Jo Hum Chahein

wogma rating: Switch channels if it's on cable (?)

quick review:

An obnoxious, self-centered boy comes of age. And he cannot act. Neither can the women or men who help him come of age in their ways. And the women are a few of the most gullible ones I've seen in ages, even on screen!

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Director: Pawan Gill
Running time: 140 minutes
Genres: Docu-drama, Romance
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Jo Hum Chahein is cheese and sap at its worst. It's been a long time since I've seen so many women getting wooed by such crap after acknowledging that it is crap. So, they are supposed to be smart and yet they fall for whatever it is they were intended to fall for. Beats me!

Theoretically, there is always at least one thing nice to say about a film even if you hated it. That usually comes in the form of dialogue - which we’ve ruled out - or basic plot or situations or acting or at least the music. But, na-ah! It felt like I was watching a school play where the teacher said, happy means :-), and angry means :-| and sad means :'( and all of this can be said with flat dialogue delivery. No voice modulation necessary.

The music sounded generic though some of the lyrics were decent. Note the word 'some' there. At other times, the lyrics were trying to be cool with words like disc and CD thrown in. Anyway, it's not like you were going to go watch the film just for its lyrics.

There were these fleeting things which I thought was pretty sweet for such a superficial film. One was where a character says, "I used you because I could." Another where a character forgave another for a blunder because they wanted to forgive and not because of some melodrama was emoted their way. These two were pretty insightful things for characters to say and do. So much so that they actually seem accidental in this set-up.

Yet, nothing about Jo Hum Chahein is average enough to watch even if it's playing on TV. Skippity-skip!

- meeta, a part of the audience

15 reviewers(?) - 0 yays 3 so-so 12 nays

Warning: clicking on "full review" will take you to an external website that could contain spoilers.

So-So, by Taran Adarsh, Bollywood Hungama : ...In doing so, Pawan doesn't take the tried and tested route to narrate his tale. The love story isn't the type that would make you exclaim, 'Not again'.... full review

So-So, by Nupur Barua, fullhyd.com : ...Again, to give him credit, it is undoubtedly a sincere effort to portray the lives of some young people trying to realise their dreams, but the execution is shoddy, to say the least.... full review

So-So, by Rajeev Masand, IBN Live : ...Debutant writer-director Pawan Gill updates this familiar story with some real touches – the film's heroine doesn't shy away from pre-marital sex, and when it comes to having a baby she makes a rather radical choice. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Anna Vetticad, annavetticadgoes2themovies : ...On the bright side, Mundi is tall, has a lithe figure and in one song shot among rocks and by a water body, wears some of the loveliest dresses given to a Hindi film actress in recent times... full review

Thumbs down, by Smita, Desi Martini : ...Hum definitely nahi chahein... full review

Thumbs down, by Blessy Chettiar, DNA : ...The writing is amusing. Writer and director Pawan Gill garnishes his script with all the cheese in the world, using every possible English idiom to emphasise emotional tension... full review

Thumbs down, by Deepa Gahlot, Film Impressions : ...The screenplay of this YRF-wannebe chugs along over utterly uninteresting episodes in Rohan’s life, and the actors are just not equipped to deal with emotional complexities.... full review

Thumbs down, by Martin D'Souza, Glamsham.com : ...story is clumsy to the core.... full review

Thumbs down, by Shubhra Gupta, indian express : ...the inexperience shows all around.... full review

Thumbs down, Movie Talkies : ...Now, the only positive thing that can be said about the movie is that the makers have spent money and talent on the cinematography part-for the movie has a rich feel to it, the kinds seen in Karan Johar and Yash Raj Films products... full review

Thumbs down, by Karan Anshuman, Mumbai Mirror : ...A simple love story without SRK's charm is pointless (actors, stop aping him). Invest instead in writers, who will give you - what studios like to call - 'high concept scripts'... full review

Thumbs down, by Mansha Rastogi, Now Running.com : ...Jo Hum Chahein should only remain as a show reel for both the newcomers to showcase their talent. As a film it fails to deliver... full review

Thumbs down, by Sonia Chopra, Sify Movies : ...Not worth your time... full review

Thumbs down, by Swati Rohatgi, STARDUST : ...What deserves a special mention is the cinematography. From the looks of the film, one expects a trashy, half-done job in filmmaker but the glossy cinematography comes as a pleasant surprise.... full review

Thumbs down, by Nikhat Kazmi, Times of India : ...Essentially a non-happening film with mediocre acting. ... full review

Twitter reviews for this movie are not available.

2 readers - 1 yays 1 so-so 0 nays

Yay! Thumbs Up, by Johnathon Kollop : good couple movie

So-So, by Sachita Suri : the only think worth the time or money or energy are the songs

This page has additional observations, other than the ones noted in the main review.

Parental Guidance:

  • Violence: A few punches
  • Language: Nothing directly obscene or abusive
  • Nudity & Sexual content: A couple of making out scenes and kisses
  • Concept: Coming of age of a self-centered guy
  • General Look and Feel: Bright and attempt at peppy

Detailed Ratings (out of 5):

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Jo Hum Chahein - Cast, crew, links

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140 minutes
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