slide.

The best part, though, was chatting to my friends throughout the film.
As Hrithik stands on a balcony with a vista of Singapore -
"Wow, that's beautiful."
"I know, his back, right?"
Tired of Priya playing Krishna:
"Man, I just want to slap her around."
"You'll have to get in line. We'll take turns."

And it's easy to see why Singapore was chosen as the primary setting of the movie. Supposedly taking place about 20 years into the future, Singapore certainly looks the part, right down to the elevators and public art sculptures.

All in all, this film is enjoyable and entertaining despite its flaws, and three hours simply fly by. I liked it just as much, if not more, than its prequel, although this film is clearly geared towards a different audience.