Ayan Mukerji has taken a giant step forward with his second outing as director. If his first film Wake Up Sid was about human relations, this one is woven around the same subject, but the film is bigger, grander.
Expectations of this film were very high. Mukerji’s first film was very well received; this one features Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone in the lead; and it has been produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions. And the music of the film is already a rage.
The first half of the film is devoted to establishing the characters. There’s some fun, some dhamaal, some touching moments, a couple of songs, beautiful locations, and some funny elements, and it ends on an emotional note. The first half is as regular as any romantic film can be.
Since the pace is languid, you tend to feel the film is dragging. However, instead of disappointing you, it builds anticipation for the second half. That’s where the film scores, big time. The second half is touching, moving, makes you laugh and cry, and offers some memorable moments. There are many scenes that are so pleasantly written and shot, that they touch the core of your heart. All in all, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (YJHD) steals your heart and scores Big Time!
This film leaves you awestruck from the word ‘go’ and, more importantly, it entertains. The pace does dip in places, especially in the first half, but the overall result is an experience every movie-goer would thoroughly enjoy.
The film starts with wedding invitations being dispatched. Cut to Naina (Deepika Padukone)’s narration going back eight years. Naina meets Aditi (Kalki Koechlin), her school friend who tells her that she is going to Manali on a trekking trip with Bunny (Ranbir Kapoor) and Avi (Aditya Roy Kapur). Naina, who is an aspiring doctor, is fed up with her serious life which leaves her no time to enjoy herself.
She decides to join Aditi, Bunny and Avi on their trip. She meets Bunny at the railway station and realises that they have contradicting personalities. Bunny wants to travel the world and live life on his own terms. Avi is not ambitious and wants only to spend time with his friends. Soon a trip to remember kicks off and what follows is a friendship that’s lasts forever.
Post-interval, it’s back to 2013 and the big wedding is that of Aditi’s. All four friends reunite and what follows is a clash between their transformed personalities, the blossoming of love and facing the bitter truths of reality.
Ayan Mukerji, who directed Wake Up Sid back in 2009, marks a confident second outing with YJHD. He proves he can not only handle a small budget film but can do wonders with big-budgeted films as well. He has done his homework with the script and character sketches. The flow of the storyline is precise and the pace is perfect. Also, as the writer of the film, he knows how to handle delicate scenes beautifully.
For instance, the friendship between Kapoor and Padukone is perfectly portrayed in the first half of the film. The camaraderie between the trio – Kapoor, Kapur and Koechlin – has been captured perfectly. Many scenes have been handled with confidence by the director.
A special mention of the scene where Kapoor’s father (Farooq Shaikh) confronts him about his trip to Manali and post their conversation, gifts his son a bag for his trip. The little detailing is spectacular and Kapoor is always seen with the same bag and clutching it tight during the song Kabira. Another scene worth a special mention is the one where Kapoor visits his home many years after his father’s death. The flashback conversation between Kapoor and Shaikh is heartfelt and sensitively executed.
Pritam, once again, comes up with brilliant tunes and the songs go well with the narrative. Each song is not only beautifully picturised but perfectly placed in the screenplay. The background score adds to the flow of the story. Madhuri Dixit’s special dance number is another highlight in the film.
Cinematography by V Manikanandan is spectacular in the first half, where he captures scenic locations and in the second half, where he picturises a colourful Indian wedding. The dialogue is simple but brings realism to the film. Editing by Akiv Ali is precise even though the flow of the screenplay dips in the first half. It is the second half that lifts the narration to a whole new level.
Performance-wise, Ranbir Kapoor comes up tops. His confidence as an actor is top notch and he plays his part with a beautiful mix of aplomb and conviction. Deepika Padukone is on top of her game. Undoubtedly, her best performance to date!
Aditya Roy Kapur does justice to his role. Kalki Koechlin is very good. Kunaal Roy Kapur is hilarious in his inconspicuous part. Evelyn Sharma is okay. Discreet appearances by Dolly Ahluwalia, Rana Daggubati and Poorna Jagannathan are notable. Veterans Farooque Shaikh and Tanvi Azmi have only a couple of scenes but leave an impact with their sincere performances.
Verdict: Blockbuster!
