Rockstar Movie Review By Abu Saleh...

First of all let me inform you that this is a belated, unusual movie review of Indian Hindi film Rockstar (2011). It reminds me my college days when I used to do SMS reviews for my cinema loving friends after watching any new release. Coming to Rockstar, I am not going to talk about the plot and story as most of us have already watched it or know through any kind of media and reviews etc. The other thing is I am an admirer of Rahman, Imtiaz and Irshad etc. who are related with this film, so, if you find lots of positive things about the movie in this review please just ignore it.

Well I liked the film. After a long time I have seen a refreshing film like this. Imtiaz, one of the finest directors today and future of the Indian Cinema, knows the pulse of youth very well and used it too like his earlier films. There are certain scenes, expressions and dialogues which are awesome. From the powder at the neck and shoulders of the shop owner (Kumud) at the time of interview to the body massage scene (Piyush) is amazing. The sequences like “Jungli Jawani”, “Desi Daru” and other is really praise worthy.

The screenplay is nice. The open and Khulam Khulla dialogues which generally happens in Imtiaz’s film is very much present here too. The lines like “Girlfriend Baan Ja Meri, Tu Aur Mei Rock Kar Denge” and “Shadi Ke Raat Dulhan Ka Sab Fantacy Karte He”. Ha ha ha… Sab Pakde Gaye Na?, is nice. And yes “Palangtodd” is outstanding. Anyway, from where you got the phrase Imtiaz Bhai? “Palangtodd Nasihat” which used to come in newspapers, ha ha ha. “Wo Bajate Ho Na Turturi, Pa Pa Pa. Ek Hi Cheez Kiu Bajate Rehto Ho Bar Bar”? Abb Age Badho, Kuch Naya Bajao To” (Regarding Shehnai) shows the attitude of today’s youth towards classical music.

The actors did well too, Ranbir gave an acclaimed performance. He is superb in the initial act of a simple boy and in the act of negative rockstar too. Nargis is young, beautiful and fresh but in acting I think she lacks maybe she can improve later. Aditi, Piyush, Kumud, Shernaz, Moufid and others gave good performances too.

Coming to music, I have not that much of knowledge and dare to say about Rahman. He is Rahman, that’s it. I am just listening the songs again and again. The Qawwali “Kun Faaya Kun” and the musical Jugalbandi of Shehnai and Guiter is really good one. Rahman and Orianthi came together, thus “Saadda Haq” becomes the youth anthem. The high notes of guitar in “Saadda Haq” and “Nadan Parindey” is rocking. The lyrics is also another plus point for the film, Irshad has given beautiful lines for the songs; “Train Ka Bhi, Lodge Ka Bhi Bill to Tu Deke Jana” from “Seher Me” sounds nice or “Wo Eco-friendly, Nature Ke Rakshak…Mei Bhi Hu Nature” from “Saadda Haq” is brilliant. Yes, Mohit did a great job in every song, quite same other singers too.

The beginning of the film is quite dramatic which merges at the ending scene and connects the whole movie. The development of the rockstar character and the movie through the use of flashbacks and montages is praiseworthy. Though the early period of development of the character has been shown with humour but it looks real and implies deep satire too. The film is somewhat long, I felt, may be because of the second half which does not stand enough matchable compare to the first half. But the first half is really well. It seems that the first part goes over so quickly; he could have taken more time to develop it and show the things properly instead of showing hastily. The second half is more about love, lust, pain and separation etc. which probably turns the character into rockstar as the film claims but the second part and the ending is open ended and confusing and seems as circling itself.

The choice of Prague is outstanding, it could have been any other city too, surely it has some significance. But the director somewhat failed to show the beauty of Prague. It has not been covered properly. It has lots to show, I know that is not the purpose of the film anyway. Yes but the projection of Kashmir is positive. Our Hyderabad rocks in the film too, may be through Aditi Rao Hydari of Hyderabad or the Hard Rock Cafe which occurs frequently in this film.

This is a film of tribute too. Either in the form of Shammi Ji through the beginning image or the Shammi Dance of Ranbir in Dal Lake and to Ustad Bismillah Khan Sahab through the Shehnai part. It can be a tribute to Delhi also which covers the old Delhi and almost all the prestigious colleges and yes the Dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya also.

The other thing is I don’t know why in every film of Imtiaz the female lead remains bold, active and naughty at the first half and later they becomes victim, calm, shrunken and the male counterpart becomes helping hand for them or take the responsibility of bringing back the ladies into their past joyfulness. Whatever, I can write a lot but it is going too lengthy. Finally, my verdict is it’s a nice one and if you have already not seen it please go for it, its worthy. Thank You…