Paheli (2005)
Cast: Shahrukh Khan, Rani Mukherjee, Juhi Chawla, Anupam Kher
Director: Amol Palekar
Music Director: MM Kreem
Synopsis: sincere effort by Amol Palekar using the folk tale Duvidha as its theme
Reviewed by: Faiz Khan

 

Based on the Rajasthani folktale Duvidha, previously adapted for the screen by Mani Kaul in the 1970s, Paheli now finds a fresh interpretation in the hands of Amol Palekar. Although presented as a fairy tale, its magical surface conceals a far more poignant story about the loneliness of a woman—not merely physical loneliness, but emotional abandonment.

The film opens with Laachi (Rani Mukerji) being married to Kishen Lal (Shah Rukh Khan). She is the innocent village girl, absent-mindedly chewing berries despite her husband's disapproval, allowing them to slip through her fingers like a metaphor for the desires that continually elude her. Kishen Lal, meanwhile, is every inch the baniya, permanently preoccupied with calculations, commerce and profit.

On their wedding night he calmly informs his new bride that he must leave immediately to establish himself in business and will be gone for five long years.

Disbelief soon gives way to resignation.

Laachi is expected to remain in her husband's household, dutifully serving his family while her new husband pursues wealth elsewhere. Trapped within this impossible situation, fate offers her an extraordinary escape.

Earlier, during her journey to her husband's village, a ghost had fallen hopelessly in love with her. Taking the form of birds, squirrels and other woodland creatures, the playful spirit had watched her pass by, enchanted but forgotten almost as quickly. Now, seeing Kishen Lal depart, the ghost decides to assume his appearance in order to remain close to the woman he loves.

What makes the ghost such an appealing character is his honesty. Rather than deceiving Laachi into believing he is her husband, he reveals his true identity, leaving the choice entirely in her hands. He returns to the village claiming that a holy man promised him five gold coins every day if he abandoned his business and returned home. Since money means everything to Kishen Lal's father (Anupam Kher), he is welcomed back without question.

Only Laachi senses that something has changed.

Unlike her sister-in-law Girija (Juhi Chawla), who has patiently waited seven lonely years for an absent husband, Laachi is offered genuine companionship. Faced with the prospect of five years of crushing solitude or accepting the love of a ghost who treats her with tenderness and honesty, her choice becomes surprisingly understandable.

Life begins to flourish—not only for Laachi but for the entire household. The ghost restores the family's honour by winning a camel race, dutifully produces the promised five gold coins each day for his delighted "father", and most importantly gives Laachi the affection and companionship she has been denied. Their happiness, however, cannot last forever. Far away, the real Kishen Lal eventually longs for home and returns, only to discover his wife heavily pregnant and another man—identical to himself—living happily in his place.

Who is the real husband?

Whom should Laachi choose?

And can love overcome guilt?

Amol Palekar directs with admirable restraint, transforming a simple folk tale into an accessible yet thoughtful film. Scratch beneath the magical surface and there is considerably more depth than first appears. Wrapped in vibrant Rajasthani colours and blessed with sumptuous cinematography, Paheli is visually enchanting, creating one of the most handsome-looking Hindi films in years. The architecture, costumes and landscapes are a constant pleasure to behold.

The film is not without its flaws. A few too many songs interrupt the flow and the narrative could have benefited from tighter pacing. Nevertheless, it remains consistently engaging, asking the audience to suspend logic and simply surrender to the fable.

Shah Rukh Khan delivers one of his more restrained performances, largely suppressing the mannerisms that often creep into his work. Apart from the occasional familiar flourish, he underplays effectively in both roles. Rani Mukerji continues her remarkable run of performances, giving Laachi warmth, dignity and quiet emotional strength.

The scene-stealer, however, is Amitabh Bachchan, whose delightful cameo as the eccentric shepherd charged with solving the mystery of the two Kishen Lals provides one of the film's great pleasures.

The music is equally enchanting, elevated by Gulzar's beautifully poetic lyrics.

Paheli is not the average Hindi film. It occupies that increasingly rare space between inaccessible art-house cinema and mainstream commercial entertainment, resulting in a thoughtful, intelligent and thoroughly enjoyable film that richly deserves to be seen.