Why Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewaani works?

*spoilers ahead*

Ever since watching the trailer of the film and the badtameez dil dance, I wanted to go watch this movie on the first day it was coming out. Friday night was busy with a social engagement so it had to be Saturday. I was super excited to go watch it more because the company was awesome too – my two gal pals. We were as excited as a kid on her birthday, and mostly because of Ranbir Kapoor. ;)

After watching the movie I kept on wondering how this same old ghisa-pita logic (by that I mean story) still works. If you really think about it, it’s actually puraani daaru in nayi botal, so what makes it work? Why are so many viewers including myself so excited about this one? The first thing about YJHD is that almost in the entire two hours of duration there rarely is a moment that allows your attention to steer away from it. The story holds on to you like magnet. You keep wondering what will happen next, in a good exciting way. There are moments when things feel like they are falling apart, like when Bunny decides to move away from India or when Aditi (Kalki Koechlin) decides to get married and drops the bomb on Bunny via video clip. You almost keep wondering whether she’s getting married to Avi (Aditya Roy Kapoor). The end is predictable by the masala category of film yet there’s something that tells the viewer that’s not what’s going to happen and it doesn’t. That’s what makes it click. If you really see, the train sequences remind one of moments from Jab We Met and DDLJ. Then there’s the love between friends and how they fight and makeup with each other that kind of reminds you of Dil Chahta Hai and then a foreign kid joining the gang, Raina (Poorna Jagannath), well, sort of reminds of Rang De Basanti and then friends fighting and going their own paths after graduation again reminds of Dil Chahta Hai and it almost makes one wish that their paths hopefully do cross again in future. Soaking your feet in pool water reminded me of Munna and Circuit. :) Not sure why, but Bunny (Ranbir Kapoor) moving to the US and then moving back to India reminded me of Swades. And then Bunny and Naina (Deepika Padukone) taking f o r e v e r to tell each other about their feelings. God! That was so annoying, but I’m glad they finally did and that Vikram dude was just another Anshuman (from Jab We Met). I think that’s what kept the movie going. The fact that the audience couldn’t tell whether our hero and heroine will actually get together at the end. You always fear a QSQT moment or Kal Ho Na Ho moment. Thankfully it was neither so it was pretty darn good. It was so adorable to see Aditi getting married to Taran and that no difficult moments could break them.

The acting is great and majority of the storyline pretty solid. It was great to see Farooq Sheikh as Bunny's father. Reminded me of Umrao Jaan and Chashme Baddoor and made me appreciate the fact that actors like him are still getting work. Chemistry, Biology and whatever else you want to call it between Ranbir and Deepika is so awesome it makes one forget it's a movie and not real life. Now I know why Karan Johar said it's a movie and not a wedding invitation. ;) Kalki and Aditya are awesome as supporting actors. It was my first film with them as actors and I have to admit I liked both of their works and am looking forward to watching more of their works. I had almost predicted my most favorite scene of the film and that was the one where Bunny and his step-mom chat at the end of the film. Absolutely loved that scene and I think it's entirely thanks to Ayan Mukherjee for coming up with such a yeh-laga-sixer moment and bringing closure and feel-good-vibes to the whole movie by putting that in.

I have to admit that the drinking got a bit out of hand and it almost made me wish that they display those statutory warnings like with cigarette smoking for alcohol too. It’s not something to be promoted for sure. And I wish Avi’s friends helped him get out of the gambling routine. That was kind of sad to see him go through bad times. In a way it was a moral of the story kind of thing too, for those who want to see it that way. Meaning if you are jealous about someone else’s success and have super high expectations from your friends, it’s possible that it might not get you anywhere. If you want to achieve something in life, YOU have to make an effort and not wait for someone else to do something for you. At the same time, if your friends make progress in different fields than you, wish them well. Don’t be jealous and upset about their achievements. And last but not least, when it comes to friends or people you love, nothing matters. Got to stand by them when they need you. That’s what friendship is all about. And honesty and simplicity are not bad things. :)

And if it's a Bollywood film, we have to talk about songs. Pritam's music is utterly beautiful. All the songs are fantasic to listen to and watch on screen. My most favorite ones are ilaahi (you might have missed this makes-you-want-to-listen-to-it-over-and-over-again kind of song like I did during watching the film if you were too busy looking at Ranbir ;)) and re kabira, followed by balam pichkaari and badtameez dil. Subhaan allah is also beautifully sung and the kind that sort of grows on your after you listen to it a few times. If you are watching the movie in a theater that does not break for an interval, then you can go pee when dilliwali girlfriend song comes up. ;) Ghaghra song is typical mujra meets qawaali song and Madhuri looks like million dollars.

So if you still haven’t seen YJHD, go watch it! You will love it for sure. I am waiting for an opportunity to go watch it again in theater. Good work, YJHD team!