Kya Kehna (2000) Poster

(2000)

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6/10
Heart-warming film but poorly executed.
Peter_Young19 August 2009
This is a lovely Indian commercial film. Great songs, nice story, nice script and good actors. The film addresses a rather controversial topic by portraying a very young girl who gets pregnant, and when her boyfriend does not wish to take responsibility for his actions, she firmly decides to give birth to her baby and fight all the social prejudice, including the initial opposition of her own parents. The film is interesting and engaging, but the execution is very poor. The costumes are weird and the film is extremely outdated. Premarital pregnancy is not such a big deal in our times even in India, making the portrayal a bit exaggerated. The film's depiction makes it look like an old picture from the 1980s. Even when Priya dances at the club with her pal, the song that is being played is Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean", which is not bad but is not concurrent with the film's time. Maybe they should have defined the period of time as such, it would have made much more sense. Additionally, Saif Ali Khan's character is inexplicable, Preity Zinta's elder brother's character is too aggressive and Zinta herself does not look the age she is supposed to be. At some points the film is a bit overly melodramatic, which is unnecessary in a film that wants to be issue-based and portray realism.

What I did like immensely is the portrayal of a loving, united family. It was very touching and was portrayed well. The scene in which Priya's brothers turn on the video and cry quietly is very moving, however clichéd it may be. This is actually Preity Zinta's very first film and the one which established her as a leading star. She is the soul of the film and injects much energy and freshness into her character. She was not really brilliant as she would be in many of her future films and her voice and diction were pretty problematic at that point of time. Yet she succeeds in breathing as much life as possible into Priya with her boyish charm, bubbly personality and sincere portrayal. Saif Ali Khan and Chandrachhur Singh don't impress much, but Farida Jalal and Anupam Kher as her parents are very likable. Rajesh Roshan's soundtrack is one of the main reasons this film has such a colourful and positive feel about it. One very good example is the family song "Kya Kehna". Other songs that I particularly enjoyed listening to include "Dekhiye Aaji Jaanemann" and "In Kadmon Ke Neeche". Well, do watch Kya Kehna. Don't expect to see a brilliant or a particularly realistic film, but do expect to be touched by a very charming Hindi entertainment.
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7/10
Zinta carries it off
Sachin_Chavan13 February 2020
Kundan Shah isn't a pushover, he has made the classic 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron' but hasn't been consistent. This is more of a commercial movie but still with an empathetic touch and has dealt sensibly with the topic of unwed mothers. Priety Zinta is an actor with great presence and give the right gravitas go the central role. Don't watch with international standards in your mind.
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Great topic, poor execution
Ace_of_Hearts9 February 2004
Warning: Spoilers
Bollywood is not known for producing movies with controversial issues in them. Most movies are dramas or action adventures. Which is why it is refreshing to see a movie like Kya Kehna about being pregnant out of wedlock.

SPOILERS

It is the story of a young high spirited college girl, Priya (Priety Zinta) who falls madly head over heels in love with bad boy Rahul (Saif Ali Khan). Rahul is the boy no parent wants as a son-in-law. He's handsome and rich, but he's also a flirt who changes girls more often than he changes clothes. He is instantly attracted to Priya's beauty, but I believe more attracted to her because he gets warned over and over again not to go near her by her brothers. Against her family's wishes Priya and Rahul get involved and eventually her parents agree to a marriage. Rahul however doesn't want to know anything about it and it is then that Priya sees Rahul's character. Things spiral out of control when Priya and her family find out that she is pregnant.

The story is very promising. Young girl throws tradition to the wind and stands up to society and her family to protect herself and her child. A very realistic storyline whose execution unfortunately lacks realism. It is the little things that ruin this movie. I can believe Priya's independant, high-spirited character. I can't believe her journey from childlike innocence to responsible maturity. I can believe Rahul's irresponsibility. I can't believe his over the top mother who just seems to disappear in the second half of the movie. I can believe Priya's stigmatisation by society. I can't believe Priya's stigmatisation by the WHOLE of society including all of her college friends of whom I'm sure at least some must have engaged in recreational activities out of wedlock and surely would feel sympathy for her situation. I can believe Priya's tenacity. I can't believe the sudden way in which rejection turns into acceptance.

On top of these unrealistic twists and turns and characters and stories, there are inconsistencies that just turn my stomach at times. Not because they are so horrible, but because they could have easily been amended. The most obvious one is appearance in particular Saif Ali Khan's hair which seems to be able to grow long in a day, be short the next and be long the day after. Furthermore, the way the director tries to portray (grown) girls as school girls in the boarding school scene is atrocious. You cannot give 20-somethings pigtails and a lesson in how to behave as a five-year-old and expect people to believe they are teens. And finally, the monologues at times are horrible, because they are too long and try too hard to make their point.

Over all, this movie tries to deal with a very controversial and contemporary issue which is very commendable. Unfortunately in my opinion it has failed. Not because it is so bad, but because it could have been so much more. This movie can easily be described as OVER THE TOP. Perhaps my views would be different if I hadn't been born and brought up in a western culture. Nonetheless I would not want this to keep you from watching Kya Kehna, because despite its faults it also has redeeming qualities. The strongest of which would be its ending. Predictability is for the first time thrown out of the window and replaced with brash boldness.

