A story with multiple souls but with a weak body is Rockstar. In another sense, it is like an athlete started very well slows a bit before the half, uses all the extra energy in the next 20 minutes or so and tired out but finishes the race with an average to good time.
An unsuccessful guitarist and singer from Delhi University takes the words of his tea friend literally but without any wisdom and is in search of ’pain of love’ to get inspired. When he finds a dancer who is famous for breaking other’s hearts, as he was told, he tries his luck but his lack of sincerity doesn’t kick starts any events. Then, the girl in question wants some extra fun before marriage and they become friends of convenience. Love only finds the value of it at the time of separation. They had a chance to elope but they decide to walk in the sinful path. As one may expect the story is not about how the boy finds his source of inspiration of music and how do he become famous. Then, it is about what happens to the ’love’ or say ’adultery’ they tried to attempt. It gives the promise of inducing power of love to inspire good music and ends up sparking the power of sin to create a fire of wild energy which leads the hero to the negative road which will not take to positive conclusions.
Love Story by Eric Seigal had inspired zillions of movies made on that theme. Rockstar is another Love Story annexed with music, success and rebellion but only excellent in paper otherwise it is just an ok movie, failing to reach the heights it could have reached.
The problems of the film are essentially on its story and screenplay. Firstly, the focus was shifted in the second half which was not matching the plotline developed in the first half. Secondly, by permitting the heroine to marry conveniently with a plan to do adultery later bought a heavy burden on the story by the writer, but only to repent later. Thirdly, logic was missing many a time in important turning points of the story and many questions were left unanswered. The inspiration for the musician comes from an expulsion from home for a silly incident to suite the convenience of the writer, but not suiting the plotline. Fourthly, a tragedy should pass the pain to the viewer in the important moments of the climax but the viewer left confused at the end where the writer tried to apply water to fire even before the fire getting the momentum.
Good locations and impressive costumes, direction by Imtias Ali is adequate where he gets best out from his cast and crew, but the writer in him failed this time.
What works for the film however is music, especially four or five great songs (music by AR Rahman, written by Irshad Kamil, including Zadda Haq & Naadaan Prindey) which are top class onscreen and offscreen! Great music and lyrics mixed with chilling presentation made it a worth watch on big screen to feel the complete affect.
Another high factor which worked for the film is Ranbir Kapoor’s performance. I felt this is Ranbir’s best performance so far. He brings the extra fire required for the character in crucial moments and yes, he rocks! Nargis Fakri is good for a debutant actress. She was very good in all the jolly scenes and some sad scenes as well. At some emotional scenes she fails but overall her performance is adequate. Late Shammi Kapoor’s presence was mesmeric and his involvement with the character was really heart touching. Aditi Rao is very good in the short role of the TV Journalist. Kumud Mishra and Piyush Mishra were brillant.
Cinematography is excellent. Locales of Kashmir and Prague is been pictured covering its beauty where the indoor shots were equally colourful and attractive at places and dark at some other places. Some scenes in the beginning however were patchy for the below par art designs and not so good editing, which could have been better. The film also could have been trimmed by 15 minutes the least.
The film has some memorable situations which you love to take home with you. JJ/Jordan’s(Ranbir) outing with Heer (Nargis) in Delhi and Kashmir, The music company owner’s massage scene, Jordan’s scene with the TV journalist in the caravan, Jordan arriving with Heer and the TV journalist’s harassment, Jordan tearing off the contract etc.
The pluses in the movie are on the extreme side and so are the minuses. The pluses are reason good enough for making it a worth watching, a single time. However, if you are expecting a total film with all the heart and soul in right places, it is not. It is a ’Love story’ so you may have a flavour for it but it is not a perfect love story to satisfy you in full. Watch it for the songs, Ranbir, Cinematography and some brilliant situations while the wait for a perfect love story continues which may even take a decade to present itself.