Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani is exactly what you expect it to be. A good romantic comedy. The first half is breezy and fun but guess what? The second half delivers! Remember the last time the Hindi film industry did all of that? I’m glad you don’t because this would help you enjoy the film more.

All the usual ingredients of a typical big-budget romantic comedy are here. Two stars. Catchy music. Grand locations. Playful comedy. But movies like these need to have one essential ingredient for them to stick. Drama. In romantic dramedies of the past, melodrama took care of it. Now we don’t want the emotions to be over the top, we want them to be sincere and honest. For example, In a Dilwale Dhulaniya Le Jayenge (1995), the lovers were kept apart by external factors like the parents not giving their consent. In today’s day and age, the factors are internal. We keep ourselves apart from fulfilling our dreamy romance.

Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone may be the stars that catch hold of the screen with their personas and never let go but it is Ayan Mukerji’s scripting and Hussain Dalal's dialogues that makes sure it doesn’t let go of your heart. Beneath all the clichés and the songs and the mush lies this refreshing ability to make a movie about people. The emotions aren’t big, everything around it certainly is. When they profess love, they don’t shout it on mountaintops. When they fight, they don’t scream and breakdown. When they repent over their regrets, they don’t crave for a melodramatic reunion. They act like people.

Apart from romance, the film captures a bit of life. People change. Things don’t turn out the way you wished they would. You don’t end up with people you wanted to. Then you look back and you see why. Not many mainstream movies go here. When they do, they make a big deal about it. This is what I liked about this film the most. It may seem like a mainstream film on the surface but it does things that usually Hindi films don’t care to address.

The supporting characters played by Kalki Koechlin (who I liked for the first time in any movie) and Aditya Roy Kapur are the pillars that hold fort when the the main characters dwindle. Many things remain unsaid. When they are ultimately spoken, they are not just genuine but emotionally mature. How friendships change over the years and we don't know how to deal with them until we must.

Have you ever told your friends/ loved ones that you’re leaving town and going off to study or live in another city? Remember that emotion they feel when they don’t want you to go but are happy for you? It is these nuances which may not be alarmingly unconventional but they are true and rarely conveyed on the big screen.

There are a few scenes that give us a glimpse of the protagonist's relationship with his parents. They manage to touch you even when a flashback would usually seem jarring. The hero's relationships with, not just the potential lover, but others around him reveal how unlikable he actually is. I find it fascinating when I see a character whose actions I would not approve of and even be ticked off by otherwise, but when a thoroughly charming and likable star plays it, it's all good. Why? Well, because we want to like him. We want to see him shed the imperfections. Movie stars might seem flawed, like us, but we like them to end up perfect. 

Ayan Mukerji is done with a coming of age film (Wake Up Sid!) and a romantic comedy. I'm eager to watch which genre film he will tackle next and give it a much needed silent revival. Not transforming the genre but make it look good again. 

More than anything, I think a good romance needs separation. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. We need to feel for the lovers when they unite. (Ya so you didn't want the ending spoiled?). I could give you several other aphorisms which we have seen on screen before but clichés don’t matter here. It’s not about what happens in the film, it’s about how it happens. That’s what matters. When the film ended, I had a smile on my face. I felt good. I love it when movies do that.

When your first project, Wake Up Sid, becomes a critically acclaimed one and paves way into the tinsel town, you can’t wait to ride the ‘formula’ train. A time tested storyline always puts you in a safe net. So, Ayan Mukherjee in his second outing, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, does no mistake in treading an old path, but puts all his effort to make this film stand out from the rest. It is interesting to note how the present film is a far cry from the previous one. In this odyssey, he’s successful in delivering a breezy film that’s high on the emotional quotient.

Farhan Akthar in his film Dil Chahtaa Hai introduced the tale of three friends, their friendship, bromance, romance and delving into their inner selves. All this happened on an exotic trip. He again reprised this story along with Zoya Akthar in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. Both were classics in their own right, and gave fodder to many films to come. Ayan Mukherjee embarks on the same journey and his characters know more about themselves and about life in the due course of their journey. The story moves from present to past and then present, and with these flashbacks, the four friends and their lives intertwine and the long forgotten love blossoms again.   

Ranbir Kapoor effortlessly delivered the right expressions and emotions. His character Bunny wants to live his dream and doesn’t want to fall into the vortex of family and relationships. But he struggles when it comes to fixing priorities. So he falters and realizes what is important in life. He puts a magnetic presence through out the film.

