By Hindustan Times, December 11, 2006 - 14:27 IST
18 of 25 people found this review helpful Performances: Salman Khan’s likeable, Hema Malini’s statuesque but John Abraham, outfitted in Govinda jackets, is pure timber.
If Rani Mukherji cries once more in the movies, you’ll jump from the balcony. As the reformist dad, Amitabh Bachchan is letter-perfect. Every facial expression and every word of dialogue is delivered with just the right nuance and intonation. But what is the use of such artistry in an enterprise that seems to be a Baa bhool?
By Indiaglitz, December 12, 2006 - 06:17 IST
10 of 16 people found this review helpful The relationships between Salman-Rani and Salman-Bachchan have been handled very well. And that alone is a reason for watching this film. Don’t go expecting too much, and you may relish a few portions. Especially if you are a Salman fan!
By Rediff, December 12, 2006 - 06:33 IST
5 of 12 people found this review helpful Don't forget Salman and (director) Ravi Chopra. They did a good job! I, for one, loved the whole experience. And I am sure, so will the masses.
By Apunkachoice, December 12, 2006 - 06:36 IST
8 of 14 people found this review helpful Although the movie seems to become a little heavy on sentimentality at times, the conclusion of the story more than compensates for such glitches.
‘Baabul’ will definitely appeal to the family crowds. Even the young ‘Dhoom generation’ can find the movie eminently watchable.
By DNA India, December 12, 2006 - 06:41 IST
7 of 13 people found this review helpful While some scenes do touch the heart, like Rani’s outburst when she realises what games are being played to make her fall for John, or Amitabh’s late night plea to John on the streets of London, even to some extent Salman’s brat-like demeanour, Baabul doesn’t have the emotional appeal or the ‘lump in the throat’ effect of Ravi Chopra’s earlier Baghban. And at 2 hours and 40 minutes, it is at least 15 minutes too long.
Amitabh Bachchan excels as the doting father and father-in-law with the somewhat naughty quirk of cheating when playing games with his son, but it isn’t something he hasn’t done before. Hema Malini looks lovely but there is too little of her. Salman is Salman, a rockstar, whatever he does.
By Ibnlive, December 12, 2006 - 06:54 IST
6 of 11 people found this review helpful I must also confess that I find films like Baabul particularly disturbing because they seem to miss the larger point. Of course widow remarriage is an important and relevant issue, but come on, can we stop behaving like widowhood is similar to cancer. Like it's a disease that needs to be cured, or healed.
By Filmfare / Times of India / Indiatimes, December 12, 2006 - 07:05 IST
6 of 12 people found this review helpful The problem with Baabul is its first half: completely dead and totally listless. The romance between middle class Rani and rich dude Salman is stiff and commonplace. And it takes almost two hours for the duo to meet, sing songs and settle down to the banal business of shaadi and family. Quite unlike Baghban which may not have had the stars but it had the Amitabh and Hema love story surpassing the Salman-Rani romance. It is only in the second half that the drama picks up when the father-in-law tries to re-introduce colours (read John Abraham) in his widowed daughter-in-law's spartan white life.
By Andhracafe, December 12, 2006 - 07:13 IST
6 of 12 people found this review helpful Every time a good role comes by to a heroine and she fails to deliver it is a loss of double opportunity- one the role and the other the fact that such roles are rare to come by. The mainstay of the film is and not surprisingly Amitabh Bachchan. Yet again he gets so much of credibility to the role that you yearn for more even when the proceedings are drab. The scene where he talks to the star filled sky with his dead son warrants a standing ovation. Thankfully he does not go over board. A lot of restraint characterises the performance. Just for him, like ever so often give the film a try.
By Bollyspice, May 9, 2007 - 10:08 IST
Baabul is a family drama that works only because of some really good performances. Other than that, there is nothing new to offer. Also the running length of the movie, as well as the pacing of the movie hurt it really badly...
