Before I start this review, I really think I need to clarify some aspects. Firstly, I am a huge Aamir Khan fan. I have thoroughly enjoyed most of his films, and I have tremendous respect for his film choices – something he has been able to do so much better than most of Bollywood legends. A Hindi adaptation of Forrest Gump was always going to be difficult – but I genuinely thought if anyone could do it, it would be Aamir, or someone of his caliber. Even if the adaptation wasn’t directed impeccably, I was looking forward to his performance, as well as Kareena’s.
Well, it took me three attempts to finish the movie. And I thought of not finishing the movie at all many times. Laal Singh Chaddha disappointed, and it disappointed big time, and sadly, one of the heaviest burdens falls on Aamir’s shoulders.
Here’s how I thought the movie turned out to be, what impressed me, and what let me down. (SPOILER ALERT, for those who have both Laal Singh Chaddha and Forrest Gump on their watchlist still!)
An Adaptation Does Not Have to be a Shot for a Shot Remake. If It Is, Make It Consistent
I think this was one of the biggest issues I had with Laal Singh Chaddha. When the movie started, I was getting a positive vibe. Forrest Gump’s wait for the bus at a bench was replaced with Laal’s journey in the train cabin, surrounded by people. I expected such fresh changes throughout the film, so that Laal Singh Chaddha can stand on its own.
Of course, that didn’t happen.
Laal Singh Chaddha more or less followed the story of Forrest Gump throughout its entirety. There were very few changes, mostly to fit the historic scene of India (for example, the War in Vietnam being replaced by the Kargil War). So it was mostly a shot-for-shot remake, with very little room for showcasing the creativity of the talented director and cast.
But that’s okay, if consistency was maintained to capture the magic of Forrest Gump through a proper remake. And that’s where Aamir’s performance comes in.
Aamir’s Performance Is A Massive Let Down
Truth be told, a lot of people have had issues with Forrest Gump’s plot. The magical, but incredibly unrealistic and comical depiction of a man’s journey through historically significant events did not win everyone’s hearts. But one thing everyone did agree on. And that was Tom Hanks’s unforgettable performance in the movie. One of the finest acting performances in the history of American films, Tom Hanks’s acting was incredibly subtle, controlled, and consistent. The audience did believe the lack of intelligence of Forrest, his simple-minded nature, and his problems expressing his emotions properly (throughout the movie, Forrest doesn’t laugh often, nor does he cry too much). Forrest is someone who is often serious, and trying to understand the world around him, always knowing he’s not smart enough and that he might not understand everything. The audience could connect with Forrest, they could feel for him.
Obviously, it’s almost an impossible task to go even near the level of Hanks’s depiction of Forrest.
But what Aamir did with Laal can either be described as lazy, or trying too hard. It felt like a completely clueless depiction of the character that Laal is supposed to represent.
A lot of viewers have stated the character of Laal was highly similar to that of Aamir’s famous film PK’s titular character.
Aamir’s Laal shows his emotions. He laughs, and cries, and his expressions seem very forced, and often, comical. One of the most significant aspects of Forrest’s character was his struggle with his lack of intelligence. Forrest knew he wasn’t smart, and he carried this burden all throughout his life, always aware of his situation.
Laal, however, is hardly ever seen with such struggles. Rather, his lack of intelligence never comes up through Aamir’s portrayal. Rather, the fact that Laal isn’t smart can only be understood through the actions he takes. In general, Laal acts very much like the alien from PK. His actions seem like some sort of caricature.
I’ve had troubles with Aamir’s accent as well. I’m not sure he got that right. However, I’m not properly familiar with the accent he was aiming for, so I wouldn’t be able to make a judgment here.
Overall, though, Aamir fails miserably to portray the character he is supposed to portray. Laal isn’t anything like Forrest. And I tried my best to forget about Forrest, about Tom Hanks, to see if I find Laal to be any more acceptable. But ultimately, Laal remained a character that I could not connect with, at all. And in many ways, getting Laal’s depiction correct was the most crucial task for the actor and the director.
Rupa’s Character is Very Different from Jenny’s, Was It Another Wrong Call?
Jenny still remains one of the most unique love interests of any central character. Jenny was a deeply flawed human being, with a traumatizing past. Jenny’s life decisions were often self-destructive. However, her decisions impacted Forrest’s life deeply as well. When she left Forrest after making love to him for the first time, it left Forrest in such a bad mental state that he needed to run aimlessly for more than three years to process the grief. No wonder fans have such conflicting views on Jenny, with some having genuine hatred for her.
However, Rupa’s character is completely different from Jenny’s, even though they start off quite similar. Rupa is a lot more considerate, compassionate, and in control. Rupa doesn’t take rash decisions that might hurt Laal badly. Rather, she is forced to leave Laal due to her being searched for by the police on a crime investigation. The audience won’t be conflicted with Rupa. They’ll sympathize with her. Rupa is lovable, she is not Jenny.
Rupa’s portrayal is something that has me conflicted as well. I personally would prefer a Jenny-like portrayal of the character, since that presents yet another conflict. Otherwise, Laal and Rupa’s relationship hardly has any strong internal conflicts.
Rupa’s character almost felt forgettable, or rather, a character that can exist in any romantic film.
However, Kareena’s performance was decent, which made the character a lot more enjoyable.
The Positives: Little Laal and His Mom
I have to say, Ahmad Ibn Umar and Mona Singh were excellent in their portrayals of little Laal and Laal’s mother. The starting phase of the movie mostly contained the two of them, and it showed a lot of promise. Little Laal and Laal’s mom were very genuine, and believable. Both of them deserve praise for their performances.
Another small note: I absolutely loved the Shahrukh Khan cameo. No, not exactly because of Shahrukh’s performance, it was hardly a part where he could showcase his talent. But I loved how the movie replaced Elvis’s learning of his famous hip movements with Shahrukh’s signature hands-spread-out pose. As our generation has experienced Shahrukh’s performances since our childhood, the way Shahrukh’s pose was introduced (with a sample from the iconic Bazigaar song as well!) gave me goosebumps!
Final Take: A Huge Disappointment
I honestly rooted for Laal Singh Chaddha even before I watched it. I desperately wanted the movie to be a good one, because it’s an adaptation of one of my favorite movies, and it starred one of my favorite actors.
That’s why it’s so sad and frustrating to see how the movie turned out. I tried to like the movie, but absolutely couldn’t. I truly believe the cast and the director could have done a much better job.
Ultimately, the stage was set, but the execution went horribly wrong, ending in bitter disappointment.