Expectations were high from director Imtiaz Ali who was associated with the cult movie Jab We Met and superhit Love Aaj Kal. The film opened well primarily in multiplexes due to the director's reputation, the presence of upcoming superstar Ranbir Kapoor and chartbusters like Saada Haq in AR Rahman's impressive score. But gorgeous heroine Nargis Fakiri fails to match up to Ranbir's performance, and the film is further hampered by a weak, unrealistic script. It failed to sustain interest and collections fell heavily in the second week.
A Jim Morrison Fan
Young Janardhan Jakar (Ranbir Kapoor) is a Delhi college student and an aspiring musician. He dreams of being a famous rockstar and idolizes Jim Morrison, but cannot turn his dreams into reality. His friend and mentor points out to him that most famous musicians have had painful lives, and until he experiences that anguish, great music cannot materialize.
For no logical reason, JJ proposes to a beautiful college diva Heer (Nargis Fakiri) but she spurns him. JJ refuses to give up and after he pursues her on several occasions, she relents and agrees to go out with him. He learns that she is engaged to be married after a couple of months and would like to make her personal fantasies come true before marriage. In accordance with Heer's wishes, the two go out for dates, blue movies and country liquor drinking binges.
Ranbir Kapoor, the Rockstar
Janardhan Jakar is thrown out of his house and starts to eke out a living by singing at religious events in dargahs. Rechristened Jordan, he wins a music contract and makes it to Europe. He runs into his lady love, now a married woman, in Prague. She is not doing too well (though the audience is not exactly told why). She is reluctant to go out with him, but on second thought changes her mind and the two indulge in her forbidden pleasures before being caught. Jordan struggles with dissatisfaction and disillusionment with the path his career has taken.
Director Imtiaz Ali's Script Struggles
What could have been an interesting concept and plot is undone with a script that is disjointed and highly unrealistic. The photogenic Nargis Fakiri was ways to go in the acting department. She is at a disadvantage as the heroine's characterization is ill developed and comes across as a personality that is hysterical and somewhat perverted. Only Ranbir Kapoor sticks to his task and his performances somewhat saves the film from utter ignonimity.
AR Rehman scores with the rock based Saada Haq and several other compositions that are now chartbusters.
Tina Chaudhuri - I am a freelance writer based in the US. My topics of interest include movies, travel, food, and creative writing/fiction. An avid ...
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