Deepika Padukone pulls off a class act. She maintains the fragility in her character and the slow transition of her from a nerd to a smiling beauty is heart-warming. The different shades of her character Naina and the way Deepika portrays it on screen are the wow moments of the film.  

Kalki Koechlin’s Aditi is rash and impetuous. Aditya Roy Kapur’s Avi is cute and appealing. They have an understated presence in the film. Their characters are restrained to give way for the lead ones. And whenever they are on screen, they are a treat to watch.

Madhuri Dixit sizzles in a cameo with her description of ladka and mard, and shakes a leg with Ranbir in the song Subhanallah. Farooq Sheik and Tanvi Azmi are endearing in their limited role. And when it comes for doses of laughter, Kunal Roy Kapoor is always there for rescue.

Pritam is another asset for the film. His background score is immersive and the songs are already chartbusters. He manages to strike the right chord with a good mix of dance numbers and melodies. His music traverses both the ends of the spectrum – on one side Ilahi makes you smile and on the other the haunting Kabira makes you cry. The foot-tapping number Battameez Dil leaves you asking for more.

V. Manikandan handled the cinematography and used plenty of soft lighting to create a signature glossy template that’s archetypal of all high budget romantic comedies coming from the stable of Dharma Productions. Karan Johar who produced the film took utmost care to fluff the production with heavy dose of candy floss.

Bottom-line: Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani is a well executed film. Albeit the movie is a mishmash of many Bollywood romcoms, Ayan Mukherjee’s honest storytelling makes it refreshing and believable. The film is lavish with all the ingredients of a commercial entertainer. There is a wedding, a trek to the snow-capped mountains of Manali, wonderfully choreographed dances, tear jerking moments, and a lead pair with crackerjack on-screen chemistry. What else can you ask for?

My Rating: Expectation – 8/10; Reality – 6/10

When I saw the promos of YJHD, it seemed that this one is destined to be a blockbuster. Brilliant locations, great soundtrack, some lovely looking people, Dharma Productions backing it & Ranbir Kapoor.

Yes, unlike Wake up Sid, where it seemed like an Ayaan Mukherji film, this one looks like a K-jo fest!

Was I right? Bang on.

Ranbir, Deepika, Kalki & Aditya are friends off on a trip. They are parading through Manali & having a good time with nothing much happening. The second half takes them on a wedding & the actual story begins. At 2 hours 40 min, this one is a really long film. Though you know what will happen, you sit back & watch. 

The first half doesnt take the narrative anywhere & is a breezy visual treat. The second packs in some soul, story & meanders towards an expected culmination.

As expected, Ranbir blasts through this relatively easy role without much stress. Deepika looks like a million bucks and is only growing as an actor. Kalki is a tiny firecracker.

Ayan disappoints in his second outing has he sells his soul to the commercial devil. While this might laugh all the way to the bank, I dont see it being comparable to Wake up Sid. Too much of nothing & a lot of body.

To sum it up, watch this fluffy fare to please your eyes & just about tingle your soul. Not too much depth, this ones a one-time watch that disappointed.

Jawaani deewani has all the gloss and sheen of a Dharma Productions film. The fantastic locations, the fabulous clothes etc all make the movie pleasant to watch. Fortunately, it also has a heart that beats pretty strongly, making it a typical Bollywood movie where we know what to expect and when - the songs, the romance, the tears. It's all here in this neat package and though the story shows no surprises it gives you same sense of satisfaction that you get when you watch your favourite movie for the umpteenth time.

Bunny, Adity and Avi, 3 school friends go on a trek to Manali. They are joined by Nayna, who used to be the studious one in school and is still a misfit. They become friends and Nayana falls in love with Bunny but can't tell him. Bunny's dream is to travel the world and he fulfils it by working on a travel show. Aditi who was in love with Avi earlier now settles for an arranged marriage and Avi tries to get over his failure in business by turning to alcohol and gambling. They all meet again after 8 years at Aditi's wedding and pick up the threads of their friendship and the romance. Will Bunny give up his wandering for Nayna, will Avi get over his jealousy of Bunny's success and other assorted dilemmas make up the movie post interval.

