Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988) – 7.25/10 – Romeo and Juliet Adaptation from India
QAYAMAT SE QAYAMAT TAK is a Bollywood musical drama inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The title translates to “From Doom to Doom,” making it a fitting name for a Romeo and Juliet adaptation. I think everyone knows the story of Romeo and Juliet, so I won’t go into excessive detail. Two Sikh families from the same town hate each other for past transgressions on both ways and enter a lifelong, bitter feud. The youngsters from each family, Raj (Aamir Khan) and Rashmi (Juhi Chawla), meet at a resort on a sightseeing vacation with their friends. Raj knows her identity and struggles to resist his desire for her. However, fate forces them together, as they must rely on each other to survive in the middle of a forest. And they inevitably fall in love. The families find out and fireworks go off.
The music is the best part of this film, with classic songs still prevalent in Indian music. This movie’s songs have been on my playlist for many years and feel refreshing. Beyond the soundtrack, what carried this film is the lead actors and the cast. Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla became Bollywood stars after their careers took off from this film. Khan remains a superstar, while Chawla has faded from the limelight over the last two decades. They have genuine chemistry and are talented actors who can make you feel the tragedy. If not for their solid acting, I would drop my rating another notch.
The setting and atmosphere of the bulk of the film are beautiful with scenic visuals at a hill station in India Mount Abu (I’ve been there as a child) that spice up the cinematography. The direction is respectable for staying focused on the main story rather than veering into unnecessary subplots, a common tendency for Bollywood films. I didn’t like the writing. A sign of poor writing is when someone relies on wild coincidences to connect scenes and advance the plot. This film does exactly that, connecting countless scenes with implausible coincidences that defy logic. Sure, it has similarities to Romeo and Juliet and adds an interesting spin, but the transitions between scenes lack a consistent flow. The romance has an aura reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet, and the tragic ending feels just as heartbreaking as the original. It’s everything else surrounding it that could have been better.
Would I recommend this? No, I don’t think it’s worth it. I think it’s worth watching once if you enjoy Shakespeare’s recreations in different manners or an avid viewer of Indian cinema or are a fan of Aamir Khan. Khan is my favorite Bollywood actor, so I was going to watch it at some point. It’s still an enjoyable film, even with its shortcomings. My rating is 7.25/10.
Songs from Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (Hit CC for English translation):
