Holiday is a coming-of-age film which uses dance as a catalyst.Desgined for for teens who faltered at the crossroads of adolescence and maturity , the film is quite different from run of the mill Bhatt camp product. Based on Jane Dirty Dancing, Holiday can be best described as an Indian film in the garb of crossover cinema.The vital question is, does Holiday entice the viewer? It tries to balance the commerce and the art and the outcome is one curry that looks enticing.Wait, Holiday is not that perfect film, for it has its share of deficiencies. But notwithstanding the blemishes, Holiday still works because it adheres to the indispensable Bollywood formula of romance, heartbreak, songs, a cheerful conclusion and most significantly, hilarious moments that you carry back home.
Dr. Daksh (Gulshan Grover) comes to Goa for holiday with his family consisting of wife (Anahita Uberoi) and two daughters – Muskaan (Onjolee) and Samara (Nauheed Cyrusi).
Muskaan has been an under-achiever in life. She has nondescript looks, introvert personality and a meek demeanor.
On the other hand, her sister Samara is good-looking, extrovert, verbose and open-minded when it comes to falling into fast relationships.
Whiling away her time in Goa, Muskaan comes across a group of Salsa dancers led by Dino (Dino Morea), a dance instructor and performer.
A window of opportunity opens for Muskaan after Dino’s dance partner Alyssa (Kashmira Shah) gets pregnant. The man who fathered the child has now dumped Alyssa and has moved on to the next girl, who happens to be none other than Samara.
Muskaan offers to help Alyssa by providing money for aborting the child. She also gets a chance to become Dino’s dance companion. For a girl whose confidence is low and whose sense of self worth almost zilch, it is nothing short of a challenge to learn and perform Salsa onstage.
This is where Muskaan begins to find her identity and gradually discover one thing she can be extremely good at. And in the process she also discovers love.
Frankly, Holiday is an experiment of sorts. And Pooja Bhatt needs a pat for treading a path that most successful filmmakers wouldn’t dream of. Yet, the experiment could meet with diverse reactions from movie buffs - you’d either absorb it like a sponge, or detest the kitsch that comes with it. Actually, Holiday has no story to talk of, but it’s the treatment of this waferthin plot, the characters, the moments, the dialogues, the overall impact that makes it so very special .The music is a major asset– . Amongst the tracks, ’Khawishon se’ and ’Neele Neele’ stand out for their honey-coated tunes ..Cinematography is first-rate.
The gorgeous Dino Morea is awe-inspiring . With a competent director at the helm of affairs, he takes giant strides as an actor. He makes a concentrated effort to make her character look real.Oonjle Nair is likeable. She may not radiate the charm of Preitys or Ranis, but she does manage to look the character she portrays.
Gulsahn Grover is efficient in a role that has positive shades. Nauheed Cyrusi is competent. Kashmeera Shah is fantastic. She delivers, what can be rightly called, a topnotch performance.
Go for it!