The first half is well paced as it sets the stage for the meet up after 8 years but the second half starts sagging a wee bit at times under the weight of all the tangles it has to solve. The romance between Bunny and Nayna, the friendship between Bunny and Avi, Bunny's coming to terms with his dad's death and truce with his stepmom, Aditi's discussion on how she fell in love with her husband.. Phew. In addition to all this heavy stuff, throw in some songs and dances and you begin to flag a bit.

What prevents you from getting exhausted are the funny lines that Bunny gets to keep things light hearted and prevent the drama from becoming maudlin. Plus, the total absence  of melodrama even at the most emotional times keeps you engaged and invested in the characters/The songs are also peppy and help the atmosphere from becoming stifling.

The relationship between the friends is handled far more adeptly than the romance which doesn't get enough screen time to develop. There is more of just Ranbir rather than Ranbir and Deepika and that was a bit disappointing. In contrast , the relationship between Bunny, Avi and Aditi is extremely well handled.

Ranbir is cute and endearing and gives us a funny Bunny. The teenage crowd was quite over the moon in the auditorium. I liked him but think he looks too thin here. Deepika as the intellectual  but socially inept Nayna is sincere and effective, besides looking awesome. Kalki and Aditya Roy Kapoor provide great support as the friends and really add texture to the movie.

This is an entertaining movie to watch. If you like romances and dances and pretty places and shiny people then there is nothing not to like. This is Bollywood at its quintessential best. Get out of the heat and wallow in this one.

Watching YJHD can take you abck to every single cliche of a love story from bollywood in the last fifteen odd years. A severe hangover of a Dharma KJo movie plagues a film that shifts from one set piece musical dance number to another, should have been at least twenty minutes shorter and severly fails to retell a love story in any way new possible. Yet, in the same breath, YJHD is an entertaining film, if you do not worry about anything other than quintessential bollywood glam gloss fare. 

Bunny is a carefree boy trapped in a man' s body who is so focussed on chasing his dreams that he doesnt realise the roses he has been not smelling around him. Naina is the class topper spectacled geek who has never even peed on the roadside let alone lived life beyond books. Aditi and Avii are two frends who complete the two, setting out on a road trip that changes their lives. Naina falls in love with Bunny who is blissfully unaware despit his playboy charms on non stop. Cut to  years later, Aditi si getting married, Bunny is a career man, Naina has transformed into the Ho Chic and love happens again. Would Bunny be able to smell the roses is what the rest of the story trying to tell you. 

Shallow superficial and downright cheesy, most of the emotions of love on screen in YJHD look like hallmark and archies greetings cards being read out at auditions for a school play. Unnecessary sequences that look visibly apaalingly staged, like the fight sequence in Manali clutter an screenplay that is neither original nor innovative. while the first half is all about chasing dreams and philosophies to that end, the second half gets heavy with preachings on living in the moment and life spending you and not your time. Interspread between however, are flashes of the brilliantly new and fresh voice of Ayan Mukherji that we had seen in Wake up Sid- moments between Bunny and his dad, the four friends, Aditi and Bunny, and Bunny's own coming of age- these are real, despite the over glossed gilted pictures we see them in. Ayan takes the conflict of the world and its ways in a typical love story, converting it into an internal turmoil of hte characters alone, yet his attempt at retelling the old done to death love angle falls way short of expectations. 

What also saves the day for YJHD is the scintillating star value. From the sizzling beginning of Ghagra with a mesmerising Madhuri Dixit and a smitten Ranbir, to the foot thumping Dilliwali Girl friend and Badtameex dil, one chartbuster after another keep popping up in lovely dance pieces to stop you from noticing the problems with the story. Then there are the actors. Adi kapoor takes a good turn as a second lead, Kalki revels in a role that has her letting her hai down instead of the usual solving father drugs and sex issues we are so used to seeing her do onscreen. Deepika is a huge imporvement over Race2, is competent in emotional scenes and mixies a unique charm of simplicity and subtle sexiness in her screen presence. Farooque Sheikh as Bunny's dad is an acting crash course in his cameo. Ranbir however, holds the film together- vulnerable, full throttle charm, he goes the superstar way completely. He is inhibitionless making love to the camera like no other male star in recent times. He can do the regular SRK stuff on screen and YJHD prooves that with the finality of a megahit. 

Two odd hours of YJHD's running time leave you entertained, but never asking for more. With the cast and the makers, one could have made something much better. Forget what could have been, do not expect much, and YJHD will delight you. Looking for a reinvention of love stories in today's age? go watch Jab We met once again on a DVD.