I was very excited from the beginning about Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara since it was announced but was not absolutely taken aback by the promos. It came across as a flick with major "hangover” of Dil Chahta Hai; co-incidentally from the same production house.
Ppl around me were saying that it will be well made but will lack soul. How can the Akhtars better their own success like the iconic DCH but after seeing the movie I wanna say that its better, yes u read it right, BETTER than DCH. The advantage DCH had was that it was "coming of age" movie with a lot of controlled performances and stylish presentation which Hindi cinema had never seen. ZNMD had a disadvantage of getting immediately associated with DCH due to the similar looking premise of 3 friends. But this film does not only get over it but soars much higher.
The soul of the film is in the right place. A bachelor road trip which turns out to be a journey to self-realisation for each of its lead characters. All things which happen to them just adds spice to the actual focal point of the movie ie. You live only once and you need to make the most of it.
The co-writer cum director, Zoya, showed a lot of promise in her last offering, LUCK BY CHANCE. Though it was not what everyone could relate to but was an honest representation on Hindi film industry.
Here she has been very brave and creative in capturing the most emotional moments with just SILENCE of the characters. The expressions and light background score do the rest. The feeling of being alive which Hritik’s character goes through after his dive underwater or the pathos which Farhan’s character goes through after being not accepted by his biological father are true masterpieces. They have never been captured on celluloid by our film makers. Everything is so subtle with lack of drama that the Indian audience might detest it due to lack of “DABANGisation”.
The true hero of the movie for me are the dialogues by Farhan Akhtar(Is there anything that this man can’t do!!) and shaayari by his father, Javed Akhtar.
Dialogues are down to earth and fresh and comprise of our daily lingo with absolutely humorous “tongue-in-cheek” one liners. The best part is that Farhan does not give in to the commercial pressures and infuse dramatic lines but sticks to what he is good at, simple writing.
Javed Akhtar’s poems in midst of the journey of life bring out the melancholy which is deep down and hidden behind Farhan’s smile. Very philosophical indeed!!
Critics have panned it saying its a video brochure for Spain tourism but I disagree as the movie could have been set in any other city or country but would have been equally soulful. Spain adds to the colour, free-spirit, adventure, bravado and passion which is an integral part of the movie.
An absolutely FABULOUS film which has kept itself away from the shindig of BOLLYWOOD (I hate this term!!) and has not succumb to the pressure of mad marketing gimmicks along with “smart” infusions of expletives which we have recently seen.
Hats off to Zoya and Farhan, the true blue talented blood runs in the family. It is an absolute privilege that our cinema will be remembered for films like these and not the stereotypical pot boilers full of frothy romance and utter nonsensical crass humour from Farha Khan types.
To summarize it, if DCH spelt out style then ZNMD is pure CLASS
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