Yeh Jawaani Hai Diwani - Mushy- Old Wine in a New Bottle !

I'm back!!! After a slew of really forgettable movies for which really did'nt deserve a review, I was off movies for quite some time. Yeh Jawani Hai Diwani piqued my interest, being a Ayan Mukherji movie ( I absolutely loved the movie (review here) ). Ranbir and Deepika (my current two favourites!) also drew me towards the movie, and well I had to watch it.

The movie starts off with Naina (Deepika) and Aditi (Kalki Koechlin) meeting at a supermarket. Naina is a geek (she looks gorgeous!!!) studying hard to be a doctor and Kalki is the proverbial art student having fun. Aditi tells Naina that she is off to Manali for a trek. Naina's Tiger Mom (Dolly Aluwahlia of Vicky Donor fame) looks down upon Aditi as a bad influence but is unable to see her daughters interest has been piqued by this trek. Basically, Naina wanted to do something different for a change, rather than be just a bookworm, studying to be a doctor. She wants to have fun in life. Her solution - Logging on to MakeMy trip and joining the trek !!!! Just imagine - one night prior she expects a train booking!! Duh.. but as they say fortune favours the brave.

At the station she meets the rest of her classmates - The "Kool" gang - Ranbir as (Bunny AKA Kabir) and Aditya Roy Kapur as Avinash/avi). from thereon, its a roller coaster ride for Naina as she is learning how to have fun and hand out with the cool crowd. In turn, the kool crowd slowly discovers that though Naina is a bookworm, she has a side to her that they never knew!

The four of them discuss their plans and then realise that this trek will the last time they are going to be together. Naina realises that she is in love with Kabir but he has dreams of making it big and she does not figure in that picture- so she steps aside. Aditi loves Avi but he is ignorant of that fact... Now we start descending into Karan Johar territory.

The second half is set against the backdrop of Aditi's marriage in Udaipur (Destination Wedding). All the friends converge. The dynamics of their changed relationship is explored in detail by Ayan and the screenplay with all elements of love, anger, betrayal, Jealousy and friendship being explored.

Make no mistake - This movie is centered around Ranbir and to some extent Deepika. Ranbir is beautifully portrayed as a flirt who will not get serious because he wants to do everything in this lifetime without anyone hindering him. Deepika is the traditional, rooted girl who savours the moment without worrying about what she is missing in the process. There are a host of characters - Aditi's husband, Ranbir's dad, the flirty Lara (Evelyn Sharma) and the icing on the cake - Madhuri Dixit.

Madhuri's song "Ghagra" at the start is very well shot and choreographed. Madhuri shows why she rules  Bollywood where dancing is concerned. She is truly magical and graceful and retains her dancing skills.

The performances are top class - Ranbir, I firmly believe is the next superstar. Deepika is just nsuperb and delivers a very composed and convincing performance. The direction,screenplay and production is top class. However I felt that the story was a hash of old Karan Johar movies. Reasons as follows:-
1. The names - Naina, Kabir.
2.  The scenes - Naina almost missing the train for the trek, the realisation that she loves him and he something else (his dreams), the entire wedding (reminds me of Kuch Kuch Hota hai).
3. Loaded with cliches - All geeks are boring. If you have'nt done wild stuff in life, you are un cool and sidey)
However, the movie is feel good, emotional and well put together. A decent watch for a weekend.

Rating  - *** (would have given it 4.5 stars for a different  ending. )

Barfi! - Review - Truly Magical !!!

There are movies with a story to tell and stories that cry to be made into movies, but rarely one comes across a movie that effortlessly transcends these boundaries and comes across as the only way to tell a story. Barfi! is all that and a lot more.

Set in the hills of Darjeeling, Barfi! is all about a boy (Ranbir Kapoor), who is born deaf and dumb but is not hampered by it. In fact, he makes it out to be a virtue. There is no sympathy asked and none given. He is one of the boys, in with a chance with the girls and what more can one say.

