Tag Archives: Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic

YRF Movies Return to Netflix

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After almost a decade on Amazon Prime, the Yash Raj Films catalogue is back on Netflix — sort of. The seven movies that released from 2021-2023 are still on Prime for now, and only a handful of YRF movies are currently available on Netflix. Here’s why.

Netflix and YRF announced that are making the reintroduction of the back catalogue into a series of events, adding movies around a theme a few at a time. Besides the addition of War to augment the recently added War 2, the first theme was a celebration of Shah Rukh Khan’s birthday (November 2). The following films were added to Netflix on November 1:

There are at least seven more themed events to come through the end of 2025 and into early 2026. YRF and Netflix didn’t specify all the titles being added for every event. December’s Holiday Season event is especially busy, with two new films added each day from December 12-28.

I actually like this idea, as it draws attention to titles that folks may have forgotten about or missed when they initially released. It would be easy to overlook the individual titles if the whole 70-ish catalogue was added at once, so it’s nice to give different films the spotlight. These are ready-made marathons are kinda cool.

Here’s the schedule that’s been announced, with dates and themes. Note that the dates announced are for midnight in India, so we may actually get them in the United States on the afternoon of the day before. (Being able to watch a Dhoom marathon on Thanksgiving would kick ass.) Where possible, I’ve added links to the old Netflix catalogue entries from 2015 so you can add the movies to your “Remind Me” queue, if you wish. At the very bottom, I’ve added any of the other YRF titles I still have working links for that weren’t mentioned in the above press release.

November 13 — Classic YRF

November 28 — The Dhoom trilogy

December 5 — Ranveer Singh’s 15-year anniversary

December 12-28 — Holiday Season (two new films per day)

  • Bunty Aur Babli (2005)
  • Hum Tum (2004)
  • Mujhse Dosti Karoge (2002)
  • Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007)
  • Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic (2008) — ★★½

December 27 — Salman Khan’s birthday

January 22, 2026 — Mardaani franchise

February 7, 2026  — Valentine’s Day (8 films total)

  • Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008) — ★★★★
  • Ishaqzaade (2012) — ★★★½
  • Saathiya (2002)
  • Salaam Namaste (2005)

Other YRF movies with links but no release date yet:

What do you think of this release strategy? Do you like this mini-events, or would you rather have the whole catalogue available at once?

Movie Review: Pyaar Impossible (2010)

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1 Star (out of 4)

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Pyaar Impossible undermines its titular impossible love story with shallow characters.

Abhay (Uday Chopra) is a geeky software developer who still carries a torch for his college classmate, Alisha (Priyanka Chopra, no relation to Uday). He’s swindled out of a program he developed by a con man named “Sidhu,” played by Dino Morea, an actor unrivaled in his ability to grow a villainous mustache. The conman, whose real name is Varun, sells the program to Pinnacle Corporation.

Abhay sets up a meeting with Pinnacle’s PR officer in an attempt to get his program back and, wouldn’t you know, Alisha is the PR officer. Well, actually you wouldn’t, given Alisha’s wildly inappropriate office attire. Short shorts and a cleavage-baring top at work? Really?

After chickening out of the meeting, Abhay goes to confront Alisha at her home. Alisha mistakes him for the new nanny come to shepherd her demonic 6-year-old daughter, Tania. Abhay hides his true reason for coming over and agrees to serve as nanny.

They reach this unrealistic agreement using one of my least favorite movie conventions: Alisha won’t stop talking, so Abhay just goes along with whatever she says. With a simple, “Stop. That’s not why I’m here,” Abhay could’ve changed the entire trajectory of the film.

Pyaar Impossible proceeds to borrow liberally from any number of movies involving ill-equipped men caring for unruly children, including but not limited to the Hindi movie Thoda Pyaar, Thoda Magic and Hollywood films like The Pacifier, The Game Plan and all the Problem Child movies.

Little Tania lies somewhere between the kid from Problem Child and Damien from The Omen in terms of juvenile wilfulness. She delights in humiliating people, calling Abhay either “Froggy Four-Eyes” or “Stupid” and one of her grade-school classmates “Fatso”. This name-calling goes largely uncorrected by Abhay and Alisha, thereby undermining the movie’s argument that love is about more than looks.

The child’s use as a failed comedic plot device lies at the heart of Pyaar Impossible‘s problem: poorly developed characters. Alisha is hopelessly self-centered, treating Abhay like a eunuch servant without ever considering that he might find her attractive, let alone be a suitable romantic partner for her. Given those huge character flaws, the only reason Abhay could be so in love with Alisha is because she’s beautiful, which, again, undermines the message of the movie.

Abhay professes to want Alisha to fall in love with him because of who he is, and not because of his devotion to her, but there’s nothing to Abhay apart from his devotion to her. A romance between Alisha and Abhay isn’t inspirational, just the next logical step for a self-absorbed woman and the doormat who loves her.

Movie Review: Thoda Pyaar, Thoda Magic (2008)

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2.5 Stars (out of 4)

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Buy the DVD at Amazon
Buy the soundtrack at Amazon

In this Bollywood take on Mary Poppins, a judge forces wealthy bachelor Ranbeer (Saif Ali Khan) to adopt four kids after he kills their parents in a car accident. The court-created clan is miserable until a mischievous angel, played by the delightful Rani Mukerji, arrives to turn them into a real family. The setup is far-fetched, but Thoda Pyaar, Thoda Magic (“A Little Love, A Little Magic”) addresses the kids’ emotions realistically, while maintaining a light tone appropriate for a fun summer flick.

No Rating (brief violence); 145 minutes

This review originally appeared in The Naperville Sun on July 3, 2008