- Nikhil Bhagwat
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewaani
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Kalki Koechlin, Aditya Roy Kapur and others
Director Ayan Mukherjee
Year of Release: 2013 (Worldwide)
Rating: ****
Ayan Mukherjee’s directorial debut had really impressed me. That movie was titled “Wake UP Sid!” and it depicted the story of a spoiled brat, Siddharth, played by Ranbir, who belonged to a rich and famous royal family. It was a film that was a slice-of-life take on today’s youth. Would his second vision be as enjoyable as the first?
If I have to characterize the new film in a sentence, I would say- it is an updated version of another successful film: “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara”.
The movie shows a narrative about chasing your dreams, doing what excites you in life. Pre-intermission, which is eight years ago, four friends are shown going on a trekking trip to Manali.
Kabir Thapar a.k.a Bunny, played by Ranbir Kapoor, is a travel fanatic and a videographer by profession. Naina Talwar a.k.a Scholar Naina is a bookworm and is studying medicine. This is her first trip in ages. Kalki Koechlin is a girl who has no goals in life. Aditya Roy Kapoor as Avi, ventures into betting, gambling, and drinking. He fails miserably, and so do his business ventures. Aditi loves Avi but fails to express her love. Avi does not reciprocate his love and instead has other relationships. Kabir does not believe in the institution of marriage. It is during this trip that Naina falls for Kabir. What happens to Aditi?
Ranbir Kapoor as Kabir Thapar and Deepika Padukone as Naina, have got into the skins of their characters. Especially Deepika, who has played the part with so much ease that she, makes the character totally believable. Their scenes together are really well enacted. Sitting in the audience I felt that there could not have been any other actor playing the role. The same can be said about Ranbir. Aditya Roy Kapoor as Avi and Kalki Koechlin as Aditi have also done full justice to their roles.
The patrons experience beautifully lit scenes and at times, jaw-dropping camera angles. Needless to say, the cinematography is pitch perfect. That is also true with editing. As far as the music is concerned, the whole movie has nine songs. Of these my personal favorites are “Balam Pichkari” and “Badtameez Dil”, but the whole album is different and highly recommended. The movie could have been shorter by the last twenty minutes though, as its duration is almost three hours. Ayan Mukherjee’s story might have similarities with other movies such as “Dil Chahta Hai” and “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” as mentioned earlier. But he has cleared the air by declaring that he was inspired by these youth-based movies. His direction is praiseworthy.
Overall, it is an enjoyable experience without any boring moments. I enjoyed this movie more than “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara”. It is definitely worth watching, especially for today’s youth. Don’t miss it!