Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
Posted by Anantha | Posted in Ayan Mukerji , Cinema , Ranbir Kapoor | Posted on Saturday, July 20, 2013
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For me, the
movie was a well laid argument of Wings vs Roots, though with a convenient solution
to it. Kabir (Ranbir) is a dreamer who dreams to visit thousands of beautiful
cities across the globe. Maintains a scrapbook with each page dedicated to the
destinations he plans to visit. He is ready to live a life of a nomad with no
attachment and commitment to his family. The movie is his journey to places and
how he struggles to stay grounded. Aditi (Kalki), though a boisterous lass in
Kabir's gang - is the first one in their gang who understands the needs to
adapt to the conformities of the world. Avi (Aditya Roy Kapur), a carefree boy
who pretty much remains glued to his addictions to liquor and gambling till the
end. Naina (Deepika), who falls for Kabir in their Manali trek very early in
the movie, is a nerdy medical student (yes, Deepika could look nerdy :-p) who
is little possessed by the idea of being the best in everything she does from
studies to reaching the summit in their trekking to her dance in the sangeet
party. She is the one who keeps Kabir rooted too, well.. Almost.
At the end of
the Manali trek of these four, Avi gets to know that Kabir is all set to take
off to foreign shores for his studies. Though Avi and Aditi feel little
betrayed that their friend hid the news from them, Kabir tells them that he
wanted to surprise them on the last day of the trek. Avi and Aditi come to
terms that they had to part ways at any point soon due to their career options
and stuff, Naina returns heartbroken from the trek.
Years pass on
and we are shown Kabir with cameras in exotic cities around the globe as part of
some travel show, living his dream. With not much whereabouts of the exact locations
he is in, I loved the brief disconnect I had with Kabir during this time in the
movie. I believe that was an intentional one by the director to make us feel
what his friends and family feel for him.
Eight years
later, when Aditi decides to marry a rich but a nice man (Kunal Roy Kapur), it
is the time for reunion of the four. Avi's addiction to liquor and gambling has
grown, Naina is still in love with Kabir (thank God she is not married to one
of Rahul Khannas or Abhishek Bachchans or such cameos), Aditi is pretty much
sure of her decision to lead her life with her husband, having covered many of
the places in his wish list - at the cost of missing his dad's funeral and missing
his freinds - Kabir is still in love with the nomadic life. In the fun and
frolic of the grand wedding, Naina makes Kabir understand how important it is
to slow down and enjoy the present moment than to rush towards meaningless
goals. She also confesses to Kabir that she always loved him. Guilt struck for
not seeing his dad for the last ever time and realizing what he had missed in
life, the man who always craved for the speed and rush ironically yearns to stay in
Naina's embrace for few seconds. Kabir realizes pretty much that, he has been the man who was everywhere but ended up being nowhere.
When we feel
Kabir is going to 'settle down' finally, his visit to his home where his
widowed step-mother lives, turns things upside down. Kabir
confesses how guilty he is for his deeds but, his step mother gives a nod for
his dream quest, saying that’s what made his father proud of him always. That
gives a boost to Kabir's wander lust again and now he plans for his future in
remaining destinations on his scrapbook but, this time with his lady Deepika beside
him. Had it been his real mother, would she have been so forgiving when her own
son did not turn up for his father’s funeral? I believe the answer is NO. That must
be the reason to have the character of a step-mom for Kabir. Moreover, would Kabir
have continued his wanderlust after marriage with Naina? What if Naina was a career
oriented girl? These are the reasons, I said the argument ends with an easy and
impractical solution.
I have been a
big fan of Ranbir, he plays these roles with superb ease. I liked
Farookh Sheikh in the role of Kabir’s father too. It feels so good to see these
yesteryear actors in pivotal roles. If you are ready to bear the heroines and
some bimbettes in designer clothes in Manali trek, and a gracious but unwanted cameo
by Madhuri and few minute necessary evils of a commercial cinema – it’s a nice
watch…
