Film: Anjaana Anjaani (Hindi)
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra
Direction: Siddharth Anand
Rating: 3/5
Two strangers, vanquished at the hands of fate, decide to commit suicide together. And when all their bids to kill themselves fail, they decide to wait for 20 days before they can take the plunge without any further jinx. This is where the uniqueness of the story begins. And also where it ends, unfortunately. Here on, Anjaana Anjaani is just another love story.
But we are not complaining. Love stories can tend to be trite, and this is no exception. Although the film begins in a painfully slow fashion with a documentary on 101 Suicide Tips, you know you can make do with Priyanka's snorty giggles, a lovely background score by Salim-Sulaiman, and Ranbir's oh-shuch-a-cute-lishp. Gradually, the interest begins to pique - and you are offered some stellar moments such as Ranbir's gay act with a kinky cowboy, Priyanka's confrontation with her philandering fiance, and Zayed Khan's bike. (No, not Zayed Khan. Only his bike.)
However, just as you begin ignoring the mediocrity of the story and turn your focus to the infectious music, snazzy screenplay and breathtaking cinematography, three words, "Sabse luckiest person", pop out of nowhere - like an unexpected phantom. And you are left reeling once again. One can forgo pondering over banal dialogues like "Zindagi humein marne ke kayi wajah deti hai, lekin jeene ke liye ek wajah kaafi hoti hai". But sabse luckiest person, really?
When you are watching a film with the current industry favourites in the lead roles, a fabulous set of songs composed by Vishal & Shekhar (once again), and a screenplay by one of the finest contemporary writers in India (Advaita Kala), you'd surely expect some efficiency in the department of dialogues too, which just does not happen. Add to that some regular cliches like finding your own wish-bottle ten days later in the Atlantic Ocean, or the girl's BFF pointing out her true love which the girl is herself blinded to, and you are left gasping more than once.
Yet, Anjaana Anjaani works in large parts. Because it deals with snippets of very believable frustration, melancholy and euphoria that we have all experienced in our lives. More importantly, the characters play out their parts with conviction. In effect, Siddharth Anand bakes a nice cake - just a little burnt at the corners.
PS: How do all doctors, coast guards and policemen in NRI Hindi films happen to be Indian?
The main plot had an uncanny resemblance to that of Jab we Met. Isn't it? The background score was copied from the song I'm Yours by Jason Mraz. Your review is good but a little lenient. Last line and that sabse luckiest person cracked me up! :)
ReplyDeleteits not just the plot but even the main charc jab we met inspired.
ReplyDeletewell when 2 people in usa haven't heard of email facebook or twitter and don't know how to get in touch, it doesn't suprise me if coastguards etc are Indians..