Mukherjee keeps things grounded in reality.
Released Friday, May 31st, 2013
Starring: Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Kalki Koechlin, Aadtiya Roy Kapoor
Director: Ayan Mukherjee
Not Rated – nothing overly offensive
Grade: A
By Deepak Chitnis
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani has been marketed as the new cool rom-com from producer Karan Johar. All the trailers, TV ads and promos make it look like a fun and light couple of hours at the movies. The songs, composed by Pritam (who’s been on an unparalleled hot streak lately) are incredibly catchy, the stars impossibly gorgeous, and this all leads you to believe that this is going to be a frothy but forgettable masala flick.
Don’t believe any of it.
Instead, Ayan Mukherjee’s new film – his first after his surprise 2009 success Wake Up Sid! – is a deeply moving and subtly effective examination of youth, love, friendships, and how changes in one can affect the others. It talks about complicated things in a very real way. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani never feels like some ridiculous, over-produced Bollywood spectacle; Mukherjee keeps things grounded in reality. I kept waiting for a cliché to pop up – the girl is already engaged, her fiancé is a jackass, something like that – but it never happened. This is a movie of the moment, one made by a young person for young people, but there are universalities to what the film is trying to say; just because I’m in the target demographic for this movie doesn’t mean people older than me can’t get anything out of Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.
The film begins “eight years ago.” Kabir “Bunny” (Ranbir Kapoor), a charmingly vela Casanova-type, is going on a trekking expedition in Manali with his two best friends, Avi (Aaditya Roy Kapoor) and Aditi (Kalki Koechlin). By chance, the day before they all leave, Aditi runs into her old friend Naina (Deepika Padukone), an uptight med-school student who used to be close with Aditi in their younger days. Inspired by Aditi’s bohemian lifestyle and desperately craving a change of pace from her routine daily life, Naina impulsively joins the three on their chartered trek. As Naina begins to open up to the three friends, Bunny and her develop and unlikely friendship that has lasting repercussions on all four friends.
I’m reluctant to describe any of the storyline for you; I went into this movie not really knowing anything other than the songs, and I’m grateful for it. This isn’t a typical plot-oriented movie, it’s a very character-based drama. The film is long (one of my two minor complaints with the film), clocking in at about 15 minutes shy of three hours, but the time is somewhat necessary to really get to know these characters and feel for them.
The four protagonists are all exceptionally well-developed; these aren’t just stock creations drummed up by a writer, and the actors imbue each character with personality and charm. Ranbir Kapoor, after phenomenal performances in Rockstar and Barfi!, proves he’s the next superstar of Bollywood. The man can act, and turns even a seemingly simple role like this into something multi-facted and complex, all while making it look effortless. Deepika, an actress I’ve never been overly fond of, won me over with this movie. She perfectly captures the fragility and timidity of a shy young bookworm who has never been accepted by the more outgoing popular kids, and her transformation from quiet girl to boisterous party-goer is completely believable (although she has an irritating voice-over narration that is completely unnecessary). Kalki Koechlin brings warmth to her role; Aditi feels like someone you could easily run into on the street and strike up a conversation with. Aaditya Roy Kapoor, last seen in the sleeper-hit sensation Aashiqui 2, shows us yet again that he’s a young talent to keep an eye on.
Technically, the movie is all aces. All of its various locations – Manali, Udaipur (as seen in everyone’s favorite Bond movie), and Paris – all look gorgeous. The choreography for all the songs is outstanding, particularly “Badtameez Dil” and the opening number, “Ghagra,” which features a cameo that’s already been spoiled by the promos but I won’t spoil it here in case you want to be surprised at the theater (it’s also my personal favorite song in the movie).
This film has something for everyone. I went in expecting an entertainer, but what I got was an emotional sucker punch. I can’t recommend this movie enough. Now that the American summer movie offerings have hit something of a slow patch, at least until Man of Steel releases on June 14th, it’s not like there’s anything else to see anyway. Do yourself a favor and go see Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.
To contact the reviewer, email to : deepakchitnis@americanbazaaronline.com