My ROCKSTAR review : Ranbir shines throughout the movie

*ing: Ranbir Kapoor, Nargis Fakhri, Piyush Mishra

Rockstar. The title is misleading for sure. It is primarily not an account of how a person transforms into a big rock star, as believed by the most. Rather it focuses on love story of Janrdan Jakad a simpleton from Delhi who turns into rock star loved by the nation despite his bad image in the media.

The movie starts off with Janardan trying to get a heart-break so that it would inspire him into creating great music because his “guru”(not music  guru by the way but rather an advisor,  at first and his manager later) makes him believe music oozes out only from the pain/crushed heart. In the process he befriends a girl  Heer, a bombshell in the college, who is getting married in 2 months. She wants to fulfill all her wild wishes what they call “killing the inner germs(andar ke keede maarna)” in movie like watching a C-grade hindi movie “Junglee Jawani”  in the local cinema or drinking “desi daaru” (Bucket List??).  There was a tribute to Kanti Shah’s Angoor  in Udaan now Rockstar will surely make Junglee Jawani famous . The girl gets married , moves to Prague. Janardan gets disowned by his family after some family dispute and finally enters into music world.

With this movie Imtiaz Ali deviates from his usual romantic movies. Even though the basic story of the movie is not new, the treatment certainly is. He follows non-linear narration with the movie shifting back and forth in the flashback. Imtiaz Ali is a smart writer/director  and he infuses humor into the dialogs and the scenes wherever possible, more so in the initial portions of the movie. Imtiaz, rather than describing everything vividly, does everything in a subtle way or with the slightest of detailing , leaving much to the imagination and comprehension of the viewer. One could, however, argue that with Rockstar as the title of the movie he could have used  little more detailing on the musical journey of Jordan.

Music of the movie is too good. AR Rahman finally gives a great album after churning out average and sometimes even below-average albums one after  another. The Irshad Kamil-written songs have depth in the lyrics and Mohit Chauhan, the voice of Jordon has sung beautifully. Undoubtedly Sadda Haq is the best track not only of the movie but among all hindi songs this year. Anil Mehta has handled the camera aesthetically whether it is in capturing Delhi or the beautiful Prague and snow-clad mountains in Kashmir.

The debutant Narkhis Fakhri  looks like the sibling of Katrina Kaif. Her diction fails her badly but she definitely does way better than Katrina (That does not say much though). Janardan at one point in the movie says “Tu mujhko itni hot bhi nahi lagti” and I second that.  In a movie which is essentially a love story someone who could perform better would have been a better choice. Piyush Mishra who plays Dhingra, the music company’s owner is sure to make you laugh in some scenes especially where he is getting a massage.  Aditi Rao does a fine job as a journalist after impressing in Delhi 6 and Yeh Saali Zindagi.

Ranbir lives his role whether it is in portraying the naiveté of Janardan or showing the cockiness of Jordon, certainly the dichotomy but performed with the same élan and efficacy.  One will surely remember the scene where gives homage to his (real life) grand uncle by mimicking the antics of  late Shammi Kapoor  in “Chand sa roshan chehra” song  or when he is having “samosa” in the canteen and faking a heart-break . He displays the anguish inside Jordan perfectly, delivering inarguably one of the best performances in hindi cinema in a long time and certainly the best of the year. You will sympathize with him even when he is beating the cops/ journalists or showing the middle finger.

Rockstar is Imtiaz Ali’s best effort as a director. Ranbir Kapoor is more than enough reason to watch the movie. Its official- Ranbir is the next superstar, announcing his arrival with the same grandeur as he makes his way into the stage in his introductory scene in the movie.

My rating: