Aug 03, 2009 04:16 PM
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(Updated Aug 03, 2009 05:33 PM)
If I would start the review writing that the story line is not par at Indian mentality, people wouldn’t read this review at all. So, I would like to start with the good part of the movie.
The ‘Love Aaj Kal’ movie is based on the two different definitions of Love in Today and Yesterday. In fact, director has put his best to realize that the process of relationship changes with the changing time but the basic essence remains the same always. The Kal means Veer and the Aaj means Jai were sharing two different definitions of love with each other.
It is really difficult for Jai to figure out how Veer could be so emotional and driven by heart. On the other hand, Veer is not able to understand the undefined practical approach of Jai. But, we can see two different types of love those are beautiful and right in their own way. Veer and Harleen is old day couple, mad for each other and deeply in love.
In contrast, Jai and Meera are modern day couple and do the things very quickly or you can say things are happening very quickly, and somewhere movie has changed the definition of modern love drastically. I know, in India things are changing but not fast as has been depicted in the movie. Moreover, Indian modern generation is not as shallow as it has been portrayed in the movie.
The movie is a hardcore love and romance flick, and the Director Imtiaz ali was *piled on* with the expectations to recreate Jab We Met kind of movie, so he didn’t leave the chance to let the actors running behind the train (running behind the train could be his amulet). At few moments, Imtiaz forgot to take the Veer and Harleen on the screen for a long time and people were waiting for them to come and see what had happened in their love story. He tried to create a blend of all existing attention winning film formula to keep the spectators glued with their chair. Overall, you can see his skills and capabilities through the sequences and mixing of filmy formula.
All applause goes to Saif for Veer Singh, as his performance is most accurate in this role. His dialogue delivery and gestures were very accurate, especially in the scene when he meets with Harleen (Simran) in old fort, and he is explaining about him and his job. Saif portrayed Jai as the most confused guy as he has already been portrayed in Dil Chahta Hai and Hum Tum but in this movie he is confused at his best. In fact, his role is an extension of Hum Tum as modern, practical, and not ready for any commitment kind of guy. Deepika was looking beautiful and credit goes to her wardrobe. Simran was portrayed very cute, simple, and sober girl but got only 2 or 3 dialogues in her pocket. Rishi and Neetu were shining as ever. I don’t know the name of the actor who had played the role of Harleen’s father but he was very natural in one scene where he was sitting among people and yelling about father of his son-in-law. I must say Imtiaz has directed that scene very well keeping all the smallest things in consideration.
Performance of actors is tremendous, editing is unquestionable, music is awesome, and locations have been hand picked by the director. I believe, Imitiaz must had asked for the list of most lush green areas of London before starting the shooting. J You will see the beauty of London and San Francisco throughout the movie mostly before the interval. The second half covers the Delhi (sorry, dilli) well.
Now, come to script. I find script weak in some sequences or you can say it is required to meet an objective that is making the actor and actress one in the end. After the break-up Jai and Meera met with the utmost dumb-boring woman and man respectively. Saif is talking about Aam Janta-Aam Janta every time but does it really possible in Aam janta. Unfortunately, Aam Janta is not allowed to do what they want because of social bindings. It is very easy to say and portray “Break the Rules”; the Aam Janta can clap or give standing ovation for these scenes but once they reach home and see that their daughter/son/sister/brother is eloped with a guy/girl, they immediately approach to police station rather giving standing ovation and clapping for the two lovers. I must say if scripts include such term Aam Janta and what happens in Aam Janta, it should only include the reality of Aam Janta. Still, this is fiction and can be treated as fiction.
You can find the flavor of Dil Chata Hai, Hum-Tum, and Kabhi Alvida Na kahna in this movie. In a scene, where Veer Singh entered in Harleen’s house and asking her mother to give permission to take her daughter away- seems Ctrl C and Ctrl V from DDLJ. At the same time, movie also has something for old school thoughts people, because at the end, Jai feels that he is not much different from the Veer Singh of late 50s, who lived out as the character of any famous love story. Over all movie is good and worth watching.
