Rockstar reviews

Imtiaz Ali has dared. And with Rockstar his new film that is greedily ambitious, extraordinarily grand, his directorial prowess is lavishly on dis... read more

Imtiaz Ali has dared. And with Rockstar his new film that is greedily ambitious, extraordinarily grand, his directorial prowess is lavishly on display where he subscribes to a thoroughly engaging narrative structure which so effortlessly strides back and forth, you are willingly rolled in a labyrinth of a delicious cinematic spread.
Ranbir Kapoors Jannardhan Jakkar (later Jordan) is a striving musician and wants to model himself on the lines of Jim Morrisson. He is more a local bore with abundant musical talent, which is largely unnoticed. A probable mentor, the caf owner which JJ frequents along with his freeloading cronies conveys to him that he cannot breakthrough until he goes through a painfully dramatic time in his life, and he, so far, has been far from it. Positive that the college hottie is a surefire heartbreaker which will ultimately lead him to agonizing pain, bound to inspire music, JJ gives her a shot only to miserably goof-up. But in all his buffoonery, the pair strikes an unlikely camaraderie which has life-altering implications. So the film essentially is a pensive musical romance, which buffers into epic proportions that jeopardizes more than each of them could foresee.
Jordan is not the predictable rebel hell-bent to protest, but he is out there to blast all conventions without intentionally aiming to do so. He is uncomfortably frank and uninhibitedly spontaneous, something he amusingly shares with Heer.
The first half is unabashed fun infused with humor, surrounded by effectively believable characters, and harmonized with Rahmans inspiring music. The screenplay is nearly pitch-perfect, it rapidly cuts along, charming with its wit, and sublime photography. The other half concentrates on Jordans fluctuating music career that interjects between a firecracker album, court cases, jail visits, media-bashing, and an unstable relationship which is undefined yet affecting.
After a point, the picture isnt strict on telling a romantic tale but swims beyond thoughtfully in confronting the expansive void in each of us, which can only possibly be contained with someone who you truly desire, more than what you really desire.
Ranbir Kapoor is phenomenal. His unerring expressions convey the mental assault while the incredibly well-written lines express the overflowing aggression. The actor surpasses all expectations, and attacks like a starving beast, claiming his throne as the youngest rockstar-superstar. Predictably, he is the frontrunner for all the acting awards,view less

Imtiaz Ali made a lovely debut with Socha Na Tha, but it was his follow up product, Jab We Met, which made the entire world realise what a great st... read more