The story is deceptively simple, but the screenplay, direction and cinematography transport it to another dimension of emotional complexity. The viewer is transported into the simple pleasures that bring happiness to us. The basic emotions of greed, love, lust, envy are all there.

Barfi! is a love triangle wherein, a deaf and dumb Ranbir (Barfi!) manages to win the love of a gorgeous Ileana D'Cruz (Shruti ) with his carefree ways and the undying devotion and love of Priyanka (who plays an autistic/retard) with his selfless devotion and caring nature.

The characters are well defined and crisp. Ileana as the young, impressionable, fashionable about to get engaged girl is heartachingly beautiful. The cinematographer - Ravi Varman has caputured her with such admiration that her every nuance, expression and gesture conveys emotion with such sincerity that one cant help falling in love with her and empathising with her when she is too late to......
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Priyanka is convincing and absolutely brilliant. This role is such a departure from her usual roles that its is a joy to watch her. Her expressions convey love, lust, longing, envy with such ease that one can be forgiven for believing that she is born that way.. Her look when she sees Illeana's graceful back in Kolkata and her efforts to recreate the same is so subtle but yet so defining a woman that it hits you. Her obvious defensive reaction to Illeana is so natural, the trait of possessiveness comes across loud and clear.. I may be a retard but I am a woman too.....

And what do I say about Ranbir!1 Simply brilliant. He emotes with such ease, that one is left astounded at what this young man can do. He is UP THERE and is well on his way to becoming a legend.

Ashish Vidyathi as Jhilmil's dad is competent but doesnt have much to do. Saurabh shukla is effective as the overweight and harrassed cop, Rita Ganguly as Illean's mum is suitably competent and quietly scheming. The rest of the cast ably support the lead characters.

The director, Anurag Basu's recitation of this story is fluid and carefree. His technique of running a paralllel story line (past and present together) keeps you hooked. The cinematography is vivid and the use of lighting is absolutely spot on.Another nice touch are the travelling musicians who maintain a certain soulful atmosphere throughout the movie.

Go and watch the movie for its old world charm , its lack of pretentiousness, fluid storytelling and some brilliant performances by its lead characters. The only flaw is the ending, which could've been handled better as it just dragged on a little bit. However, I can forgive that and so will you...

Rating :- ****1/2

You can read some other reviews here

Times of India Review

Hindustan Times Review

Indian Express Review

Wake Up Sid - Timeless reality

Sitting at home on a lazy Saturday afternoon, flipping channels, the catchy rythm and melody of Wake Up Sid (the song) suddenly got me out of my stupor and I started watching the movie - for the fifth time and against all odds (Daughters wanted Doraemon and the better half wanted to see Charlie's Angels...)

I know the movie is old, but I guess something about the way the entire  movie has been made...its just right!!! what else can I say.  Let me start from the music... All songs capture the mood at that point of the movie absolutely brilliantly..Like Wake Up Sid at the beginning just takes you along the mad partying, easy going life, free of worries  of the main protagonists and Ek Tara (when konkona realises that she actually loves Sid) sets the mood so beautifully that you wish that it was you she was falling in love with !!!!

The characters are so well defined. Anupam kher- as the proud self made dad who wants the best for his only son, Supriya Pathak as the doting, uneducated  mum, His friends Rishi , Laxmi and the whole gang, Rahul Khanna as the eccentric Jazz loving Editor and of course Konkona..the migrant aspiring writer, whom we all want to fall in love with Ranbir, which she first denies and then realises - simply brilliant

The pace of the movie is superb.. it flows - right from his partying days, his failure, meeting konkona, getting kicked out of home, moving in with konkona, the adjustments made by both, jealousy kicking in, his photograph getting selected - seem so real...especially his chat with his dad where he expresses his shock at his dad not calling him home once he left in a huff, it all seems so real, so endearing..

Ranbir was superb.. Konkona - brilliant (especially when he is leaving her house to go back to his home- her tantrums are absolutely feminine- unpredictable.. because she does not want to admit to him that she is in love) and the rest of the cast  admirably supports them...

A must watch (if there is someone who has not seen it !!!)..

**** */2 (cause nothing can be perfect)