Salaam Namaste, सलाम नमस्त

Movie: Salaam Namaste, सलाम नमस्त (2005)
Starring: Saif Ali Khan & Preity Zinta
Music: Vishal-Shekhar
Favorite songs (all of them!!): Tu Jahaan, Salaam Namaste
Favorite Music Video: Tu Jahaan-there are no words that I know to describe the lyrical beauty of this song
Story: 9 out of 10 Music: 8 out of 10

Plot: Nick (Saif) thinks he loves Amber (Zinta), but he also sees the problems of getting married too fast. So he proposes to live together with her for a year. It seems alright at first but complications arise. This is not your grandmother's bollywood, and while I love the older plots, this different approach is heart-wrenching and wonderful. The Indian who acts like Crocodile Dundee is a scream, and the doctor is pretty funny too. The dialog is really good and the scenes are well-planned to make you want to throw pillows, laugh so hard you cry, and melt because the emotions are so consuming like a cold fire. I can't explain it, so just go and watch it! Well done! Highly recommended!

Verdict: From the DVD cover with the main characters practically wearing nothing on the beach, I thought this was gonna be a spring break beach movie. I was so very wrong. And I can't tell you how happy I am that it is much, much more. There is humor, there is good conflict, there is a wake up call to some of life's harsh realities--there is so much that makes this movie wonderful. Preity Zinta showcases true acting skill here and is not just the cheery pretty face. Saif Ali Khan is also way above his average. They use all they've got to show us that real relationships aren't "see-hug-kiss-love-marriage-partners forever". This movie an honest look at the truth that relationships that last take work. Each partner is probably not going to be ready for the same things and they are not always going to want the same things. Yeah, it's work. And if you try hard enough, it just might be beautiful.