Disclaimer: These opinions are personal. You might not feel the same way about the movie.
No desi ‘90s kid can say they did not watch Koi Mil Gaya a thousand times over. The cute-sy love story between Hrithik Roshan and Preity Zinta received so much attention, you couldn’t escape it. The Rakesh Roshan film was a first of its kind for India—we all were desperate for an alien-related Bollywood film and we were gifted Jadoo wrapped in a bright yellow trench coat. Much like Sanju’s magic pencil, we secretly hoped Mr. J would land up in our backyard and give us superpowers. Now, in 2020, the same movie seems slightly more problematic than it did 15 years ago. Here are a few good reasons why:
a) Nisha is totally insensitive and so is her gang
If these people are shown to be residents of Kasauli, and residents know each other well, they must have known about Rohit’s developmental disorder since he was born right? How is it that the whole gang continues to pick on him despite knowing he’s harmless, helpless and crying?
b) Nisha is alright with a boyfriend who bullies and vandalizes property
When Nisha is left stranded near the movie theatre by Rohit’s kiddie friends, she is mad but does not realize what the problem here is. How much ignorance is enough to block out actual issues? God only knows. When Rohit wants to apologize, she is not only dismissive, she supports her abusive scum of a boyfriend in harassing the poor kid and breaking his scooty.
This scene will forever make us cry. RIP beloved Hero scooty.
Credit: YouTube/HaseebCH
c) Being insensitive enough to call Rohit to a nightclub
When you are older and more mentally sound than a person who is still in school, would you really be considered a “friend’’ if you take them to a nightclub, and have your boyfriend’s friends play a few more jokes on them? Although she does realize her mistake when one of them forcibly tries to make Rohit drink, it’s a little too late, don’t you think?
Credit: YouTube/HaseebCH
d) She starts falling for him only when his limitations begin to reduce
Even though Rohit is actively taking steps to make Nisha be his ‘girlfriend’, it is only when he becomes fully able-bodied, does she acknowledge any of his advances. The reason that she falls for him in the end is because Jadoo fixed Rohit’s disorder.
Credit: sify.com
e) She marries him without any questions on how to deal with his past
The man literally went from a school-going kid to a person with superhuman intelligence in a week, and she has no questions about how he’s going to deal with it and what it means for them. How is he going to complete his education? Is he going to get a job? How will he justify his condition without anyone knowing that he harboured an alien in his house? Why is Nisha not the least bit inquisitive?
Credit: Youtube/alaminsajib
Lead image credit: bollywoodhungama.com + movies.sulekha.com