Imtiaz Ali made a lovely debut with Socha Na Tha, but it was his follow up product, Jab We Met, which made the entire world realise what a great storyteller he is. The super successful JWM, was followed by a rather insipid Love Aaj Kal. Now he presents, ROCKSTAR.\n\nAfter the mega successful Raajneeti and the disastrous Anjaana Anjaani in 2010, Ranbir Kapoor returns as Janardhan a.k.a. Jordan, the middle class Haryanvi from Delhi wanting to become Jim Morrison. In pursuit of that dream, he befriends the St. Stephens' hottie, Heer Kaul (Nargis Fakhri), who lives her alter ego with Janardhan, before her impeding marriage in Kashmir. Janardhan leaves Kashmir, with a promise to meet her in Prague someday. \n\nThe film starts off in flashback, with Jordan the Rockstar, being mobbed by a group (of what seemed like Italians to me) before escaping to his concert performance. Just about as he is going to perform, the movie moves back to Delhi. With an excellent opening shot such as this, one feels the beginning of the treat, which this movie promises to be; a roller coaster ride of emotions, the emotional catharsis of a musician, the performance of a life time by Ranbir, soul stirring music by Rahman and a brilliant film by Imtiaz. \n\nThe music by Rahman is different, with Sadda Haq already becoming a youth anthem. Katiya Karoon, Nadaan Parindey, Kunfaaya, Aur Ho are sure to grow on the audience, if they sit through the film. \n\nThe cinematography by Anil Mehta is brilliant. The manner in which he has captured Kashmir and Prague is sheer magic. Some of the scenes are literally poetry on celluloid. \n\nNargis Fakhri looks stunning. As a debutante, she does do a good job, but in the emotional scenes, she yet has a long way to go. Especially the scene where she breaks down after the final performance in Prague doesn't really help her case. \n\nAditi Rao Hydari (Yeh Saali Zindagi) has a half baked role. Yet she does as much justice to it as she could. Shernaaz Patel as Nargis' mom seems as if she just walked out of Guzaarish. The scene stealers are Kumud Mishra, Jordan's mentor, manager and only friend, and the effervescent Piyush Mishra as the music tycoon. Shammi Kapoor, in his last screen appearance, makes us realise, what we have lost, yet again. He is so charming in the film as the shehnai maestro. Wish there was more interaction between him and Jordan shown in the film.\n\nRanbir Kapoor proves yet again, that he is the future. He gives an earnest performance to an otherwise ill scripted role. Be it in his naivette as the tight fitting denim wearing green horn, be it his angst ridden ill tempered, tantrum throwing star or the emotionally bankrupt lover. He is the only reason why one would tolerate this film. \n\nImtiaz Ali, lets down once again. Although his heart is in the right place the film's heart isn't. The intention of showing the rise and fall (emotional) of a musician does not get translated onto the film. The screenplay of the film is hackneyed, which is not helping the poor writing. The last straw is the jarring editing! The film has no connect with the viewer. Leave alone, even the characters seem to have no connect. The placement of the songs also seem forced at times.\n\nThere is no basic premise for Heer to fall in love with Janardhan. Why does she suddenly transform to go see Junglee Jawaani with a loser from Hindu college, whom she had just blasted off! Why does Jordan get introduced to the husband in Prague as it was the first time, why do you think I point that out, because Jordan attended the entire wedding! Very difficult, not to be introduced to the groom when one attends the wedding as a close family friend. Why does Jordan suddenly start lusting for Heer? Why does Heer find her loving family life in Prague so boring? Many more questions like these boggle your mind. The first half of the film is so stretched that you cant believe the watch. At 2 \xbd hours it is very stretched. They should have kept it at 1 \xbd hour max, might have created an impact. \n\nRanbir the actor is let down by Imtiaz the writer. The audience let down by Imtiaz the director.\n\nDoes it have The Y Factor\t:\tNO\n\nRating\t\t \t\t: \t3 / 10 (Purely for RK).\n view less

\nRockstar is at heart, a tender love story. This fact seemed to disappoint the large number of college guys who had come for the 9 am show, hoping... read more

\nRockstar is at heart, a tender love story. This fact seemed to disappoint the large number of college guys who had come for the 9 am show, hoping to catch some head banging action. Their wisecracks at some of the intense moments were a bit of a distraction, but there were parts where even they were silent, such was the power of the movie to move you.\nRockstar follows the life of JJ who is talented but is not getting a break as a singer because he lacks pain, as the canteen owner who is also his guide, tells him. JJ convinces himself he is in love with the campus beauty Heer and tries to woo her. He backs of as quickly when she shouts him down and thy become friends. Their friendship involves doing all sorts of crazy stuff so that she can enjoy life before getting married. Of course, just before the wedding they fall in love. But she gets married and goes away to Prague. Now he has the pain so fame follows quite naturally. He is transformed into Jordan the rockstar.They meet up and then break up and he becomes the bad boy of rock smashing up cameras and roughing up policemen. It all goes on like this for a while till the movie ends.\nThe first half is almost perfect. The pace is great, the atmosphere right and the love story sweet and funny yet intense. The second half gets a bit maudlin with some very typical Bollywood type of melodrama, which threatens to pull it down, like old springs in a couch. But, it bounces back towards the end.\nThe credit for that spring back into the energy zone should go to Ranbir. He starts off looking slightly stupid but grows into a rock star as the story progresses. He plays the musician easily, complete with the over- the- top gestures and mannerisms of an artist. But we continue to see the madness of love in the lost look in his eyes. The rage, the broody eyes, the wild hair, the outfits it all comes together to give you the perfect rocker.\nNargis Fakhri is lovely to look at (those bow lips!) though still a bit raw in the acting department. She is shown as a confident young woman and a great dancer in the beginning but wilts when we see her next in Prague. I suppose that's because she is pining for her lost love, but even then I have a problem when I see smart women being shown as so wasted and unwilling to use their intelligence. Her own personality also gets overshadowed by Kareena Kapoor like acting. Imtiaz Ali apparently had wanted to cast Kareena but could not since you can't have cousins falling in love.\nThis is also the last chance to watch the great Shammi Kapoor on screen as a famous shehnai player who recognizes Jordan's talent. There is a very cute version of Taarif karun kya iski by Ranbir as a tribute to him that is too cute.\n\nThe music of course super and Mohit Chauhan's voice pure velvet. The rock shows have a raw energy to them which carries you away.\nImtiaz Ali tells a love story well. He is sensitive to each nuance and tunes the chemistry between the lovers to such a sensitive pitch that when they actually physically connect you feel the chord vibrate in you. \n view less