**/5 stars
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1/10
Stupid, Irritating and Immature
abd_mumin17 September 2006
Warning: Spoilers
How stupid can a movie be, watch this and find out. This movie has a simple story of a father, Mother and their kids. For some reason the daughter is extra loved rather then the three brothers, anyway that is not important. The movie has this character Saif Ali Khan who is a player. He likes to go out with girls just for bedroom duties and its so obvious because he has blatantly dated so many girls in college. But Saif see's Preity and wants her too. He gets warned by her brothers and the brothers warn Preity to stay away from him. But, our immature bimbo falls for him and sleeps with him. Perhaps preity was so dumb she didn't know what a condom is and she gets pregnant. So the movie focuses on what happens now. Sadly, the child is not to blame for being born but unwanted. Preity has committed a stupid mistake and deserves to get bullied and harassed. I was laughing and enjoying those scenes where she gets bullied and kicked out. But she gets forgiven. Saif, performed well. I like his character because it relates to me. Preity is annoying as usual, I wonder how she became a actress. I guess some guys have all the luck
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10/10
Strongness of Indian woman in an excellent appreciable manner
foodforbrain722 December 2006
From the very beginning of my life, we were told that the males are stronger than females. But after seeing this movies this illusion of my mind is being cleared.The character Priya falls in love with a guy Rahul.She loves her from the bottom of her heart but the Rahul just plays with her innocence. When she involves with Rahul she was just a young girl. But when she got to know that she was pregnant and the society, her parents & all of the above Rahul is not going to accept that child she takes the decision to earn for herself and for her baby. This was the turning point of her life. This is the real courage I am impressed with. No one of us has this kind of courage to accept our own mistakes like this, that it doesn't look like a mistake, but sets a great example for the society. Because all of the above society, Parents and all the human creatures there is god who is in your heart. You do right or wrong just be true to yourself and he(God) will accept you in every manner.
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Could be better
silvan-desouza22 August 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Kundan Shah in 1983 gave us the superb JAANE BHI DO YAARO which was a cult comedy followed by the likable KABHI HAA KABHI NAA in 1994 After a sabbatical he came back with 2 films KYA KEHNA and HTMK both released in 2000

KYA KEHNA was in making for 4 years and Preity Zinta's supposed to be debut but released 4 years later

The film had a very bold concept for it's times about a young girl getting pregnant before wedding

The first half is easygoing, predictable stuff and then the film gets serious with the twist which is well handled but followed it the film gets too melodramatic and some scenes are too contrived like the play part, actually the film looks at the issue in a too unconvincing manner Also the turn of events and change of hearts are too convenient The film also suffers due to the inconsistency in looks Saif Ali Khan's first scene shows him in a stunt with short hair and then he reaches home with long hair, throughout the film there are several such gems like just before the song DEKHIYE Saif has short hair and then in the song long hair

The climax however is superb

Direction by Kundan Shah is good in parts Music by Rajesh Roshan is good, songs like JAANEMAAN JAANEJA, AE DIL, IN KADMO(don't miss Chandrachur spanking Preity's bottom)

Amongst actors Preity Zinta tries her best, but as this was supposed to be her debut, one can trace several scenes where she was young and then some post SOLDIER scenes which make her performance inconsistent Still she does a good job in several scenes but her voice lets her down Saif is good in his role which is not too well developed, This was his first negative role and his casanova image caught on with him Chandrachur Singh is okay in his side hero role Anupam Kher and Farida are good while Navneet Nishan who suddenly disappears towards the end is quite evil Mamik playing Preity's brother is okay
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10/10
Kya Kehna belongs to Preity Zinta
akaash-k7 October 2010
Warning: Spoilers
This movie never seems to bore me! It has it all; whether it's character depth, great story, lovely songs or amazing scenery, this movie adds everything! The movie belongs to Preity Zinta, which is actually her first film but was released after 'Dil Se' and 'Soldier' for some apparent reason.

Preity Zinta stars as Priya Bakshi who has just finished school and ready to return to her Bakshi family, who all await her arrival, but none more so than her lovable dad Gulshan Bakshi(Anupam Kher). As she returns the family is overwhelmed, considering she is the favourite to whole family, and the love of Ajay (Chandrachur Singh), her childhood friend who harbors a secret crush for her. Priya who is new to her college is spotted by playboy Rahul (Saif Ali Khan)and both fall in love with each other.

Despite warnings from her brother and family to stay away from the flirt Rahul, she still continues to meet him and ends up committing an act that will bring her family to shame. Wedding Rahul nor giving up her unborn child does not seem to be an option for Priya, which sets challenges upon the path she walks. Kicked out of her house by her parents and no where else to go, what are the alternatives for this young girl? Will she face humiliation? Will Rahul accept her? Will she be able to keep her baby? Watch Kya Kehna to find the answers!

A truly Lovely story which will emote the audience to sympathise with Priya and follow her throughout her bubbly, innocent journey. If you do not enjoy this movie, i can not seem to think what movies you will like.

Lovely performances by Preity Zinta as bubbly Priya, Saif Ali Khan as playboy Rahul, Anupam Kher as the kind hearted dad Gulshan Bakshi and Farida Jalal as the lovely mother Rohini Bakshi. My only complaint of this movie is something minor as i think the character of 'Ajay' should have been played by a more well known actor.

This movie goes to show that Preity Zinta was a star right from her first movie, and proves undoubtedly to be her film as she stars as the hero and heroine of the movie! 10 stars
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10/10
It's a chance to see Preity Zinta in a very good acting
dkgupta49326 November 2022
Preity Zinta of performance in kya Kahana remarkable in her career it must be one of the besy performance of Preity Zinta but it was not her first hindi movie but started so early in 1997. Her first Hindi film was Soldier which also a super hit movie but not much to do her Acting scope in the movie Saif Ali Khan portrait as a bad role in the movie and he justify with the movie as per his role Saif Ali Khan look so well and smart in this movie., movies showcase the issue of unwead pregnant women what kind of difficulty is facing in society and how they boycot them, the role of Chandrachur singh performance in this movie is so good.
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