The genie of Jab We Met sits on your shoulder as you watch Imtiaz’s latest creation, whispering reminders of its freshness which brought lots of smiles to your face then. You position your ‘feel good’ boat in the direction of the screenwave that Imtiaz wants to take us into without any resistance. Do you guffaw? No! Oh ok, on occasions yes. Well No actually were we being kind to those lovely characters. Maybe yes!This unsure streak is the tone of the movie as well as its beautiful screen play and a screen ‘ploy’ which Saif uses with expertise to underline his own character in the movie. Brilliant!
There were moments in the movie when my heart began sinking with the pace of the story unfolding where nothing more than witty repartees were on display and going nowhere. I hold myself back from getting negative. Want this to be good for that good man Imtiaz. Sometimes you just want things to succeed because you simply like the angelic director, a rarity in these days. And overall he does not disappoint. His goodness jumps over to the screen and looks lovingly at the 500 hearts that beat in the auditorium each show and he makes sure that by the end everyone wishes they fell in love or reminisce about their good ole days when they did.
The format is not unique. Apna Changa Punjab and even more Changa San Francisco looking sometimes like Melbourne. A goofy, fun loving architect Saif bumps into catty, twinkling, naughty monument restorer Deepika. And there is no business of love at first sight. The word love itself is suspect here and forms the premise of the entire story. While they go through all the gamut of interactions that a normal couple with no major stress here on physical relationships save some cutie pie kissy exchanges (Done very nicely) they still are not committed. Which if we were to believe the sordid world outside is perhaps the case with most couples in the world.
So it is not binding when they have to separate relegating the pain of it to the possibility of their missing daily buddy moments but not love. So the tale follows in some parts wittily and some parts dragging its feet, the couple as they try their best to lead desperate lives finding new partners. A nice cuddly Rishi Kapoor sets in like a modern day Santa Claus uncle to push the straying boats back on course. After all God nudges back love stories made in heaven if they are to succeed on earth.
There is a wonderful parallel track with a young Rishi Kapoor played expertly by Saif again as a young sardar wooing ever so gently a out of reach DDLJish Sikhni. The train sequences quickly rush you back to Adi’s 95 hit but the treatment is extremely real here.
How does such a complicated angle with huge geographical distances and never ending buddy exchanges over phones, chat boxes and messaging culminate? The answer perhaps lies in whether we have the courage to unshackle what has been ordained as fait accompli or is there still some hope to undo events beyond societal barriers. KKHH answered that before. Will LAK do the same?
All the characters are true to life. No one overacts. Not even the American muggers who for some strange reason want Deepika’s snap. But at least they help the story to take a leap of faith. The bright young Sikhni does not have much to speak but impresses yet.
Rishi Kapoor can do no wrong though it was funny to see no scenes with Deepika. Or were there? Saif Ali Khan is superior and his quick fix dialogues running along with his grasshopperish thoughts is something he has now patented. He is leagues ahead now of the lot that tries to act in Hindi cinema today. He proves that at 40 he can connect with the teenagers. But it is Deepika who leaves you smiling away with her winsome looks and cute chatter excelling in a role that seems to be cut out for her. Her earnestness in executing the role tracks her clearly as the next emerging superstar. Watch out for her in 2009.
Good moments. Watch out for that dance on the Delhi streets, or the rapid-fire exchanges between the leads …some very smart dialogues there….Deepika’s comfort with her body language…Saif’s tongue in cheek approach to life….Raj Zutshi doing a literal spoof on a traditional Sikh father…extremely real scene with no excessive dramatizations…and a couple of songs …..Imtiaz gives you value for your money and more importantly makes sure that legacy of Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Basu chatterjee style of feel good simple movies is carried forward.
Way to go Imtiaz. Without doubt go for Ooh Love La !