If you love the music of Rockstar almost an hour of the 2 hr 40 mins has already been sold to you by A.R.Rahman, Irshad Kamil and Imtiaz Ali even b... read more

If you love the music of Rockstar almost an hour of the 2 hr 40 mins has already been sold to you by A.R.Rahman, Irshad Kamil and Imtiaz Ali even before you enter the theatre. All Imtiaz had to do was take care of the remaining 1 hour 40 mins. \n \nWhat's it about? - Jandardan (Ranbir Kapoor) wants to be a Rockstar like Morrrison. He is advised to get his heart broken. In comes Heer (Nargis Fakhri) to break his heart. What follows is the making of a Rockstar's rise to fame and his fall in love.\n \nDoes it work for me? - Yes/No\n \nWhy? - Like I said almost one hour of the film is watchable because of the music and the other part of the screen time is complete Ranbir's playground. His performance is like a wild horse running wild. I think the “I want an award for this film” must be tinkering somewhere at the back of his mind and to his advantage he has no competition this year running close for the best actor award. What disappoints in the film big time is the director's inability to cast a good actor for the most important character in the film. Without Heer Jordan is nothing. I didn't connect with the love story at all. Nargis Fakhri makes a caricature out of her character. \n \nThe 2nd half is a hurried attempt at finding a resolution. If a writer/director who has made 3 films before this can come up with the laziest device of illness to move the story he should seriously do introspection and do a reality check with the people he shares his script with. The film also made me sit up and notice the brilliant performance of Kumud Mishra as Khatana who was the weakest actor in Anurag Kashyap's TGIYB. His is the only performance worth taking back besides Ranbir's. The editing device though designed to make otherwise clich\xe9d boring story look interesting ends up distancing the audience emotionally. It looked like the love story was cut like a thriller. Some editor should take this film up as a challenge and re edit it to see if it can make sense. Its high time Imtiaz Ali reflects on his work and brings back the heart of Socha Na Tha in his future films. \n \nFinal few words: Ranbir, Rahman, Irshad rocked. Imtiaz didn't. view less

Few years back in 2008, a movie by the name of Rock On bought immense popularity of band music. What Chetan Bhagat did to English writing, Rock On ... read more

Few years back in 2008, a movie by the name of Rock On bought immense popularity of band music. What Chetan Bhagat did to English writing, Rock On leveraged the same feel in youth with its music (and especially lyrics). No matter whether you are good or bad, you are expressive for your emotions, the antidote to the monotonous work life which you do for money!

Some definitions. What do you understand by a ROCKSTAR?
A rockstar is anybody who overcomes his conscience to get his passion fulfilled and if his passion is true, we say its ROCKing.

Story
Janardhan Jakhad sings in Delhi University and at Delhis bus stops so that people dont feel bored. Quite kiddish but yes! he is. So, when the canteen manager tells him to undergo pain to become like Jim Morisson, he takes it quite literally. He innocently flirts with a Kashmeri ballet beauty, Nargis Fakri (Heer). Post some attempts, the story goes into Jab We Met mode (travelling bindaas and then one of them falling in love with other). This is the forte of Imitiaz (director) and he is successful this time too. The story in second half reaches abroad in Prague, with Heer falling ill and JJ aka Jordan growing in music and violent clashes with media. Both meet & share some past moments but the love angle falls weak. When the movie ends, you feel the climax is not convincing (Imitiazs Love Aajkal!).

