Danish Aslam’s “Breal Ke Baad” is one such example.
After working as an assistant director to celebrated Indian producer and filmmaker Kunal Kohli in his films like “Fanaa” (2006) and “Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic” (2008), director Aslam finally got his break as a director in “Break Ke Baad.” Nonetheless, Aslam’s directorial debut does nothing exceptional to BREAK Bollywood’s monotonous doze of puppy-love stories.
Since Aslam had also worked as second assistant director in the acclaimed films like “Swades” (2004) and “Being Cyrus” (2005), he definitely is aware of the basic ingredients required to become a director. But he suffers for not being able to pick right scripts to make a mainstream cinema.
For those who have watched “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai”, “Jaane Tu Ya Jane Na”, “Love Aaj Kal”, and “I Hate Luv Storys”, “Break Ke Baad” is one more film with almost similar story but different faces trying to tell you once again that “a man and a woman can never be just friends”; they fall in love but only after many break ups.
Aaliya Khan (Deepika Padukone) and Abhay Gulati (Imran Khan) are best friends since childhood. Fond of watching movies together they actually know all the lines of “Mr. India.” They complement each other in every possible way and are in a relationship that has been going on and off since their childhood.
Abhay grows up to become an uncertain man with no big ambitions while Aaliya turns out to be more of a risk-taker and an independent woman who believes that even sky in not the limit. While Abhaya’s life is just limited around Aaliya, ironically Aaliya has many more dreams to accomplish before deciding to fall in love. Soon their sweeter than Cadbury relationship faces roadblocks in the face of Aaliya’s youthful ambitions.
She leaves for Australia to accomplish her dream of becoming an actress while Abhay is left with no other option than to believe that it’s a BREAK UP from Aaliya’s side.
Guess what happens next! You got it right. Like in any other escapist dramas of Bollywood, Abhay leaves everything behind and takes off to Australia to make Aaliya believe that it’s not that easy to say “everything is over between us.”
The drama unfolds further with clichéd dialogues and overdone expressions by Imran Khan and Deepika Padukone. Well…not to miss are the exotic locations of Australia and the booze parties that is sure to allure college goers but not the film aficionados.
It’s high time for Imran Khan to get out of his plastic expressions and the same “Jaane Tu Ya Jaane” attitude, if he aspires for a career in Bollywood. Deepika Padukone is all the same in all her films – same expressions, same tone and less rehearsed.
Sometimes, even if a film fails to give you that touch of a good script packaged in a proper screenplay, cinematography and execution, a good soundtrack can create some magic for films. Ironically, Vishal and Shekhar’s music direction also fails to salvage “Break Ke Baad.”
Be it before or after the BREAK, there is nothing extraordinary about BREAK KE BAAD.
Screening at QFX
Related story
Bollywood needs to dignify portrayal of gay characters: Meiyang...