Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani - Movie Reviewed

Cast

Directed by Ayaan Mukherjee

Ranbir Kapoor as Bunny

Deepikda Padukone as Naina

Kalki Koechli as Aditi

Aditya Roy as Avi

Music & Background Score by Pritam

Lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya

Overview:

"Mai udnaa chaahta hoon....

Mai daudna chaahta hoon...

Girna bhi chaahta hoon...

Bass....Rukna nahi chaahta"

That's pretty much the best summary of the movie - The theme that underlies the entire plot and drives the movie from start to finish. As was the case with Ayaan Mukherjee's last movie, this movie too does not boast or even attempt at telling a brand new or a unique story. The premise is simple, but its really the philosophical focus that makes the movie worth your time.

Characters:

Many non-human aspects play important characters in this movie - Manali (truly Manali or Gulmarg....doesnt matter), Udaipur, Friendship, Attitude. Having said that, lets move on to the human characters.

Farrukh Sheikh as Bunny's Father - A short role, maybe just a little more than ten dialogues, nevertheless a great role played by this veteran. Eventhough this is what fathers do...understand and encourage, yet, in this case, you will see why it is such a tough role to play.

Aditya Roy as Avi...a friend who is sooo in luv with his friendship and yet is overburdened by his bit of bad "luck" in life. A great performance, although the second half seems to have tired him and his facial expressions and body language tend to get repetitive. 

Kalki as Aditi...a brilliant performance...my mistake....ONCE AGAIN....a brilliant performance by this multi-talented actress! Even the transformation of character from pre-interval to how it becomes post-interval is superbly portrayed by her. You empathize with her, you luv her and then you feel proud of her maturity. 

Deepika as Naina....the nerd and the over-protected girl. Typical transformation of a caterpillar to a butterfly and typical Deepika style! Her expressions of embarassment, of being awe-struck, of being fascinated yet perhaps a little taken aback, all beautifully depicted. The only let down for me was that I get the feeling that Deepika is not experimenting, from Love Aaj Kal to YJHD...her choice of characters needs bit more variety for a more substantial assessment of her talent. 

Ranbir as Bunny....no words. As stated in one of my previous reviews and perhaps by every film critic out there....he is truly his only competition! He makes you believe in what he says, makes you want to have the same dreams that he has and makes you feel exactly those emotions that Bunny feels! Supreme talent...Supreme!

Music:

Pritam...man...what is this guy upto! A brilliant soundtrack invigorated with the right kind of energy and reflecting the mood of the situation perfectly! Be it Balam Pichkari or Badtameez Dil or Kabira....each bringing out the relevant mood and yet great compositions even if heard in isolation of the movie's storyline. Amitabh Bhatacharya...another talent...be it poetry for Ilahi and Kabira or craziness such as "Pal mein phudina dekha, naak ka nagina dekha"....he proves he can write it all!

Pritam's background score is also perfect...the splashes of "oooh..." and "aaaah..." from Ilahi and the saxophone from Badtameez dil....blended into the otherwise energetic background score is wonderful! Again...all about bringing out the right kind of energy and he does a fab job at doing that. 

Experience:

This movie may belong to Ranbir or to Deepika or to any of the other great performances, but actually this movie truly belongs to Ayaan Mujherjee! Taking a simple story, blending it with a great script, fantastic dialogues and deft execution, Ayaan manages to engage his audience completely in this...otherwise predictable...love story. The underlying theme of following your dreams and living life to the fullest is vividly brought out....although maybe a little too emphatic at times. With perhaps a better edited second half, this movie would have found no room for criticism. 

"Beet ta to waqt hai...

Par kharch to hum hote hain...!

With that thought...I would like to make a special mention about the ending...I think the climax of this movie is one of the best that I have seen in a long time! I bet you will love it too!

Been-O-Pinion: 
I rate it 3.5 out of 5...This movie may not be a classic....may not be a real example of meaningful cinema...but this movie sure as hell teaches you one thing... "You can't be old and wise, if you were never young and crazy"! Go for it!

Barfi! - Reviewed

Overview: Cute...Simple...Intriguing...Fun...and Cute yet again....these are the words which can describe (perhaps still not do justice, but still...describe) both....the movie and the character Barfi that is brilliantly...again....BRILLIANTLY played by Ranbir Kapoor. A heart-warming journey, filled with moments that can not simply be forgotten; moments which stay with you much after you have left the theater. It is the story of Murphy aka Barfi! The tag line very aptly describes the feel of the movie - "This September...Dont Worry....Be Barfi!"

Characters: Oh boy! Where do I start....I guess a good place to start would be Saurabh Shukla who plays the inspector in the movie and in Barfi's life, who chases him at various points during the narrative and gives us the most fun-filled and genuinely funny and Charlie Chaplin-ish moments to laugh at. The character is very real and is excellently portrayed by Saurabh Shukla. 
Next up, Ileana D'Cruz....who plays Shruti. Not only does Ileana look amazing in the movie...she plays her character with tremendous conviction....manages to express everything through her eyes...despite the fact that she is the only major character who can actually speak in the movie! Her confusion, her internal debates, her hints of jealousy, her happiness....her pain....all come through to the audience through those eyes! Kudos to her! 
Priyanka....who plays Jhilmil....manages to make you forget that you are watching PC. Totally believable as the autistic Jhilmil....Priyanka definitely has given her best performance to date in Barfi! As you watch her....not even for one scene do you feel sympathetic....all you feel like saying is... "Oh...she is sooooo cute", with a little dampness in your eyes!
Finally.....Ranbir.....I think his real name ought to be changed to Barfi for the sheer cuteness and innocence with which he has performed this role! His mischief, his naughtiness, his pain, his hertache....his hopelessness....every human emotion is expressed through his eyes and body-language! BRILLIANT....BRILLIANT.....BRILLIANT! This is the performance of the year....!

Music: Pritam....Hats Off to you! There is no doubt that a filmmaker has so much to do with the music of the movie...and Anurag Basu proves that. Perhaps Pritam's best work to date was Life in a Metro...and now this amazing soundtrack....could this be a coincidence? I think not...! It is still hard to believe that the director who just churned out "Second Hand Jawani" and "Daru Desi" has composed tracks like "Kyon", "Ashiyaan" and "Ala Barfi"!! TWO THUMBS UP! Full marks to the lyricists....Sawanand Kirkire and Syed Quadri as well!

Experience: Enough said...for a movie which manages to qualify as one of the best films of the year without saying more than just a few words....It deserves accolades as it is! 
Special mention and appreciation for Anurag Basu....for executing such a simple yet complex story so deftly! When you watch the movie....you realize...that even though Basu could have stuck to a simple narrative...he chooses to narrate the story in a set of asynchronous flash backs...which might not appeal to all....but definitely keeps you engaged and makes sure you pay attention to the going-ons. While some might find the pace slow and the execution confusing....I think its a stroke of a genius!

Been-O-Pinion: I give it 4.... (out of 5).....a brilliant movie....with A-Grade performances....and a brilliant story-teller at the helm. Ranbir....Priyanka....Ileana and Basu....you guys deserve a standing ovation!!