A lot has been said and written about the story and the characters of this film - so I’d not prefer to dwell on those subjects. However, since this one’s my first review after a long hybernation - I’d try to keep it short, if not sweet!
Technically - this film would be definitely of the superior class. The breathtaking work of camera - the sharp realistic stunts - the meticulous sets -------- all these have done wonders for the eyes. However, the nuevo avataar of film music, courtesy Mr. Rahman, didn’t add much value - except for ’’Kabhi Neem Neem’’. By the way, I maybe hard of hearing - but still the lyrics of all the other songs were barely perceptible.
The performance is obviously driven by four people - Abhishek, Rani, Esha and Ajay Devgan. Vivek & Kareena are forgettable. But there are two surprise packages -
Om Puri - We know he can do much better than that!
Sonu Sood - He was very impressive, and the best cast for the role.
The film is largely driven by characters - and these characters are largely, very neatly portrayed. The effort of weaving the story through the characters is honest and partly successful. The problem is the resultant tale is ’’Disjoint, Directionless and Desolately confused’’. While saying this, let me clarify at the same breath that, I don’t blame Mr. Ratnam for this as a viewer. Instead I empathize with him, because the subject of the film demands for a non-conclusive conclusion. The Indian youth as a community - has been confused for the last 100 years if not more - and there’s no way that can change overnight.
The debate has been there for donkey’s years - and by God’s grace will continue to be so - on whether the youth is right or wrong. Don’t we understand that there’s no such thing as right or wrong for the youth? The youth is all about energy - which just needs an avenue to flow out. The activity chosen to unleash that energy is what makes th difference - and that suggestion, rationale, logic must come from the not-so-young. Only then the Indian youth would have the sense of responsibility en mass - Michael Mukherjees would be exceptions till that time.