Star Cast
Rockstar Ranbir This is his best performance. With this movie, he has officially entered the league of extraordinary superstars who ride millions on their performance. Rockstar belongs to Ranbir in every true sense.
Nargis Fakri satisfies the beauty quotient but fails in passing on her pain to the audience.
Piyush Mishra cant miss him to appreciate. Just look his facial expressions in the massage scene.
Kumud Mishra plays the role of canteen manager. Impressive and believable.
Late Shree Shammi Kapoor gracefully played the role of a famous Shenai-vaadak. Full of charm.

The music is awesome. AR Rehman along with the versatile voice of Mohit Chauhan has created the music journey quite successfully. The movie builds on music. From acoustic, to sufi, to romantic, to cross-cultural, to instrumental, to live college fest aggression, to a foreign concert performance.
Another point to appreciate is the dressing of Ranbir when he performs as Jordan. The modified redesigned Jawahar Topi rocks and reflects attitude.

Can we, the Indians can be a bit bolder?
Why do we see an unnecessary love angle in every movie? Why do you need heartbreak as a cause of pain? Why cant Imitiaz Ali relate suffering to todays youth frustration? Pain from multiple job rejections, failure to get admission, etc could have given a lot of pain for Ranbir to turn Jordan. Its high time quality Indian directors like Vishal Bharadwaj and upcoming ones like Imitiaz Ali take the route of quality over commercial. @Anurag Kashyup take a lead.

What works: Ranbir, the music journey
What not: the pain punch in the script

SPEAKing PICtures verdict: 1.1.1 = 3 1 = 4

ps: Tibet flags @ Sadda Haq songtouching view less

Rockstar is a film held together by two things, its music and Ranbir Kapoor's performance, sans which the entire enterprise would fall down apart l... read more

Rockstar is a film held together by two things, its music and Ranbir Kapoor's performance, sans which the entire enterprise would fall down apart like a pack of cards. Are these two things enough to engage? Yes and no. \nJordan aka Janardhan Jhakar, is a college student, with dreams to make it big as a rockstar, like Jim Morrison. Rockstar is the story of how Janardhan becomes Jordan, the singing sensation, and how his love for a married girl Heer is both his strength and his greatest weakness. \nDirector Imtiaz Ali manages to create a beautiful journey of a na\xefve guy to superstardom. Janardhan is looking for a broken heart for inspiration; he finds more than his share of heartbreaks as his doomed love for Heer spurs his musical genius. \nRanbir, as Janardhan, lives the role. He looks the part, be it the severely tight fitting jeans that Janardhan wears, or the harem pants of Jordan. He invests the role with an innocence that is endearing and painful at the same time. Through the film, Ranbir commands undivided attention, blurring everything and everyone around, with his riveting and sincere performance. \nThe soul of the film is also the brilliant score by Rehman. Rockstar has one of the most seamless song integrations in recent times, which speak the story eloquently. Every track is a force to reckon with, and complements Ranbir's character graph. Mohit Chauhan and Rehman are an absolute treat to the ears.\nThe problem with the film lies in the other part of Rockstar-the love story. And the love interest, Nargis Fakri. For a role so pivotal to the film, Nargis is the weakest link in the entire film. She cannot act, and ruins some very beautiful moments with her obvious lack of talent. And then, post interval, which comes a little too late, Imtiaz loses plot- with the film spirals into a melodrama one doesn't expect from the maker. While the first half draws you into the world of Jordan, the second half is a huge let down, save for the music and Ranbir himself.\nDespite the amazing performance and music, Rockstar is not a superb film. One cannot but help wish the film and direction matched up to the amazing effort by the hero, and this attempt certainly is not Imtiaz's best. \n\nWhat Rockstar would be remembered for is the coming of age of a brilliant performer in Ranbir. The rest of the film is worth a onetime watch.\n view less

"Jab dil ki lagti hai naa tab aati hai jhankaar"...!!\r \r\r\tRanbir Kapoor has given an earthly performance, straight from the soil of h... read more

