Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, pt. 2﻿

Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, pt. 2

6/3/2016

As promised, here is my reaction to Juhi Chawla's "first date" with Shah Rukh Khan in the 1992 film "Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman". It is a coming-of-age story at its heart, as the ambitious but naive Raj (Shar Rukh) comes to Bombay to seek his fortune as civil engineer. He finds success and falls in love, but nearly sabotages both in his urgency to "become a gentleman" by climbing the corporate ladder.

We meet Raj first, in the lively opening number Dil Hai Mera Deewana. His energy is reminiscent of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl and Boy tropes in Hollywood films. Wikipedia describes the Manic Pixie Dream Boy as "seemingly flawless: he is sweet, charming, funny, boyishly handsome, and talented, but in a self-deprecating way". Raj is all of these but the last; he is cocky and convinced of his own superiority. That will change when he arrives in Bombay and meets obstacles and opposition.

Some of the opposition comes from the lovely Renu (Juhi Chawla), who is not impressed with his arrogance but eventually becomes his friend and helps him land an entry-level job with a construction company.

Love begins to blossom, as the entire neighborhood watches in delight. (Loveria Hua).

Because I am focusing on the relationship between Raj and Renu, I will not recap the whole film, but on their romance. Frankly, even after Loveria Hua, it hard to see the chemistry between them as anything more than friendship or puppy love. They clearly like each other, but everything about their body language tells me that their affection is creating cozy warmth, not heat.

Then this happens. Raj buys Renu a sexy new dress and insists she put it on. The wind!!! Thanks to Margaret Redlich's wonderful new book, I know this symbolizes the emotional rush of true love. Enjoy.

So to answer my own questions:

What is your first impression of Raj? Manic Pixie Dream Boy; fun to watch, but potentially exhausting to keep up with.
What is Renu's first impression of Raj? Kind of cute, but rude and arrogant. Needs to be taken down a peg. She is right, of course!
How would you describe their chemistry over the course of the film? Annoyance, friendship, that cute couple, BURSTING INTO FLAMES, disappointment, separation, redemption, (finally) grown-up love.
If you had a first date with Raj, would you go on a second? When I was 17, in a heartbeat. At 67, I couldn't take my eyes off Jai (Nana Patekar).

3 Comments

Ashley

6/5/2016 03:15:47 pm

Such fun to re-watch this. Not only do I love SRK and Juhi Chawla's "equation" as they say, even in their not-so-great movies, but I love the ensemble feel of Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman. I love how the neighborhood embraces Raj and endorses Raj and Renu's love, celebrates Raj's successes and is willing to forgive him when he tries to make right his betrayal.

Parts of the film remind me of a Neil Simon or Billy Wilder movie--full of silly and lovable, wise and tender side characters. And Jai--what a fantastic role and Nana Patekar plays him beautifully. My husband hasn't quite come around to this film overall--but he's watched every Jai scene with great appreciation. I've got a few Nana flicks lined up on my Amazon playlist--have you seen any others of his, Jo?

Finally to answer your last couple of questions. I love how a pivotal point comes in their relationship when each realizes they were wrong about something and apologizes--she about the shoe/limping, and he about small jobs leading to small minds. Regarding their chemistry--I think the pacing from liking to attraction to affection to passion to mature love is a summary (by Aziz Mirza?) of "healthy" or "natural" youthful romance.

And if I went on a second date with Raju would I go on a second--it depends on what stage of the movie I met him in. Anytime after he starts working in the library it would be a YES! Sadly, he's already with Renu by then. ;)

6/5/2016 03:26:38 pm

I need more Nana, for sure. What should be my next NP film? You are right about the course of love. I very much appreciate that in Hindi films passion often comes later in the chemical equation. The apology scene is lovely and tender, and quite believable.

Ashley

6/6/2016 04:04:14 am

A couple more thoughts. I really like that Amrita Singh's character is so sympathetic. I love the restaurant scene in Delhi. In my mind she definitely finds a companion worthy of her who helps her take over the business from her dad after the movie.

I wish, in the car scene (You look so beautiful. Give me a kiss.) that Renu would have been "allowed" to enjoy the frisson of the forbidden just a little bit too. I'm glad there's a little more ambiguity allowed now in Hindi movies, and not so much only the woman's job to set limits on physicality.

Next NP movie--I don't know! There are only 3 or 4 on Amazon, none of them his highest rated, and none as far as I know on Netflix. I haven't explored Einthusan or other sources yet.

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