AR Rahaman, as usual has composed a set of brilliant songs, which was the primary reason I watched the movie. But beside the music, the movie left me shocked--it was a long, boring, and never ending childish play with horrible acting--while watching the movie I was wondering who buys such crap? I created an IMDb account just to comment on the movie and warn people not to waste their time watching this crap. Taal felt like a movie written by an 8 years old girl who is going through a pre-puberty hormonal ups and downs--who is overly vulnerable and is riding an "emotional roller coaster" and believes that she will be living rest of her live with her school crush. Seriously, what was going on in the writer's/director's mind while making the movie?

Taal is the Pride and Prejudice of Bollywood, times 100. She loves him, he loves her, but a series of irreparable misunderstandings separate them, and affects the course of their destiny. It is only upon looking deep into their hearts, and rejecting rationality, custom, family pressure and the likes, that they will realize how much they love each other. That, in fact, there was never a choice to be made (and all the hesitation, the tears and fires and fights were in vain), it was written that they were meant to be together. As typical Bollywood movies, the film contains Part 1 (growing love and broken promises) and Part 2 (revenge, faith and redemption), each about the length of a regular movie.In other words, Taal is your typical big budget Bollywood movie, along with Om Shanti Om and the likes. In this sense, it is Bollywood at its best since the big budget allows for truly over-the-top dance sequences and fantastic music.Quite frankly, if you are not a fan of kitsch nor Pride and Prejudice, this movie is not for you. Because Taal is all of that: a heart breaking romance set in a convoluted plot, sprinkled with a good dose of glitter and glamor. Perfect for pajama parties, to combat depression or for a night home alone. A Bollywood gem.

Aishwarya Rai is stunning as a mountain girl! That's a given. Akshaye Khanna is charming as the rich boy who comes to town and seduces her, hey! I was expecting that! Anil Kapoor as the Tommy Motola type, I'll buy it! The music, the costumes, the choreography are all stellar! Yes! Yes! Yes! But what the hell happened to the script? My 8 stars are strictly for all the things I have praised above. I had not love for the plot though. It just seemed like Khanna's character felt that Rai's character was only worth fighting for after she became a big and successful star! I didn't like that at all. Also, what man in their right sense of mind would give up Aishwarya Rai? Especially one as big-headed as Anil Kapoor's character was in the film? This film was saved strictly by the songs and Aishwarya, and that's the only reason why you should see it!

The wild thing about TAAL is that the first half hour or so is like an Indian OKLAHOMA, where girl meets rich boy in a mountain village.But then the girl gets a recording contract and suddenly the movie is lycra, dance rehearsals, and MTV parties.The montage sequence in the center is worth the price alone, it's like a Bollywood FLASHDANCE-- the stunning Aish Rai proceeds through a montage sequence of the aforementioned rehearsals, an AMAZING combo of elegant gowns and modern choreography slashed with what we anglos think of as, what, Indian arm ballet? Amazing. Couldn't take my eyes off TAAL. If you have to start your Bollywood somewhere, try here.