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
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