"Jab dil ki lagti hai naa tab aati hai jhankaar"...!!
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\tRanbir Kapoor has given an earthly performance, straight from the soil of his heart. His thumping entry is a brilliant scene high on octane that sets the pace for the film. Ranbir is a revelation. His slow transformation from a dimwit looking for a heart break to an elusive star is excellent.\r
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\tA R Rahman proves it again that he is the GOD. Without the music the film's run time would be just 10 mins. The stains of 'Kun Faya Kun' and 'Haawa Haawa' are essentially Rahman. Mohit Chauhan's honeyed voice leaves a deep impact.\r
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\tOn the contrary, Nargis Fakhri and the chewing gum like second half messed it up. It seems like the laws of gravity do not apply in space and on her lips. Nargis and Ranbir work visually as a couple but her stuttered acting is as infuriating as Ranbir's is endearing. The grief and the deep sense of loss is there but the film is a too longish saga of love.\r
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\tOverall Imtiaz Ali has pulled off another good film but lost the chance to take the story of the rock music forward. Away all the reviews of bad and good. There is ROCKSTAR. Just go and watch it... Feel it, enjoy it.\r
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\tFavorite 'Rockstar' moments:\r
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\t1) "Sheila ki jawani" finally meets her long lost on-screen sister - "Junglee jawani"\r
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\t2) A superb flamenco sequence at college dance show to introduce the pretty Nargis Fakhri.\r
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\t3) Rock fusion track - 'Nadaan Parindey' - brilliantly shot.\r
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Rockstar is in theatres and that too on a date, which wont come for the next 100 years, as rocking as its title. Disclaimer: If you think hindi fil... read more

Rockstar is in theatres and that too on a date, which wont come for the next 100 years, as rocking as its title. Disclaimer: If you think hindi films are better off without songs or if songs stop the flow of the movie, this movie is not for you. Imtiaz Ali is very good at love stories and he proves that yet again. Rockstar is a love story at heart and the irony is that not once do the lead pair utter the words "I Love You".\n\nJanardhan Jhakhar is an aspiring musician. He tries his level best to become a musician but no one takes him seriously. This is until he fakes a heartbreak with the hottest girl in college, Heer. Slowly but surely, the fake heartbreak turns into a real one as Heer gets married but JJ is deeply in love her. Jordan, a name which JJ is christened by Heer, quickly climbs the ladder of success, fame and self destruction. Only one person can stop him and bring him back but life happens and in the end Jordan is left burining inside.\n\nImtiaz Ali has a super creative way of telling stories. Rockstar has a simple story weaved around the premise of music. But the screenplay, especially in the first half, is super ingenuity. Definitely its a bold attempt and something which no one has tried before. The technique of going a little forward and then a flashback was awesome to see and experience. The dialogues are epic, as in all Imtiaz films. Its just in the last 30 minutes that the flow is hampered. Its almost as if Imtiaz ran out of time in the writing department and somehow finished the job. The movie was next to flawless in my perspective up until the last 30 minutes.\n\nIf ever stories were told through songs, this is it. I was totally awed at how Imtiaz Ali has handled each song and how they all have a small story of their own. Ofcourse it massively helps that the music score and the lyrics are probably the finest we have heard in a long time. The choreography, the minute details like panning out the metal music when JJ is playing on the road is simply beautiful. Each song is treated with equal importance and that is the beauty of it.\n\nMr. A.R.Rahman, no matter how many praises are sung of you, they are less. You are no doubt the Sachin Tendulkar in the world on hindi film music. You are the real rockstar of the movie, behind the scenes. Each song feels like a pearl fetched from the depths of the Indian Ocean. Whether it be the foot stamping 'Sadda haq' or the mesmerizing trance like 'Kun faya Kun' or the soulfull 'Jo Bhi Mai' you have in the real sense rocked it. A special mention to Irshad Kamil for the wonderful lyrics.\n\nIn addition to Rahman, the other hero of this film is Ranbir Kapoor. He carries the huge burden of this film on his shoulders and how. The pain and anguish that he emotes is simply goosebumps material. With each film my respect for Ranbir grows. I hated him in his first film and now I have been made to think that he is one of the finest actors in the country. The highs that Ranbir reaches are balanced by Nargis' lows in acting. She looks stunning but she cant act, period. A very bad casting choice. Amongst the supporting cast Aditi Rao Hydari and Kumud Mishra are the ones who leave an impact. \n\nThe third and the most important leg of this tripod, Imtiaz Ali is at his brilliant best and as always tries to reinvent himself. Even though its a love story, he chooses the difficult path to do something different. For that alone he should be lauded and should receive a pat on the back. The only blemish that one can find are the lackadaisical last 30 minutes. I loved the ending but not the path that it took to get there. The ending I believe is one of the most innovative endings I have seen in a hindi movie. You end up leaving the theatre with a heavy heart and feeling sad for the character and that is when you realize that the movie conveyed the message it was supposed to.\n\nIf it were not for Nargis' acting and the climax, Rockstar could have attained my 'Best movie of the year' spot. But alas, ZNMD retains the #1 spot for the year. Overall definitely worth watching.\n\nRating : 8.1 / 10\n\nReasons to watch:\n1) Ranbir Kapoor\n2) A.R.Rahmans creation put to canvas\n3) Innovative screenplay\n4) Awesome story naration\n\nReasons to skip:\n1) 1 song every 10 mins\n\nRepeat Value: Definitely !\n view less

