A sweet, smart story that seems straight out of someone’s life. Break Ke Baad has an endearing everyday quality sans the maudlin filmi twists and turns that reek of reality. Aliya (Deepika Padukone) and Abhay (Imran Khan) have known each other all their lives and have been dating ever since they can remember. She is the chalk to his cheese, the shot of extra foam to his latte. He is sorted, quiet, indulgent and patient, very patient. She is wild, willful, self-centered and selfish in a self-absorbed, I-me-myself way. He knows they will end up together. She is commitment phobic. She wants to be a movie star, he just wants to be with her. And then they break up. And get back. But obviously. But what happens in between is the crux of the film.
The film works because you have no choice but to fall in love with these two people. You love Abhay for his tolerance, his understanding, his goodness and his instinctive wisdom about Aliya. You love Aliya because she is who she is. She knows not another way. And if she breaks up with Abhay just like that, that too is just characteristic. Debutant director Danish Aslam seems to have lived these characters or at least known people like them. His victory stems from the fact that he doesn’t give in to clichés except in the finale. A little like in Jab We Met, we see Aliya’s evolution very distinctly and Abhay plays the perfect foil. The situations are original and alternate between insightful, wry and just plain endearing.
Break Ke Baad is not just about love, it is also about what it does to us. You can throw it out of the window but it will return tongue firmly in cheek, because that is the nature of the beast. And if two people are meant to be together they will be. While you root for Abhay’s quiet affection and endless understanding, you also want Aliya to find her way. Even if she’s being mean, shallow and stupid along the way. As Abhay’s bua (played wonderfully by Lilette Dubey) in the film says, “Tum log sab kuch chahte ho, lekin dard nahi?” or some such. What she means basically is there is no shortcut to love. It’s a mean bitch that will take its due from you. “Be fearless,” she tells Abhay who needs to muster up his courage about things that are not just about Aliya.
BKB is an intelligent film with very few flaws. The last 30 minutes seem a little stretched and the climax is a little forced. The supporting cast is fabulous. Sharmila Tagore brings dignity and charm to her sketchy role and Shahana Goswami shines as Nadia. Someone please rediscover this amazingly talented girl and give her more to do. Yudhishthir Urs is droll and funny and plays his part well.
As for the lead actors, they are perfectly cast. Deepika throws herself into Aliya with such aplomb it’s fun to watch. Her spontaneity and confidence flood the screen. And Imran’s role becomes him. He is lovable and you want this nice guy to get the girl. Possibly box her ears and tell her to behave but get her ultimately.
Break Ke Baad is possibly the best love story we have seen all this year and maybe last year too. Danish Aslam take a bow. Encore please.
"As actors, we all want our audience to like our work; so even if you ask me this question after five years I will say yes I want to work harder and harder to be loved by my audience."
~ Imran Khan
