Yeh Jawani Hai Diwani

This is fun filled fizz and frolic stuff. The here and now of gen-celeb. It is about those who wear their attitude on their sleeves, yet can remain focused; a generation that dares to dream and dream differently. There is contagious energy in Avi, Bunty and Aarti. In a way it takes off from where Zoya Akthar left Zindagi Na Milegi..
This is about one life and living it king size. It is about daring to dream and willing to chase it not just unmindful of the hidden price tags and willing to confront them when visible. Here emotions get raw but speed heals. It is a world where you are frank – except where it matters. It also revisits male bonding without any sexual under currents and punches it with the right dose of cinematic emotions.
Three friends Bunny (Ranbhir Kapoor) Avi (Aditya Roy Kapur) and Aditi (Kalki Koechlin) live life on a roller coaster. Joined in by schoolmate Naida (Deepika) – a contrasting introvert (specs, medical school and all!!) they go trekking in Manali. Naina is introduced to an altogether different world and thus falls in love with Bunny an incurable flirt but a natural charmer. However her love coincides with Bunny’s turn to get serious and leave for the USA in search of dreams and the beckoning horizons and a career as a travel photo journo. He has a passion to be on the move, be adventurous and non- stagnant. He gets claustrophobic with being stationary.
No Budtameez Dil yet.
Every one moves on with life. Lost in the background is Naina’s mom (Dolly Thakore) and Bunny’s doting dad (Farooq Sheikh) and step mom (Tanvi Azmi). Time takes its toll: bikta waqt hai aur karch hum hote (Time is sold but we get spent!!). Aditi takes a V turn. She realises that her love story with Avi is one sided and going nowhere and thus decides to give marriage a shot. She is to marry money bag Taran (Kunal Roy Kapur). It is time for the wedding celebrations of Aditi and Taran and also a rendezvous for the old friends. As they make their way to the altar you have the eclectic Shammi- Hrithick combo: Budtameez dil. Enjoy.
Success gets people into a different orbit. Bitterness creeps into those who have not made it to the victory stand. While Avi loses out and turns to alcohol, Bunny loses his smile as success and recognition chase him. But walls crumble the easiest among friends. In the mean while the relationship between Naina and Bunny blows hot and cold. It is here that the film loses its grip and meanders as the film maker loiters around with the script to finally get them together. In the process Bunny is misunderstood to be a mercenary while actually it is a pointer to the fact that even in the global village you can get lost – when signals fail!! The return to acceptance is a bit tedious and needlessly drawn and dramatic.
The film is worth watching for its contagious energy level and a constant effervescence. Ayan Mukerji (story, screenplay and direction) shows great promise and knows the mind-set of a generation that he is dealing with. Each of the characters are drawn from the pigeon wholes of contemporary metro life but as they fly out they come out real and with throbbing pulsation. Deepika looks glamorous when she is required to but disappoints when called upon to emote. The rest of the cast come up with fine performances. Nice to see the likes of Farooq Sheik and Tanvi Azmi get some screen space. While Kalki is her usual confident awesome self, notice Aditya Roy Kapur. This guy can go places if only he makes the right moves. He emotes well, has a sense of timing in the lighter moments and has screen presence. Finally there is Ranbir who is truly a Rock star. He is going through a fine phase of his career and is making sure he works on the right scripts. In the pivotal role of a guy who chooses to life on his own terms he underplays the role to a nicety. If Rockstar was punch filled this is caressing. This is a film worth a visit to the theatres and that too on time lest you miss the magical Madhuri Dixit.

L. Ravichander