VEER ZAARA (ORIGINAL BOLLYWOOD DVD)(PLUG & PLAY)

I am a 68 yr old American so my review comes after years of seeing some of the worst and most brilliant films ever made! This movie is up with, if possibly, the best! Visually stunning, sometimes funny, and deeply moving. You will be transported to India/Pakistan and take part in a love story that will touch your own heart with the sacrifices and power of true love demonstrated in it's many forms. I hope each viewer comes away from this as touched as I was that one person, each individual, can make a real change in this troubled world by operating in love!

After 22 years in a Pakistani prison, Hindustani Veer Pretap Singh (Shah Rukh Khan) is assigned a novice lawyer, Saamiya (Rani Mukerji), to review and represent his case. Having remained silent for the years of his imprisonment, he opens up to Saamiya and tells her the story behind his arrest: the love story between him and a Pakistani woman, Zaara (Preity Zinta).The plot of this romantic drama is gripping, moving, and mostly believable. It portrays Pakistan-India relations sensitively. The music is average and above, with some enjoyable choreography. This is a gorgeous movie, with both costumes and scenery that were breathtaking. Khan and Zinta have excellent chemistry and were entirely convincing. Mukerji played the uncertain but determined attorney well. Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini were cast as Khan's parents, with Kirron Kher as Zaara's mother; the three were, naturally, fantastic. The cast also includes Divya Dutta, Anupam Kher, Zohra Sehgal, and Manoj Bajpayee, all of whom gave solid performances. Overall, this is a wonderfully written and acted film, and I highly recommend it.

This is one of the best movies of all time. A masterpiece of a movie like only Yash Raj (Yash Chopra) Films makes; makes you wish there were a 100 more movies of this quality beyond those made by this company; the truly golden days of Indian cinema which is changed so much recently that it makes this movie a true classic. Seeing it again a year later and a year after that it's still as poignantly beautiful and vibrant as it was the first time around. Though some of the subject matter is quite sad, it's always interspersed with such an engaging and beautiful story throughout which has tremendous joy in much of the movie also; so full of heart . Beautiful cinematography, great acing. It feels true to life and with a message of humanity in it. Shahrukh Khan (lead actor) is just superb in this. Though some of the subject matter is quite sad, the movie is so full of heart and has tremendous joy in it also, beautiful cinematography, great acing. It feels true to life and with a message of humanity in it. Much of the movie is vibrant, all is touching, all is totally engaging. Rani Mukerjee is excellent in this also; as is Preity Zinta perfect in her part; Amitabh Bachchan a total delight;, Hema Malani, Kirron Kher, Anupam Kher, Divya Dutta, Boman Irani..., all in this film are top of the line Indian Actors and Actresses and fully carry the story Incredible sets and scenery, great music. If you like good Indian films this one is highly recommended. A truly memorable work of cinema.

Wow, this movie has a overwhelming number of 5 star reviews. Now I see I will be the first 3 star review. - Good movie no doubt but not the best one on our short list [5] of Bollywood movies as the others rated it. I guess the ratio of 5 stars reviews got my expectations up too high. Or perhaps I need to see a movie without SRK for a change What's with all SRK's shaking? Estimate he was approx. 28 yrs old as a helicopter pilot then 22 yrs in prison = only 50 yrs old & was absurdly trying to shake like a old man in his 70-80's - it did not look right - looked fake & very distracting. He did not pull it off. - Stick to comedy. [yes, I know Bollywood wants us to throw realism out the door but still very distracting]. Surprising we did not experience the "bring your hankies/ tear jerker effect [OK.maybe a little during his speech to the judge] but certainly not to the degree the other 80 reviewers said it would be.Bollywood always delivered the whole pkg to us, humor, romance, dancing, sometimes some wild car chases, music, drama, & choked up tears at the end. We give 5 stars to every other [4] Bollywood movie we've seen, and as us Bollywood movie fans know, they run a lot longer than Hollywood movies but the time just rushes by - not the case in this movie, clocking in at 3 hrs & 15 minuets, it did drag & I was looking at the clock for the first time. - I think it was that the sadness ran throughout a good part of the movie with no breaks for humor that made it seem longer - it dragged & this was the first time a Bollywood movie did that.So as one could see this movie was a let-down for us, I guess the 5 star reviewers thought it was the "Gone with the Wind" of Bollywood but I don't want to watch that movie either. So far we both rank "The Chennai Express" as the best Bollywood we've seen because it had ALL the elements of a Bollywood movie including the hankies at the end.So now we are at a stand-still with Bollywood movies after seeing the one, the first one to pull a hold on renting others. If some other reader of this post, [I doubt it make make a difference with all the 5 star reviews] has a suggestions of other Bollywood movies to rent - [knowing what we like] best we appreciate any suggestions.Oh, I forgot to mention, we really noted the Pakistan / India countries clash - a lot of people don't know that is it still happening on at an intense level TODAY. therefore, this movie gives a true history lesson regarding that. That will fly overs viewer heads if they are not keeping up with today's news.

There are no words to explain my love for this story... All about forbidden love between a man and a women who have to suffer for 22 years..There are definitely moments when I cried and would definitely recommend that anyone watches this.. Lovely story..Even know I'm english this will still be my favourite movie, and has allowed me to understand and learn the language by watching passionate and interesting films like this one...Got here quickly and have not regretef buying it.. The dancing, songs, actors and plot is breath taking.

