We Are Family

We Are Family is one film that I had been wanting to see mainly because it was bringing together Kajol and Kareena Kapoor after a long hiatus. The last time they had shared screen space was in Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (K3G) in 2001 in which they had played sisters. So I thought it would be interesting to see how they would fare in a movie where they are vying for the same man's attention. Years ago in Gupt, Bobby Deol had Kajol and Manisha Koirala fighting over him and the expressions of the girls in the song Yeh pyaar kya hai... said it all. Sadly there is no such zing in We Are Family.


The film received commendation for officially acknowledging the original source. But for me this Indian take on the Hollywood movie Stepmom was a let down. Firstly, the writers are not couragous enough to set the story in India. The heart of Stepmom were the two kids. Jena Malone as the teenage daughter warring with her father's new girlfriend and gropping with the reality of her mother's illness was excellent. Liam Aiken when he tells his mother that he will hate Isabel if she wants him to was delightful and sweet. In We Are Family there are three children but not one manages to create ripples in your heart through either acting or plain innocence. Even the leading ladies do not seem to be delivering their best. Neither was I able to sympathize with Kareena Kapoor during her trials when having to take care of the brat pack nor did I shed tears as Kajol suffers through the dreaded disease. For what should have been a three hanky movie, a descrption I had read in a newspaper for K3G, is not able to strike an emotional connect with the audience.

The only point where my eyes watered a little was when I heard Shreya Ghoshal's beautiful rendition of the song Sun le dua. But here too I had a reason to grumble. The song should have had at least one more stanza. The sweetness of Shreya Ghoshal's voice leaves you asking for more. Despite the short length anyone who has had to see a loved one slip by, bit by bit, would still be able to relate to this prayer which they would have repeated a million times. So let me leave you its lyrics:

Film: We Are Family

Music: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy

Lyrics: Irshat Kamil

Singer: Shreya Ghoshal

Tu jo gayi toh soona hoga yeh jahaan
Pheeki pheeki hogi saari yeh daastan
Tumse judi hai har khushi
Tere bina kya hai yahaan
Chaahein tumhein hum maange tumhe
Sun le dua yeh aasman

Chote chote khwaabon ko aa jodenge
Yeh bhi vaada

Na tumhein ab chodenge
Jeena chaahe phir tere liye
Aaankhein na pherenge
Saansein meri tu le le bhale
Ab na tumhein jaane denge

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PS: Which did you like more - Stepmom or We Are Family?