The Indian film, `Paheli` is directed by Amol Palekar and is produced by Shah Rukh Khan`s production house Red Chillies Entertainment. The film `Paheli` is a sort of fairy tale. The sandscape of rural Rajasthan, the vibrantly colorful dresses of its denizens, the rustic ambience, all of it transports the viewers into a mirage-like world. The director Amol Palekar has adopted a simple and thought provoking folktale onto celluloid for this unforgettable cinematic experience called `Paheli`. This Indian film is a beautiful riddle that provides its own answer. It is the story of a woman who longs for love of her husband. It is the story of a ghost who reciprocates her love by assuming the form of her husband. This is based on the short story of Vijayadan Detha`s `Duvidha`.
The movie screened in the ninth Zimbabwe International Film Festival at the Libertie Cinema Complex in Harare. Some critics claim that this movie`s screenplay is loosely based on the Girish Karnad`s critically acclaimed Kannada movie `Nagamandala` where the same story repeats where a snake take the face of heroin`s husband. Paheli was also nominated as India`s official entry to the 79th Academy Awards.
Synopsis of `Paheli`
The Indian movie `Paheli` tells the story of a wife played by Rani Mukerji who is left by her husband played by Shahrukh Khan. The wife is visited by a ghost, disguised as her husband, who is in love with her and takes her husband`s place as well.
The whole movie is recounted by two puppets. This is voiced by Naseeruddin Shah and his Ratna Pathak Shah. Lachchi played by Rani Mukerji is to be married to Kishen played by Shahrukh Khan. Kishen is the son of Bhanwarlal played by Anupam Kher. He is a rich businessman. Kishen is very much interested in making money. So he and his father decide that Kishen will go to other business and earn some more money. The day for his going is decided just after the wedding ceremony. On their first night, Kishen does not look to his wife. In the early morning he sets off on a business trip for five years. Lachchi is devastated and nothing to say to her husband. Gajrobai played by Juhi Chawla is her husband`s sister-in-law. She consoles her and says that Gajrobai`s husband played by Sunil Shetty has also disappeared. When Kishen is going to his business place one ghost see him going and decides to come Kishen`s home in place of him. The very next day, that ghost comes.
The ghost takes Kishen`s shape and also his voice. Lachchi becomes happy and starts living a happy life with that ghost. She experiences her husband in a new way. The ghost says Kishen`s father that someone will give a gold coin everyday and thus Bhanwarlal becomes happy and does not say a single word. The time goes on and after four years Lachchi becomes pregnant. Everyone is happy. On the other hand the real Kishen realizes that he needs to go to his house as because he misses his wife. He returns bak to his home. Kishen`s family becomes confused and cannot identify the real Kishen as the ghost refuses to agree with the allegation. All the villagers decide to visit the king in order to find out the real Kishen.
When they are going to the king they meet an old shepherd played by Amitabh Bachchan. He listens to the whole story and decides to help the villagers. Amitabh asks the real Kishen to pick up hot coals, he also asks him to gather the sheep while he asks the ghost to enter a water-bottle. This was the real Kishen is found out. Lachchi is devastated after hearing the news of the whole story. By that time she starts loving that ghost. At that night when Kishen meets his wife Lachchi, everyone gets confused whether he will accept her or not but Kishen whole heartedly accepts Lachchi. They start talking and very soon it is revealed by Lachchi that the Ghost has actually escaped from the bottle. The ghost is also in love with Lachchi and he can`t live without her. Lachchi gives birth to a daughter Looni Ma, whose name was decided by the ghost few days back.
Cast and Crew of `Paheli`
The star cast of the film `Paheli` includes Shahrukh Khan, Rani Mukherjee, Anupam Kher, Dilip Prabhavalkar, Sunil Shetty, Juhi Chawla, Amitabh Bachchan, Rajpal Yadav, A. K. Hangal, Naseeruddin Shah, and Ratna Pathak. The Bollywood film `Paheli` is directed by Amol Palekar and produced by Shahrukh khan, Gauri Khan and Sanjiv Chawla. The music in the film is given by M. M. Keeravani. The film is written by Vijayadan detha, Sandhya Gokhale and Amol Palekar.
Awards of `Paheli`
Paheli is nominated as India`s official entry to the 79th Academy Awards. It has also won many other national awards in that year.
