Anjaam (final result)

The most bizarre of the films that I have recently watched with Shahrukh Khan, Anjaam, like Darr is a story of passion and obsession. Unlike Darr, however, the women in this movie are not passive victims to terror, but take a more active role. The real star in this movie is Madhuri Dixit. She plays Vijay's (SRK's) love interest, Shivani. While she achieved critical acclaim for her role as the Courtesan in Devdas with SRK, I think her performance showed more range and acting ability in this film. This is the first film with SRK that I could not find anything to like about the character that he played. Usually there is some redeeming quality that SRK is able to bring out of the character. Vijay is entirely unlikable. He is arrogant, shallow, violent, stubborn, and remorseless. SRK utilizes mannerisms to communicate Vijay's feeling. For example, when Vijay is feeling bothered, he has a right shoulder tic. When he is recovering from paralysis, he uses hand and arm twitches. These are all well and good, but Madhuri's performance provides a strong contrast. Her characterization is more subtle. She doesn't rely on these types of "business" that actors employ, rather her posture, her glance, her timing, her quality of attention to the other characters communicates her motivation and character. Johnny Lever has a gratuitous part in this movie and is very annoying. Every time he came on screen, I found myself having to turn the sound to the lowest setting. In addition, Deepak Tijori plays the murdered romantic lead. He was also the lead in Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa where I commented that SRK was much preferable to him, making the premise of that plot unbelievable. I don't blame either of the SRK characters for wanting to bump this guy off.

This movie is filled with violence and made me feel very edgy. In brief, Vijay "falls in love" with an inaccessible woman, Shivani. She makes it very clear that she is not interested in him, yet he continues to pursue her. Eventually, he ends up killing her husband and accusing her of adultry and attempted murder. He is instrumental in her receiving a three year prison term. For Shivani, the innocent victim of Vijay's manipulations, life goes from bad to worse to ... In the end, it is the final result that matters.

Anjaam is a film worth watching as one of the three "negative" roles that SRK played early in his career. SRK has come a long way. I don't agree with critics that say he only plays one role. I think he plays unique characters, but some of the characters that he's been given to play are very similar to other characters that he's played. I think he's a brave actor. He allows himself to appear ugly, foolish, weak, annoying, conceited, etc. There are many actors that would not take roles that portrayed them in a less than attractive light. I have a lot of admiration for this man and his humility.