Veer Zaara

India’s most successful director Chopra’s twenty-first feature is a ground-breaking Indo-Pak musical romance on an epic scale. Will Indian Hindu Veer (Khan) and Pakistani Muslim Zaara’s (Zinta) love be able to overcome cross-cultural emotional and physical borders? ‘Yash Uncle’s’ balanced treatment of the contentious subject-matter transcends its familiar ‘Romeo and Juliet’ style plot through a compelling reworking of the ‘formula’, reflecting strong progressive political and social messages achieved via impressive performances from his ‘A’ list charismatic stars, poetic Urdu Punjabi and Hindi dialogue and melodious songs which blend seamlessly into the narrative. The late composer Mohan and ‘nightingale’ Lata Mangeshkar’s tunes achieve lyrical perfection, ‘picturised’ in Chopra’s trademark ‘chiffon sari in the Swiss Alps’ style, this time transposed to the mustard fields of the Punjab. Do not be put off by its length, go see and get swept away in this festal melange of colour, sights and sounds.