The film's brightest spot may be the gorgeous Mahima Chaudhary. Khan played his role with restraint, depth and sincerity rarely seen by actors of his bracket in those days. As Arjun, he is kindhearted, and atypically subdued, sensitive and extremely vulnerable. While discussing Shahrukh Khan's best performances, many seem to overlook his work in 'Pardes', but this is according to me one of the finest performances of his career. The romance between Shahrukh Khan and Mahima was very well portrayed and the two had a wonderful chemistry. There were many great and touching moments in the film, my favourite being when Ganga talks to her father in India on the phone and feels very lonely and sad. I don't think Ghai tried to show NRIs in a bad light, because such differences and difficulties are to be expected in any kind of transition from one country to another, particularly when moving from a conservative and traditionalistic society like that of India to a liberal country like USA. I did not see 'Pardes' as a social film or anything of that sort, but more as a romantic drama, and in that genre it was very well-made. Technically the film might have been better as the cinematography was not that good. The film is according to me beautifully narrated and Subhash Ghai's direction is very good. There also starts the realisation that Ganga and Arjun are actually in love. The social, cultural and economical gaps rise, and Ganga finds herself lonely in a world which is very distinct from hers, where no one except for Arjun seems to understand her.
Arjun and Ganga befriend each other, but the real trouble starts when Ganga is taken to LA to live with Kishorilal's huge NRI family before marriage. Ganga's father agrees to the proposal and soon comes Arjun, Kishorilal's faithful nephew, who is also a good friend of Rajiv, to organise the engagement before Rajiv, who's never been to India, comes to see his bride. Kishorilal is immediately charmed by Ganga and wants her to marry his young son Rajiv.
Her father's best friend, Kisohrilal, who's been living in the US for over 20 years, comes to visit them. The film is about a young Indian girl named Ganga who lives in a rural village in India with her extended family. Besides that, the story was very lovely and the film was according to me believable and moving due to the performances, the music and the overall writing. The film may be slightly stereotypical, it may be a bit incorrect, but should it really matter to me as long as I enjoy it? The portrayal of the US may have been flawed, but the film's issue was in my opinion dealt with convincingly. Whatever anyone may say about Subhash Ghai's 'Pardes', I personally found it very entertaining, engaging and charming. Arjun plays Cupid and returns to America with Kusum and Rajiv. To finalize the marriage he sends his son along with his foster son Arjun to India. Mahima Chaudhary makes her debut as Ganga. He finds his daughter in law in Kusum Ganga (a pet Subhash Ghai name just as Chandni was Yash Chopra's favorite for a long time) in the house of his childhood friend Suraj Dev. Kishorilal hopes his soon-to-be daughter in law will instill some Indian values in his extremely westernized son.
So the pardesi comes to India with his "American" son Rajiv to find a suitable '"Indian" girl for him. Kishorilal is a successful businessman settled in America but still emotionally attached to his motherland - India. This film takes a serious look at the lives of Westernized Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in North America (Whereas Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge was about NRIs with Indian hearts, Pardes is about Westernized NRIs.) and hence the meaning of the title - "foreign land".
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Pardes (1997) is considered one of the best Drama,Musical,Romance movie in India and around the world. Shah Rukh Khan,Mahima Chaudhry,Amrish Puri,Apoorva Agnihotri are the starring of this movie.