A fairy tale set in a time long ago, with ghosts, apparitions, camel races, vibrant and often clashing colors, divine music, innocence and love - what is to not like? Rani is the young innocent bride Lachchi who gets married and starts on a journey to her new home. Shah Rukh is the accounts obsessed ever obedient groom (Kisen) who has to leave right after marriage to go for business to another town far away. The ghost is a bird, a squirrel, an apparition who falls in love with the bride and eventually takes the form of the groom upon his departure. All is well with the new bride and "groom" until the real guy starts to miss his new bride and decides to come home. Confusion reigns, and the riddle as to who is the real Kisen is solved by a shepherd (Amitabh in an understandably over the top acted cameo).The good - Rani is divine, looks and acts the part with a deftness and light hand. She makes unconventional choices that perhaps account for why the Indian public did not much like Paheli - I cannot give away more. Aadhi Raat jab chand dhale - amazingly performed.Shah Rukh - times 2 and well done in both forms. One wonders if we take our 5 senses for granted and what it would be like to not have experienced them at all or not in a long time. See the SRK as ghost apparition with the wonder on his face at the first touch from a mother, at the look at the beautiful house, the joy in playing with the children (brothers sisters nephews), to find out. SRK as Kisen who finally realizes that he is missing his wife very much - the most understated sadness ever seen from him.The costumes are amazing - much has been made of the costumes in Devdas - but this is authentic Rajasthan at its very best and most colorful, the jewelry will make any woman drool! The music is divine - Aaadhi Raat, Dheere Jalna are outstanding numbers.The bad - well very little in my opinion. Maybe the dance when they find water could be cut, but the movie was pretty short anyway. The camel race was a little over the top, but perhaps okay if you keep the fairy tale genre in mind. Logical flaws - come on, its a fairy tale after all!! Like there is any logic in ghosts and fairies..I was transported back to my childhood with the story, enchanted by the colors and music and very much enjoyed the portrayals of the ghost/Kisen and Lachchi. Anupam Kher was good as the avaricious father. And of course there was the sublime Juhi - better than I have ever seen her in a cameo as the sad aunt, few words were said, she did it all with her eyes. Please come back Juhi, we miss you!

This is the most beautiful Hindi movie I have seen so far. Of course, I would still prefer Veer-Zaara and Devdas plot-wise, but the scenery in this film is simply breathtaking. The director does an excellent job in capturing all the picturesque sceneries from all the most suitable angles. The utilisation of the architecture and the colorfulness of the costumes complement the cinematography greatly. This film is not just about a grand visual experience. The romance theme in it is very commendable as well - the condemnation of "loveless" marriage and the lauding of true love however difficult to attain. Although surreal, this show is unlike The Lake House, where you would feel a little unacceptable after watching because of its time factor separating Reeves and Bullock, and the love between the 2 not able to project an effect of realness. Paheli is a dream, yet it is so real, or rather, so many of us hope it would happen to us so much.

