With stars and big names like Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif, Farhan Akhtar, Abhay Deol and Kalki Koechlin, song trailers that keep reminding you of a certain flick called Dil Chahta Hai (DCH) a decade back, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (ZNMD) was one of the most eagerly awaited movies of the year. Does it succeed in its attempt to tell a beautiful story? Does it touch the emotional chord of the audience? Let’s find out!
Imran, Kabir and Arjun are three college friends who have had a pact on going for an adventure trip together at least once in their life. And so Kabir invites the two to meet up in Barcelona and the three set off on a 3 week trip around Spain in search of happiness, in search of life and in search of living life like they have never done before. In the midst of all this, they go through various problems, issues, troubles and that makes up the rest of the story.
The script and the screenplay is littered with simple and fun loving moments which could easily be out of anyone’s college or school diary. Though things get dreary in the beginning as the characters keep moving in and out of hotels in Spain in the 1st half. At places, the pace of the movie drops and a better editing job needed to have been done.
He’s a singer, an actor, a director and even a producer. Is there anything Farhan Akhtar can’t do? He’s a show stealer in his role as Imran as he plays the character with such fantastic comic timing that you start wondering why didn’t he act earlier. He also gets to deliver the amazing poetry written by his dad himself. Abhay is as usual as versatile as anybody with the kind of films he chooses. And he does a pretty good job here too. As the wannabe sauve financial broker from London to a guy who lives life with each passing day, Hrithik undergoes the metamorphosis really well and you can clearly see the pain he goes through as he still isn’t able to forget his past love. Katrina as a half Brit half Indian chick is perfectly cast and is as usual gorgeous while Kalki portrays the nagging and suspecting girlfriend role pretty effectively. Suhel Seth, Nasseruddin Shah and Deepti Naval make an impact.
Shankar Ehsan Loy are in tremendous form this time with a chartbusting music score which is a sure fire hit among the youth of the nation. ‘Senorita’ deserves a special mention. All of us know that Farhan is an awesome singer but Abhay and Hrithik display their singing prowess in this song with amazing results.
As a final addition, let me reply to the complaints against ZNMD I have read and heard –
Yes the movie does indirectly becomes a Spanish tourism guide. But why shouldn’t it? Since Spain is where they rediscover what life has to offer, isn’t it important to show it well on screen. And c’mon the cinematographer deserves awards for project Spain so beautifully on the canvas. I really didn’t know it was so beautiful. Tomatina, the bull fighting event and also the entire Spanish countryside hasn’t been shown this way ever before.
As for the comparisons with Dil Chahta Hai, I believe that the only thing similar is that both are stories about three friends. And anyways, shouldn’t two movies which released years apart be seen with different mindsets?
As for the fact that its a metro – centric film, yes it is. Why shouldn’t it be? Wanted, Dabangg, Singham – all are the core masala flicks, aren’t they? When people don’t have a problem with such movies why pan ZNMD for the fact that its a urban centric film.
And for the final complaint about everything being larger than life, I would say that its a film and one should see that way. At the outset the core message of the film is to have fun, enjoy the camaraderie among the friends, feel good when you leave the theater, that’s what isn’t it? And c’mon, would it look truthful to us only if the characters had gone to Goa instead of Spain and had feni sitting at the beach all night long rather than go scuba diving or sky diving?
All in all a lovely and clean watch with your friends. May not be a cult film or probably the film of the year.
But this flick does touch your heart strings and that’s what matters in the end!
Rating – 4.5/5
forum
oh i wish u could have given it 5 on 5 coz i really loved the movie. made me think of times and how i can too enjoy what life offers
Mini
I loved the movie really :-). Its a wonderful film 🙂
anita
Many people whom I know commented on the film as a time pass, but nothing great. But I liked the movie. It touched my heart, poetry was great. Cinematography is really good although when I went to Spain few years back (Madrid and Barcelona), I didnt find it that beautiful as it was shown in the movie.
aseemrastogi2
Yeah I doubt Spain has ever been captured this brilliantly ever on celluloid. And that’s why even the Spain tourism department decided to partner with this movie thinking that Indians would love to visit after watching the movie 🙂
Padhee
was the “larger than life” complaint heard from me ,aseem??
aseemrastogi2
Hahaha maybe 😉
Priya Pawar
i must say it is a awesome movie..it really touched my heart..<3
n it made me think how happily v can lead our life.. instead of being tensed all tym bcoz of sum bullshit!!!
aseemrastogi2
Yeah Priya, it makes us think that life is really small to be worried or tensed all the time. One needs to be happy and contented and that’s what living is all about. Whether its friends, loved ones or anyone else, one needs to try to keep the others happy. Who knows where life can take you next.