Sunday, July 06, 2008

Jaane Tu


Rating : 9/10
Running Time : 155 Minutes
Release Date : 4th July ‘08
Director & Writer : Abbas Tyrewala ; Music : AR Rahman
Starring :
The Gang : Imran Khan, Genelia D’Souza, Karan Makhija, Sugandha Garg, Nirav Mehta, Alishka Varde
The Fiancee’s : Manjari Phadnis, Ayaz Khan
The parents : Ratna Pathak Shah, Naseeruddin Shah, Jayant Kriplani, Anuradha Patel, Kitu Gidwani, Rajat Kapoor
Others : Sohail and Arbaaz Khan, Pratiek Babbar, Paresh Rawal


Don’t read this review, don’t think too much…just pick up the phone and book your tickets for the movie…Done that ? Now proceed with my thoughts on this beautiful cinematic experience that makes you feel young again.

Right from the time the ‘watercolour’ treated opening credits flash on the screen, you see some young kids singing the old Hindi song ‘Jaane Tu…ya Janne na’ at the top of their voices in a car, you know you’re in for something different. Its youthful, exuberant, irreverent and cool…and all this without trying too hard. In short its zara hatke…but without seeming to be trying to be….

The story is not important here…its basically about two inseparable friends (Imran and Genelia) and how their relationship progresses (or not) and how it impacts those around them (their close friends, parents etc). What is important is how its been treated, how the situations simply flow, how the characters just seem to be doing what they do, however crazy, just naturally. It reminds me of Friends, with each person in the film having a very sharply defined character and the interaction between them seeming the most normal thing to do…even if someone appears in the film for 5 minutes, you know what they are about, how they would behave…whether its Genelia’s parents (Jayant Kriplani & Anuradha Patel), Imran’s (Ratna Pathak Shah and the delightfully dead Naseeruddin Shah) or even Inspector Waghmare (the delightfully alive Paresh Rawal).

The funeral in the beginning, the videocam introduction of the friends, the 2 characters on the horses (Arbaaz and Sohail Khan), the three people who meet towards the end in jail and all have nicknames from Jungle Book, the man at the end with the Godot placard…the movie abounds with lovely touches. However, none as brilliant as the interaction between the erstwhile Naseeruddin Shah’s painting and Ratna Pathak Shah and the whole Ranjhaur ke Rathore thing. That was pure genius, simply outstanding. Everyone acts very well – fits in perfectly – it would be unfair to single out the lead pair (who rock !) or anyone else for special mentions. The songs are lovely, flow smoothly into the film (I really loved Kabhi Kabhi Aditi and Pappu Can’t Dance).There are no item numbers (no skimpily clad blonde bombshells shaking legs and/or other body parts), there is no brand endorsement in the film (as compared to LoveStory2050, the comparison can't be more stark on both these counts). I thought based on the current bollywood trends you couldn’t have a successful movie without these two ? Just another example of ‘zara hatke’ thinking from the director / producers.


I’ve deducted one point for the really ‘over the top’ ending – just the last few frames – it’s the only time in the movie when I could say ‘that’s not possible in real life’. But maybe it is and I’m just carping…I do know that I almost dread going for the next film, as I know after this its going to be such a letdown and Bollywood needed such a film in 2008

And I also do know that I haven’t laughed this much in a very long time – the first half truly delights you ! I want the DVD. I want to watch it again. I want a sequel. And all of this tomorrow !

12 comments:

rhythm fadia-maniar said...

ur post has been a delight to read....i had been wanting this movie to be good so badly...and m glad its good...will have to go sometime next week for it....thank u so much for this post..

Anonymous said...

The movie is rocking man......college days yaad aa gaye!!! Simply fantastic....loved ur review

Karan

Shamasis said...

You right amazingly well.

It is your flow and expression that strikes first.

I stopped writing long back (IT did its part.)

I was thinking about re-kindling my writing spree (maybe to others' horror!) Your blog just catalysed a bit more.

Vikas said...

i dont know.. was ok.. i agree with the cinematography.. was absolutely brilliant.. loved the water colour effect right at the start,just as you said, but thought it was quite a drag in the middle..
hehe apurv i guess ppl in the 20's were like.. this is just another day captured on film.. but for.. ahemm.. the living fossils.. maybe something to reminisce about !!
:-)

Vikas said...

i agree with the cinematography.. was quite superbly done that.. the whole water paint effect, video camera etc etc.. totally agreed..
thought it was a drag in the middle though..
guess for 20 year olds.. it was like just another day cought on tape.. i mean nothing "new"..
hehe.. now i can understand why you enjoyed it so much.. :-)

rhythm fadia-maniar said...

whats the significance of man with godot placard...i noticed it but didnt know wat to make of it...and u have written it as a nice touch in the movie so u might me knowing whats the idea behind it...please tell

Unknown said...

Despite Apurv's hyperbolic review, I am sorry to report this movie flopped in London and had to taken off the cinemas after the first week.

College days my ass. That Kabhi Kabhi song is so sweet and sugary it makes me want to punch the guy who sung it.

Apurv Nagpal said...

Arun : an excerpt from the box-office overseas collections report
Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na has emerged a hit with 5.50 crore buisness in 10 days. North America and Middle East have emerged best with both doing around 2 crore in 10 days. UK is on lower side with 70 lakhs. HIT
I appreciate you didnt like it...but its doing well....

rhythm fadia-maniar said...

arun if u didnt like it it just tells us something abt your sensibilities esp the song aditi....

Anonymous said...

Opened your review gingerly as I wanted this movie to get a 9 if not 10 from u. ANd here it is. Its a lovely movie which kept me occupied through out. I dint get lost a min , enjoyed it thoroughly.Its a beautiful movie and that was the review I heard from most of them who walked out of the hall.But some might not like it as it is their point of view :) . Thanks on behalf of Aamir and the complete team for your rating.Cheers! Bee

Apurv Nagpal said...

hi ! Rhythm - not my answer but something i picked up from Yahoo..

Mr Godot is used to say "we all wait for someone in our lives; and we are not even aware of who (s)he really is"

The use of this term has been done as the movie is an adaptation of "Waiting for Godot" is a play by Samuel Beckett (coz aditi and jai dont know that its each other they really want in life.. i hear a lot of aaahhhs.. :) )

Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waiting_for...

White Nuke said...

WhiteNuke gotta say this:
Felt as if i'm reading my own thoughts.
Really, coodos to the cast, crew and THE DIRECTOR PRODUCER.
Its a continuation of an evolution process of Indian Cinema.
Hope it will keep the young generation from going away from Bollywood.