Folklore set in Rajasthan in warm and colorful hues of emotions, fancies and temptations; Paheli captures the desires of a newly wed woman who must submit her ripened youth to a ghost and bask in the glory of her womanhood. She steals away 5 years of unbridled moments of love, lust and fulfillment for herself. Paheli is a stream of consciousness, which must follow its natural flow and will not be abruptly bent or change its course towards the end by the director, to satisfy and uphold the moralistic aspirations of the society. More than anyone else, the one who walks away with the top honors for this film is not Shahrukh Khan or Rani Mukerji, but the director Amol Palekar! For long, Amol Palekar has made films, which are made on thin budgets and only see the light of the day in film festivals. Labeled as an 'Art' filmmaker, Amol yet again attempts an arty treatment to the subject, and this time to the advantage, which he gains over mainstream film-making. No filmmaker in the mainstream cinema has ever been able to consummate the subject of falling in love with another man with such palpable simplicity and solution. Amol Palekar, aided with an exceptional Rajasthani folktale in hand- 'Duvidha' an interpretation by Vijaydan Detha, gives a true director's cut in Paheli that is gripping and delightful. In poetry that is simple and touching, Shahrukh explains to his beloved what he is and why he is, his existence an excuse for clouds to pour, a reason for sun to rise…Dialogues are a happy mix of Hindi and Rajasthani that support a powerful narration and screenplay. Magical rain scene on the terrace, conjuring of the gold coins, scene where the ghost directs a playful sea of rose petals to keep his lover from going and the use of ghost puppets as the voice of reason, is enchanting. The location and sets add depth to the story and cinematography captures its novelty in the colors, the director paints on screen. Costumes are elaborate and fit well with each character's get-up and personality. Music by M.M. Kreem portrays the emotional turmoil of the characters, not obstructing the story in any way. With lyrics for films as distant from his personality like Bunty Aur Babli, Gulzar has yet again proved his versatility and creativity in Paheli. Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher and Rajpal Yadav in cameo performances do justice to the characters the writer etched and infuse much animation and excitement to them. The ever-beautiful Juhi Chawla slipped into her role with subtle charm, grace and vitality, although one can't help feel sorry for Suniel Shetty in such an inconsequential role, where not much scope of leaving lasting impressions is present either. Other supporting cast as Shahrukh's kaka and two servants were well placed in the story and delivered good performances. Rani Mukerji is constantly raising the bar for her contemporaries with the complex characters she plays with utmost natural ease. Shahrukh Khan in a double role is a double powerhouse of throbbing passion and sensitivity, playing his part as a ghost and a man of average vices and virtues with conviction that will continue to haunt you, long after you have walked out of the theater with a smile on your face. Lachhi (Rani Mukerji) is married to Kisan (Shahrukh Khan) who is more interested in giving the accounts of marriage expenditure to his typical baniya father (Anupam Kher). He leaves his trembling, crying and yearning new bride on her nuptial bed to pursue material gains to please his father. A ghost who had briefly witnessed Lachhi's beauty and attracted her in its many magical forms falls in love with her. The estranged bride is feeling hurt and betrayed. She is vulnerable but not naive and makes a conscious decision of taking the ghost as her companion, who assumes the appearance of her husband. What happens when the real Kisan comes back? Does she go back to him or does destiny has other plans for her? Watch Paheli to find out!

People, it doesn't have to make sense! Its script is woven around an age old folklore! Can't you suspend your disbelief for half a second? I am tired of listening to people badmouth this film. I finally saw it and now I am writing my review. The main story in Paheli is the tale of a woman (Played by Rani Mukherjee) who marries an affluent young trader (played by Shah Rukh Khan) and discovers on her wedding night that she is to become yet another trophy in her husband's house. The next day, when she awakes, she finds her bed empty and is met with the harsh realisation that he meant what he had said the night before when he told her that he would be leaving on an important journey in the morning and would be away for five years. Meanwhile, while on his journey Kishan/Kisna (Khan) unknowingly comes face to face with the 'Ghost of Love' who would be taking his place in his home while he is away on his trip. The Ghost of love (also played splendidly by Khan) is a manifestation of the same man that Lachho (Mukherjee) married, only kinder, sexier, more loving and understanding. It's only natural that she falls in love with him, but the real Paheli arises when a few years later, her husband returns home for find that she as well as his family have taken up with this would-be impostor. Juhi Chawla is excellent as a woman scorned by the disappearance of her husband (played by Suniel Shetty with his scarily blinding highlights that absolutely do not belong in a period piece!!!) who abandoned his family after losing a camel race. Shetty is also the younger brother of Anupam Kher's character, and the maverick Kher plays Kishan/Kisna's father. Also prepare yourself for a cameo by film veteran Amitabh Bachchan who plays a blink-and-you'll-miss-him shepherd in the desert. After Devdas, you were probably thinking that SRK could never outdo himself, but he thoroughly shines in his dual roles within this magnificent film, leave it to the king Khan to make a ghost look to-die-for-drop-dead sexy! And Mukherjee (always in her element) proves that her career is in perfect cruise control. I cannot say enough about Paheli. It was worth them considering for the Oscars, even though I still think that Black (2005) had a better chance. The Beauty of Paheli is as everlasting as it is resounding. The sets, the costumes, the designs, the music, the story lines, the puppetry, the accents, and that one eccentric dancer by the traveling wells were all just perfectly magnificent!