By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Director: Rakesh Roshan
Starring: Hrithik Roshan | Preity Zinta | Rakesh Roshan | Rekh
Country: india
Year: 2003
Running time: 171
IMDB: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0254481/combined
Clinton says: “KOI…MIL GAYA has been lurking around at my sister theatre the Allston Bombay Cinema for a few weeks now, and I’ve always wondered what the heck was going on. Well, after finally sitting down and watching the film I’m ready to start promoting it as the ultimate cult movie! Why? Well, KOI…MIL GAYA (I’VE FOUND SOMEONE) is not only a huge hit in India (and making dents here in the states as well), but it’s also a really bizarre film. A mixture of ET (or, perhaps more accurately, MAC & ME), FOREST GUMP, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS, TEEN WOLF, GOONIES, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, and SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN, it’s a strange and delightful experience that’s hard to match.
“Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan (whose dad ‘discovered’ him and directs most of his features, including this one) stars as Rohit, who, at 22, has the I.Q. of a 10 year old. He is constantly being picked on for being an idiot, but surprisingly not for having a strange extra thumb growing on his right hand (this is Roshan’s trademark as an actor, and he refuses to have it removed because it has brought him good luck). What few people realize is that Rohit’s dead father was a great scientist who made contact with outer space. One day Rohit, who has been banned from computer class by an arrogant teacher, is playing with his dad¹s old computer in his clubhouse and accidentally summons a luminous spaceship. A group of rubbery puppet-aliens with glowing skullcaps emerge, and while picking berries in the forest they are frightened by elephants (this is India, after all). They scurry back to the ship and fly away, accidentally leaving one cute little alien behind.
“Rohit – and the precocious neighborhood children – adopt the alien (nicknamed Jaadu, which means ‘magic’), who then happily passes on magic powers to Rohit that not only correct his blurry vision, but make him super-smart, ultra-strong (oh, those bulging biceps), and able to kick butt at basketball (he and his team of children can fly through the air!), dancing, and even a touch of kung fu. But the government is on the way to kidnap the cute little alien and cut him up into little pieces…and
our heroes must save Jaadu by letting him return to his ship, thus causing Rohit to lose his new powers and go from hero back to zero.
“Ah, but of course we forget to mention that this is all, of course, a MUSICAL! With show stopping numbers filled with romance (we haven’t even mentioned the love story!), beautiful cinematography, and amazing choreography (like many Bollywood stars, Roshan can really sing and cut a rug). The rain soaked title song is almost annoying it is so infectious, Rohit wows everyone in a crazy dance off, and the kids dance and sing the praises of our alien friend (‘It’s Magic!’) while also embarking on some of the most blatant and hilarious product placement to hit the screen (Drink Coke, already!).
“At times the film certainly suffers by its two and a half hour running time, but it does manage to tap into almost every human emotion during that period (most notably MELODRAMA – yes, with capitals), and I must say that I left the theatre feeling that I had seen a film that was on the one hand very familiar (go ahead, you can say ‘rip off of ET’) – and yet also entirely unlike any other film you may ever see. Even in Bollywood.”