India is a country with a rich musical heritage but no real rockstars to boot. “Rockstar” gives the country its first proper badass musical gen... read more

India is a country with a rich musical heritage but no real rockstars to boot. “Rockstar” gives the country its first proper badass musical genius. Imtiaz Ali has crafted a beautiful story of a starry-eyed simpleton who rises to great heights of fame and his eminent fall from grace as he battles his own romantic demons. \n\nWith many familiar pages from the lives of archetypical rockstars, the story gives you all; romance, drama, fame, personal angst and the will to make your spot in the sun. The screenplay progresses with a firm purpose, sometimes going back and forth but never losing track. However the decline of the protagonist and the reasons for it somewhat seem lukewarm when compared to the might of the overall feel of the film. This happens somewhere around interval and sort of meanders till the mid of the second half. You never really understand the hero's madness and get lost between his staggering success and his depression into what could only be called demonic possession. There is no substance abuse that is complimentary to success but a lost love that causes this decline. I guess Indian rockstars remain Bollywood at heart. But the last 30 minutes of the film pick up once you get settled in with this fact. \n\nRanbir Kapoor does full justice to his character and his styling has been much talked about. He displays a range that very few current working actors are capable of. Yet his chocolate boy looks deceive all the layers of khaki and Janpath patchwork. All in all, it is still an award winning performance. Nargis Fakiri looks like a dream and has the “Katrina-Kaif” quality with oodles of talent. However her voice doesn't match her face and makes you wonder if there is some truth in all the rumors about using a dubbing double. Shammi Kapoor gives a charming cameo. The rest of supporting cast is apt and well supportive.\n\nThe music has been ruling the charts for a while now but you honestly connect with it when watching the film. Using Mohit Chauhan as the one voice for Ranbir's character was a smart move and his baritone matches well with the hero. The camerawork is excellent and uses some shaky and handycam movement in places. Also a lot of jib and helicopter shots are used to give you the grandiose of the canvas. Everything compliments each other. \n\nDirector Imtiaz Ali is one of those rare directors who has his finger right on the youth pulse (the only other is Raju Hirani). His work while remaining realistic has an escapist quality that makes his films worthy of watching many times over. “Jab We Met” was a triumph but with “Rockstar” he has put himself on the map as a true showman. \n\nWhile this film joins a growing list of Indian films that are taking the “good cinema” movement forward, it also strongly stands apart from the league because its different yet familiar; parallel in its theme but mainstream in its treatment; and something that works for Gen X but also might stand the test of time for many generations to come. Until we get a real rockstar. Till then, just take a bow.\n view less

The majority stake for the feel of goodness of the film has to go to Ranbir Kapoor for getting completely under the skin of the character of JJ. He... read more

The majority stake for the feel of goodness of the film has to go to Ranbir Kapoor for getting completely under the skin of the character of JJ. He complately shed his superstar image and the superb music of A.R rehman really complements his performance. Direction and script are good though you desire at the end it could have been a little shorter but it is Ranbir Kapoor who holds together the film with his stellar performance. Watch him tease his music company boss and you will know what i mean and see him pull him the middel finger.
They say Nargis delivered a cold peformance i won't completely agree with it though she could have been better but considering it's have been her first film we should give her time.
Talking about other people like the canteen boss and later his manager is really convincing and so is the music compnay boss. Late Shammi kapoor makes a refreshing cameo and rest of the cast also does their job quite good. Music is the other superstar here.
Stretched in some parts but a heartfelt film. go for it! view less