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Rating: ****
Come to think of it, if the film carries the 'burden' of humungous expectations, it's imperative that it goes beyond those
expectations.
The reaction after watching the film has to be similar to a child who has laid his hands on his fav
toy. The joyous smile would say it all. The question is, does Love Aaj Kal live up to the hype and hoopla surrounding
it? Or does it go beyond that?
Love Aaj Kal is not an easy film to write and execute. Sure, it's a love story, but it's not one of those mundane love
stories that talks of love and heartache. Here, the two stories, set in different eras, run parallel, but have a similar
end.
To be brutally honest, it takes time to grasp the plot, since the past and present run concurrently. If you aren't attentive,
chances are you'd lose the plot. Also, if you aren't aware by now that Saif enacts dual roles in the film -- playing his part
as also the part of young Rishi Kapoor -- the goings-on would confuse you no end, when the transition occurs.
Love Aaj Kal is a director's show entirely. The relationships here are complex because the couple in love lives in
complete denial.
It is to Imtiaz Ali's credit that he has penned an offbeat story, developed a complex but
comprehensive screenplay and extracted sensitive performances from the principal cast. At the same time, the writing
isn't the type that would appeal to all sections of movie-going audience. Besides, the execution of the subject and also
the pacing in the first hour are deterrents.
Final word? Love Aaj Kal makes you fall in love with love all over again. Makes you value your loved ones all the
more. This film is special!
Love Aaj
London, San Francisco, Delhi - 2009.
Jai [Saif Ali Khan] and Meera [Deepika Padukone] is a modern-day couple in London. They are very happy together, but
do not believe in tying each other down. So when life pulls them in different directions, they decide to call off their
relationship, since long-distance relationships, in their opinion, don't work.
Love Kal
Delhi, Calcutta - 1965.
Veer Singh [Rishi Kapoor] is struck by a thunderbolt when he sees Harleen for the first time. He travels a thousand
kilometers by train to stand under her balcony, only to have a glimpse of her face. And yet not speak a word with
her.
Love Aaj Kal
Veer does not understand how Jai can treat matters of the heart without passion. Jai does not understand how Veer
Singh could have been so naive and silly about Harleen in his youth. But as both stories unfold, we realize that the
process of relationship might be different in different eras, but the experience of being in love remains the same.
Love Aaj Kal travels multiple continents and different eras. The subject matter is novel, never attempted before, but
the material, the characters [Saif and Deepika especially] as also its execution is targeted at the youth in big cities
mainly. As they say in filmi lingo, this one's a hardcore multiplex movie.
Another area where Imtiaz Ali experiments is by depicting Saif as the young Rishi Kapoor. It's a novel concept, no two
opinions on that, but the question is, will it cut ice universally? Will people tend to get confused when the sequences
turn sepia?
The film captivates in bits and spurts in the initial portions. Partly because the writing is so different. But the writing
breaks new grounds in the second hour. It's in this hour that the film grips you completely, when the fragmented pieces
are put together and a mesmeric picture emerges.
The second hour is the soul of the film. Right from the time Deepika decides to marry, till the last reunion, the film
touches an emotional high. The sequence of events that lead to the culmination is incredible.
Saif's interaction
with Deepika at the marriage, or the gradual change in Saif's behaviour in the U.S. in the course of a song, or the
realisation that marriage was a big mistake... moments like these take Love Aaj Kal to dizzy heights.
Imtiaz Ali is a genius. The film bears the stamp of an accomplished storyteller. This is a forward-thinking film that
handles the new-age relationships with complete understanding. The songs compliment the goings-on
beautifully.
This is amongst Pritam's accomplished works. 'Twist' [already a rage], 'Aahun Aahun' [foot-taping],
'Chor Bazaari' [melodious] and 'Dooriyaan' [melancholic], each song is a gem. N. Natarajan Subramaniam's
cinematography is fantastic. Editing [Aarti Bajaj] is wonderful.
Both Saif and Deepika come up with their career-best performances in Love Aaj Kal. Saif carries the most difficult
parts with remarkable ease. Sure, we've seen him as the cool, urban guy in several films, but this one's the most
demanding role and only a seasoned actor could've delivered it with such precision.
Deepika looks ethereal. Most importantly, in Love Aaj Kal, she acts very, very well. Matching up to Saif is no mean
achievement and she does it in several scenes. This should be the turning point in her career. Rishi Kapoor is top
notch.
The actress enacting the role of Harleen is pretty. Rahul Khanna does well in a small, but significant
role. Watching Neetu Kapoor in the end sequence is truly astonishing. She's so graceful.
On the whole, Love Aaj Kal is for the young and romantic at heart. Sure, it's not perfect, but the terrific performances,
melodious music and stirring emotional moments [last 35 odd minutes] more than compensate for the hiccups.
At the box-office, the film should start with a bang for four factors -- its novel cast, super music, great promotion
and yes, Imtiaz Ali, a name that commands respect amongst moviegoers.
Released extensively [approx. 1800
screens worldwide], Love Aaj Kal will have one of the biggest first weeks in India and also in the international
markets. In India, the business will be superb across multiplexes, while single screens might not behave as
energetically.
But the business at multiplexes will ensure a fantastic recovery of the investment. Internationally,
it has the potential to emerge one of the biggest grossers in recent times.
Friday, July 31, 2009 10:04 IST
Movie:
Love Aaj Kal
Reviewed by:
Taran Adarsh
on
and Rated: