We Are Family (film)

We Are Family
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Siddharth Malhotra
Produced by	Hiroo Yash Johar Karan Johar
Written by	Gigi Levangie Grazer Venita Coelho
Starring	Arjun Rampal Kajol Kareena Kapoor Khan
Music by	Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Cinematography	Mohanan
Edited by	Deepa Bhatia
Production company	Dharma Productions Columbia Pictures
Distributed by	UTV Motion Pictures
Release dates	3 September 2010 (2010-09-03)
Running time	115 minutes
Country	India
Language	Hindi

We Are Family is a 2010 Indian drama film directed by Siddharth Malhotra and produced by Karan Johar.^[1] The movie features Arjun Rampal, Kajol and Kareena Kapoor Khan in the lead roles, and is an official remake of the 1998 film Stepmom.^[1] It released worldwide on 3 September 2010, and a day before in India and UAE.^[2]

Plot

Maya (Kajol) is a perfect mother whose life revolves around her three children, Aleya (Aanchal Munjal), Ankush (Nominath Ginsburg), and Anjali (Diya Sonecha). Despite being divorced from Aman (Arjun Rampal), Maya has ensured that everything runs smoothly in her house and that they continue to remain a happy family unit. However, things take an unexpected turn when Shreya Arora (Kareena Kapoor Khan)—a career-oriented fashion designer with a lot to learn about children—joins the family.

When Aman introduces his girlfriend Shreya at Anjali's birthday party, she accidentally drops Anjali's birthday cake, which leads the children to perceive Shreya as evil. The next day, Aman tells Shreya to babysit the three kids at his house because Maya is out of town when in truth she is secretly having an examination in a hospital. At a fashion show, a wrong-sized dress for Shreya's model turns up with a chance of disqualification, Anjali helps Shreya with the outfit with a piece of her doll's clothing. When Shreya goes to get ice cream for the children, Aleya tells her siblings that she is using them so she can take their father away; soon after, Anjali goes missing. At the police station, Anjali is found and Aman tells Shreya that she cannot go near the children without Maya's permission.

Several days later, Maya finds out that she has cervical cancer and tells Aman, which prompts him to move back in with the family. However, when Maya tells their children that she has cancer, Aleya retaliates by going to a friend's party with an older boy. After a few days, Maya tells Shreya that she has cancer, who then agrees to move in and leave her career as a fashion designer. In the following days, the children develop an attachment towards Shreya but when Maya and Shreya have a fight, it is revealed that Shreya was an orphan since she was six months old. After the argument, Aman tells Maya that they should not be competing with each other for the children's love and respect. Maya faints and is then brought to hospital, where the doctor tells her that she has only few days left to live. Shreya decides to take care of the children while Aman tends to Maya.

When Shreya and the children go to visit Maya at the hospital, the two women have a private conversation. Shreya finally admits that the children still need her. Maya bequeaths guardianship of the children to Shreya, and she confesses a mistake of hers which almost killed Anjali when the latter was three. Maya explains to Shreya that not every mother is perfect but that she needs to keep trying. Maya tells Aman she wants to return home for Diwali as a last chance to see her house before she dies. During the festival, the children hold a special event for her, replaying the memories they had together. When they take a family photograph, Maya asks Shreya to join them as she is now family. The last scene is set ten years later during Aleya's wedding, where Shreya gives her a bracelet which had belonged to Maya.

Cast

• Kajol as Maya
• Kareena Kapoor as Shreya Arora
• Arjun Rampal as Aman
• Aanchal Munjal as Aaliya
• Pawan Singh as Ankush
• Diya Sonecha as Anjali
• Iravati Harshe as Dr. Rati Malhotra
• Amrita Prakash as elder Aaliya (cameo)
• Ankit Malik as elder Ankush (cameo)
• Dingy Vira as elder Anjali (cameo)

Production

Karan Johar decided to adapt Stepmom for the Indian audience. Although he initially intended to buy the rights to the film, he eventually opted to co-produce it with Sony Pictures.^[3]

The film was shot in Sydney, Australia^[4] and Mumbai from November 2009 to April 2010. According to Siddharth Malhotra, several scenes involving racial prejudice against the children were cut to avoid the appearance of using the controversy over violence against Indians in Australia to promote the film.^[5]

The film marks the debut of breakout American Bollywood extra Christie Campbell, whose role as a distracted audience member lent comedic delight to audiences everywhere. Campbell has since gone on to a successful career as a cake decorator in her home town of Buffalo, NY.

Soundtrack

The album has six original songs composed by Shankar Ehsaan Loy and lyrics by Irshad Kamil and Anvita Dutt Guptan, including a tribute to Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock".^[7]

1. Ankhon Mein Neendein - Rahat Fateh Ali Khan & Shreya Ghoshal (5:02)
2. Dil Khol Ke Let's Rock - Anushka Manchanda, Akriti Kakkar & Suraj Jagan (03:57)
3. Reham O Karam - Vishal Dadlani & Shankar Mahadevan (05:47)
4. Hamesha & Forever - Sonu Nigam & Shreya Ghoshal (04:51)
5. Sun Le Dua Yeh Aasmaan (Theme Slow Version) - Bela Shende (03:53)
6. We Are Family (Theme) - (02:48)

Reception

Critical response

Upon release, the film received mixed reviews from critics. Khalid Mohamed of Passion For Cinema gave the film 1 out of 5 stars and said, "Here’s one Family you’d hate to see move in next-door. Don’t answer the doorbell please".^[8] IANS rated the film 4 out of 5 saying, "We Are Family" is equally appealing from the outside and at the heart".^[9] Mayank Shekhar of The Hindustan Times gave the film two stars and stated, "Filmmakers hope you’ll hear the lady behind you go, sob sob sob… Hmmm".^[10] Mathures Paul of The Statesman gave the film 2 out of 5 stating, "If it’s possible to produce a sanguine tragedy from a magician’s hat, this is it. But unlike Stepmom, it’s not squelchy, very one-sided (that would be Kajol and more Kajol), riddled with clichéd dialogues, somewhat melodramatic and has trauma skillfully repackaged for urban sensibilities."^[11] Komal Nahta of Koimoi gave the film 1.5 out of 5 saying, "We Are Family will fail to make a mark at the box-office."^[12] Nikhat Kazmi of Times of India gave the film 3 out of five and said, "Kajol and Kareena provide heart and soul to a predictable script. Venita Coelho's adapted screenplay lacks the verve of the original, Stepmom."^[13] Preeti Arora of Rediff gave the film 1 star stating, "We Are Family begins on a note of confusion. As the film progresses, the sense of confusion increases leaving the viewer disoriented. At the end of two hours, debut director Sidharth Malhotra's film -- which is intended to be a sob story -- did leave the audience in tears".^[14]

Box office performance

The film grossed about ₹27 million on opening day and collected a total of ₹205 million at the end of its second week. At the end of its theatrical run, it grossed ₹220 million and was eventually declared an average grosser.^[15] We Are Family also performed well overseas, particularly in the UK.

Award

Kapoor won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress at the 56th Filmfare Awards.

References

External links

• Official website
• We Are Family at the Internet Movie Database