U, Me Aur Hum and The Notebook

Well, i decided to relax and clear my mind on Saturday after my BS313 before heading back to my books. And of course, i wanted to spend time with my lovable Nurul. Haha! It’s been a while since we last caught a Hindi movie, So we were geared up to catch one. I honestly have not heard of U, ME Aur HUM. I actually wanted to catch Jodhaa Akbar but it stopped showing at Shaw Jade. It’s the fictional Historic Movie of the Mughal Empire, starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Yes, she has Bachchan now as her surname when they showed Sarkar Raj (Sarkar 2) clips. A powerful name indeed.

But back to the picture. While i was teaching tuition, Nurul was busily watching the clips of the movie in her room and was immediately excited over the show. It is a movie copied from the ever acclaimed Nicholas Sparks’ The Notebook. Fans who have read The Notebook first must have indeed been disappointed with the movie. I know Nurul was deeply flabbergasted and utter disappointment sketched over her face when i asked about The Notebook movie.

(They clearly said from the BEST SELLING NOVEL)

Well, if you have loved the book and was disappointed with the movie. Have no fear, for there is a movie that gives The Notebook every credit it deserves, not to mention the tears streaking down your face too.

U, Me Aur Hum (You, Me & Us) Trailer

It is a Bollywood film staring two A-list married actors, Ajay Devgan as Dr. Ajay & Kajol as Pia. Produced and directed by Ajay Devgan himself. (The couple have always wanted to spend more time together. Guess, the only way to ensure that is by a making a movie themselves). It is a tear jerker, indeed a sure Blockbuster and I can’t wait for it to win awards. The story is about Dr Ajay, a psychiatrist, falling in love with the beautiful waitress, Pia, on board of a beautiful getaway crusie ship. Well, it’s basically how boy meets girl, boy gets girl. But thats where the typical Bollywood storyline ends as problems arise. Not your typical Bollywood problem. A major problem, one that deals with the mind and threatens to break their relationship apart. I will not tell too much but those who have seen or read the Notebook knows about it. It surely encompasses and educates the public over “IT” (Hehe. Guess my readers will be pissed of by it!)

U, Me Aur Hum is a brilliant copy of The Notebook and trust me when i say that it is able to fill your heart’s desires with the same words that struck a chord in your heart when you were mesmerised with Sparks’ words. I have to praise the actors, Ajay Devgan and Kajol. Any unqualified actor would have failed and bring shame to the movie. For surely, one has to have wonderful dramatic skill to successfully display every inch of emotion and feeling to portray on screen with which words that had the ability to cause millions of women out there to cry. Certainly, Bollywood is at an advantage here with its dramatic scenes, meaningful music and it’s emotional binding lyrical Hindi language that’s able to capture your heart. (Indeed, the title itself is already able to move your soul.)

The storyline is simply breathtaking though you have to give most credit to Nicholas Sparks to have written such a heart warming tale of pure true love. Only he has the ability to write beautiful stories with the usage of simple normal everyday words that we take for granted. The Hindi movie indeed follows true to the book but with little side additions that makes the movie far more heartwarming.

Directing skills. Praise to Ajay Devgan! For the first time, something inspiring and innovative cinematography that is unlike Bollywood style. Thanks to my elective module, CS119 From Hollywood to Bollywood, i am able to analyse every aspect of the movie with greater in depth. The cinematography adopted by Ajay Devgan is brilliant. The usage of 2/3 framing for characters gives a sense of greater depth and emotion to display the scene. The usage of high and low camera angles with close ups is nice. One that i shall not forget is the montage sequence and still capture movement that are normally used in Bollywood shows. I like the usage of bridging sounds and sudden high tension moment with slow and fast framing speed. Indeed, it seems like Ajay Devgan was using everything that he has learnt about directing and incorporated every aspect of it into this film. Even the usage of special effects were used for some elaborate and dramatic scenes.

Once the movie ended, Nurul and I was heavily debating about the movie. Thus, upon Nurul’s suggestion, i went back home immediately and caught The Notebook (while catching the Man U vs Blackburn. Damn, why didn’t Man U lose?) The Notebook movie is indeed a heart warming movie that touched my heart. Brilliant acting by Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling. Also special words should be said of James Marsden, the pitiful Fiance that comes in between the two star crossed lovers. (When will he take up a leading role in a Romantic Show? It’s about time, stop doing a Johnny Depp as in always wanting to be a supporting actor, James!) I liked the show a lot.

Then, another heated debate with Nurul that led Nurul to reading certain parts of the book to me. And only then did i realise, The Notebook movie is CRAP! It is utterly a Hollywood money making film which followed typical Hollywood love stories with a certain irony of Bollywood style. Boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, girl’s parents against boy, boy and girl breaks up. Girl nearly marries another man. But somehow, ends up with the boy. End with girl already old remembering and both dies on the bed together. It’s true that its a heart warming 40′s love story but it doesn’t give JUSTICE to THE NOTEBOOK! The Notebook is not a simple 40′s love story, it’s a story about love between two people that stood the test of time against all obstacles especially against a memory losing disease that would cause extreme hurt. What’s more hurtful than having the person that you love the most forgetting your name and worst you?

Overall, U Me Aur Hum, is a brilliant romantic movie that tells us what true love is all about. It’s not the fun or the time spent but rather when that other person needs you the most at their darkest hour. Will you be there for your loved one? Brilliant acting, brilliant storyline and brilliant directing. This movie should be renamed “The Notebook” and the other Notebook movie should be called “Just another love story”. I cried at the end of the movie (SHHHHH! Don’t tell anyone!). Honestly, if anyone has any doubts, do what i did. Watch both movies and go and read Nicholas Spark’s The Notebook. Trust me, it’s something that you never want to miss and you will fully agree that U, Me Aur Hum is the true Notebook.

Overall : 5/5

Acting : 5/5

Special Effects : 3/5

Directing : 5/5 (Refreshing and new concept from typical Bollywood productions)

Storyline : 5/5 (Nicholas Sparks at his best and a nice side additions by the Bollywood side)

My favourite line in the show

Ajay said

“There are 2 rules: 1) Always fulfill your promises made to your wife. 2) Never make any promises to your wife. But since I made a promise to my wife not to leave her alone ever, I must fulfill it. Shouldn’t I? ”

Fai @ ilovelookinggood