MOVIE REVIEW
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
Starring: Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone,
Aditya Roy Kapur, Kalki Koechlin
Producer: Saif Ali Khan
Director: Ayan Mukherjee
Music Director: Pritam
No doubt Yeh Jawaani...is a very good looking film. It is gorgeously shot, the locations are picture perfect, the music is great, the lead actors make a fetching onscreen pair, and the performances by the entire cast are near-perfect. So what’s missing? Nothing really, except that it is predictable all the way. We have seen and heard it all before, with the characters spouting familiar platitudes to each other. Actually, Ayan Mukherjee’s second outing—unlike his original, mature debut Wake Up Sid—is a mix of Dil Chahta Hai and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, not to mention Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and even 3 Idiots!
Four friends—Bunny (Ranbir Kapoor), Aditi (Kalki Koechlin), Avi (Aditya Roy Kapur), and Naina (Deepika Padukone) go on a trekking trip to Manali. The bespectacled and studious Naina, the odd one out in this group, falls in love with the thrill-seeking, commitment-phobic Bunny but is unable to express her true feelings.
After the trip all four go their separate ways. Then after eight long years, Aditi decides to get married to an engineer (Kunaal Roy Kapur) and her old friends descend on a resort in Udaipur for the great fat Indian wedding. And we know the stage is set for the climax.
Ranbir is terrific and turns on the charm full throttle, also displaying his vulnerable, sensitive side in some scenes. After Cocktail, Deepika impresses again, ably pulling off the transformation from a geeky girl-next door to an alluring saree-clad woman. Together the two share a searing chemistry that makes for great viewing.
The supporting cast is terrific, too. While Kalki as the brash tomboy Aditi invests her role with an endearing spunkiness, Aditya Roy Kapur is entirely likeable as the goofy Avi. Farooque Sheikh as Ranbir’s father is simply outstanding in a two-scene cameo. Dolly Ahluwalia is too good!
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, despite its sluggish pace post-interval, makes for an extremely pleasant watch. Much of the credit for that must go to the cast, who rise wonderfully above the stereotypical script.
TOP 10 SONGS
1. Badtameez Dil (Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani)
2. Tum Hi Ho (Aashiqui 2)
3. Jeene Laga Hoon (Ramaiya Vastavaiya)
4. Manmarziyan (Lootera)
5. Tum Tak (Raanjhanaa)
6. Yamla Pagla Deewana (Yamla Pagla Deewana 2)
7. Ambarsariya (Fukrey)
8. Jigra Fakira (Aurangzeb)
9. Babli Badmaash (Shootout at Wadala)
10. Allah Meherbaan (Ghanchakkar)
TOP 10 MOVIES
1. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
2. Aashiqui 2
3. Yamla Pagla Deewana 2
4. Aurangzeb
5. Go Goa Gone
6. Bombay Talkies
7. Shootout at Wadala
8. Chashme Baddoor
9. Ek Thi Daayan
10. Nautanki Saala!
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