7 times Rakesh Roshan’s Koyla was absurdly funny — 20th anniversary GIFs

Following the success of the reincarnation saga Karan Arjun (1995) starring Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, Rakesh Roshan cast the latter as the lead in his revenge saga Koyla (1997). The film, which was released 20 years ago today (18 April), paired Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit again after Anjaam (1994).

Revisiting the film, one can notice several glaring plot holes which militate against all logic. It is hard to believe that Koyla came out the same year as Yash Chopra’s Dil To Pagal Hai which also featured Khan and Dixit. Love and revenge drive this feature and nothing, absolutely nothing, gets in its way. Below are seven ridiculous instances which made us pause and say, “Really?”

1. Man vs dog: Shah Rukh Khan beats German shepherd in foot race!

Khan's long introduction in the film shows him as Shanker, a mute servant of Amrish Puri’s Raja saheb, who treats him like one of his loyal pets.

2. Johnny Lever’s creepy puppet doesn’t have a high opinion of him.

The only reason for showing Lever as a ventriloquist was to float the idea that he serves as Shanker’s ‘voice’ later on in the song ‘Ghungte Mein Chanda Hai’ sung by Udit Narayan.

3. New bride Gauri (Dixit) isn’t very happy with her groom.

Simple village girl Gauri has been tricked into marriage with Raja saheb thinking he is Shanker. She dances angrily to ‘Sanson Ki Mala Pe’ by Kavita Krishnamurthy while Shanker bangs away on the drums.

4. Did you just shoot me while dancing? Not cool!

As Shanker and Gauri escape from Raja saheb’s clutches, they decide to celebrate by bursting into song, that too without Chhote (Johnny Lever). Wrong move! Raja saheb’s henchmen spare no one, least of all Dixit.

5. Raja saheb to Shanker: Game over!

Raja saheb catches up to the two lovebirds and decides to finish off Shanker once and for all. You would think slitting someone’s throat and throwing him off a high cliff would do them in, but then again everyone is not Shah Rukh Khan in a Rakesh Roshan film. Remember Khoon Bhari Maang (1988)?

6. [sings] “Ain't nothin' gonna break-a my stride / Nobody gonna slow me down, oh no / I got to keep on movin'”

At this point, Shanker clearly has nine lives, because he just ran up a mountain (after being thrown off one) like it’s no big deal! Did I also mention he finds his lost voice at the mountaintop?

7. I’m coming after you, Raja saheb!!!

All gifs source: Filmkraft Productions Pvt. Ltd.

Why is this movie named Koyla, or coal? It’s just so Shah Rukh Khan could chase his nemesis down, literally on fire, and get his revenge. And despite all these obstacles (and numerous injuries), Shanker and Gauri lived happily ever after.