Which era do these people belong to!" Rani Mukherjee exclaims about the Pakistani girl and the Indian man who live with the "idea" of love for 22 years.Old yet passionate, frail yet sublime, the estranged lovers in Yash Chopra's eagerly awaited film are no ordinary love birds. Their body language, demeanor, speech and attitude hark back to an era when emotions were hallmarks of human nature, not designer things to be used as and when required in bubblegum concoctions that masquerade as romantic musicals in our wretched times.By the time the utterly evocative theme song about two inseparable souls torn apart by fate comes on, we're so enamored of Yash Chopra's film that we surrender entirely and unquestioningly to his prescription of romantic passion.Just when we thought heart-warming tales of undying love were a dying art form, "Veer-Zaara" comes along. It is the sort of sublimely designed, delicately threaded romantic fable that comes once in a while to win hearts and influence people.After all, a film directed by Yash Chopra is no ordinary event. "Veer-Zaara" is a little more extraordinary than we expect it to be.While telling a fluent story about a love that cuts captivatingly across the India-Pakistan border, Chopra, for the first time in his romantic oeuvre, introduces ideas that transcend romance.Through the strong and very memorable character of the rookie lawyer Samiya (Rani Mukherjee), ideas on female literacy and women's empowerment seep into the narrative.Nothing about the romance between the Indian Air Force pilot and the aristocratic Pakistani girl is overstated. There are no raised voices (even when the heroine's father scolds her he does it sotto voce).There's no screaming, no attention-getting tactics...And yet the films gets it...All of our attention, though it takes a bit of time to get over the longish bits of Punjabi dialogues among Amitabh Bachchan (playing Shah Rukh's prankish old-man), Hema Malini (hopelessly out of her depth in the robust Punjabi milieu), Shah Rukh and Preity.Once the slight hiccups are done, it's as simple as falling in love."Veer-Zaara" builds its case for the protagonists' unbreakable bonding through a neo-classical blend of song and emotion. Chopra unleashes a temperate tidal wave of feelings that swim teasingly just beneath the surface.The surge of love between two people belonging to entirely different cultures and lands is collected into a quaint and quivering collage of memory and melody.The narration moves of its own melodious volition. The music and songs by the late Madan Mohan and the profound yet simple poetry of Javed Akhtar supplement the melody of romance with enchanting articulations of heart that know not why they love and sing. They just do.Chopra has terrific help from cameraman Anil Mehta who beautifies the rugged rural landscape without making it appear fairytale-like in proportion. Shah Rukh and Preity fill the splendid rustic spaces with sounds of love.But the protagonists' geopolitical credentials never appear forced or labored. Veer and Zaara are who they are. In sequences such as the one where Veer meets Zaara's fiance (Manoj Bajpai) on the railway station, or when Zaara's mother (the brilliantly passionate Kirron Kher) implores Veer to give back her daughter for the sake of family honor, are potentially cliched situations converted into a celebration of life through the writer's imagination.The writing skills imparted to the story of 'forbidden' love are immense, and so is the performance level of the cast. Rani's deeply studied, utterly heroic part of the activist-lawyer is uplifting.Once again Shah Rukh confers his charismatic personality on a role that has many shades of emotions. His performance as the old man in the courtroom where after being absolved of all crimes he reads out a poem is rabble rousing.And those who thought Preity couldn't be rustic and earthy, better watch how she slips into Zaara's slippers, imparting a coltish seductiveness to the part. Kirron Kher, Divya Dutta and Manoj Bajpai bring tremendous feeling to the supporting parts.But the director's true allies in this creative endeavour are the photography and the music. The use of spatial harmony in the haunting climactic song "Tere liye" is a measure of Chopra's power and skills of narration. The calibre of the late Madan Mohan's music is certainly high grade. Many scenes are elevated by the quality of music."Veer-Zaara" is a very simple story of immense nobility and idealism. Its contours are fleshed out with the most precious colors of life to complete a picture that is at once symmetrical and sublime, sweet, tender and yet secreting a core of strength and conviction that takes it beyond the conventional romantic musicals.By the way I LOVE PREITY!!! SOOO BUFF!courtesy of kzay n india-glitz

This film is a tragic love story, that myself and my family really enjoyed. I have enjoyed Bollywood movies for some time but my husband who usually does not enjoy love stories really liked this movie. Sharuk Khan plays the ultimate hero who is so honourable to the one he loves that he is prepared to remain in prison for eons. Where do we see love like that nowadays? I would recommend this to anyone who wants to watch real love unravel.....even if it is only in our dreams.

I am not new to enjoying Bollywood Movies-just slightly lapsed-and enjoying them as much if not more than I used to.I have been back 'into' Bollywood for about two years having first enjoyed them when stationed on a little tiny island in The Indian Ocean-many years ago.I am very much a Romantic,SO-Bollywood Movies do it for me.VEER-ZAARA is a Classic.When I first watched it I was spellbound.I watched it from beginning to end.Sometimes I laughed,sometimes I cried.The Story has been chronicled many times so I will not repeat the storyline which has been very ably told.Shahrukh Khan-well He is Shahrukh and a Master at what He does.His performance is flawless as it has been in all his films that I have seen-In this one He Excels-Not heard of any Bollywood Actors receiving Oscars or have I missed that!!Preity Zinta-seen a few films with her in-having read The storyline I did not think that she had been well cast.Oh Boy!was I wrong.I may be incorrect but I heard that Preity was not first choice for the part!!Well whoever it was,Sorry.Preity-You were FANTASTIC!!First Film I have seen with Rani Mukerji in.She is STUNNING-she took my breath away-and still does.The Film IS a Classic.I am only sorry that it has not been dubbed!Maybe a thought for the Future as I am sure more people would watch them-ME-I don't care I will watch them anyway.

One of the most amazing films I have ever seen its a must see but remember your tissues...because you will cry x x