Film Review Mayank Shekhar mayank. shekhar@ mid- day. com IF you want a simple gist of the u2018 nihaytiu2019 ( full- on) randomness going on, in this morbid moroseness masquerading as a movie, then just consider one fact, to start with. That Randeep Hooda plays Kartik Aaryan in this film.
By which I mean Aaryanu2019s schoolboy character, presumably in his teens, up until early 20s, grows up to transform himself into Hooda in his 40s.
Donu2019t know what Hooda ( such a fine actor) should feel most affronted by u2014 his own off- kilter, sutradhar ( narratoru2019s) role.
Or the complete rando of a character his younger version is u2014 canu2019t talk, canu2019t walk, all he does is stalk, the girl in his neighbourhood. The girlu2019s with him, even then. But this bumbling fellow is distracted by a bevy of beauties dying to bed him. Achha? This is the u2018 kalu2019 ( past- tense) part of Love Aaj Kal, set in the u2019 90s, the love and longing of current times. What about the u2018 aaju2019, the present? Appears equally tense. Stars Aaryan as well. Again, canu2019t talk, canu2019t walk, or walk the talk, basically stalks the girl ( Sara Ali Khan) he meets at a nightclub, while she is altogether fine with this psycho on the prowl, always in her field of vision. She likes this, in fact. Hmmm.
Fully willing to concede there must be some film, in the filmmakeru2019s head, as is always the case, before they set out to shoot u2014 whether it remains under- realised or not, is another matter. But WTHu2019s this? Who are these loonies on screen? Are there codes designed to reveal their genuine mental condition u2014 Tourette, OCD, anxiety, anything u2014 thatu2019s been secretly revealed, that Iu2019m unable to discover yet? And what am I supposed to feel for these floozies? Sad, happy; in the mood for love, what? God only knows.
Hereu2019s what we do. The filmu2019s directed by Imtiaz Ali ( Jab We Met, Rockstar, Tamasha).
Never mind his last release, Jab Harry Met Sejal ( 2017), about a couple driving around a bunch of restaurants and hotels looking for a missing ring, or some such. Maybe SRK happened to him there ( meaning pressures of stardom took its toll).
As a director, thereu2019s much to pick from Aliu2019s filmography, decidedly because heu2019s devoted himself to emotionally strong, modern romcoms, a dying genre. And that I love the most, if served well u2014 ideally medium- rare. And even if nothing works, thereu2019s usually the promise of a great soundtrack ( AR Rahmanu2019s the man), shot over stunning locations.
These are redeemable crutches. Thereu2019s none of that going on here either.
What is? Love Aaj Kal is supposed to be the sequel of Aliu2019s lovely Love Aaj Kal ( 2009). Let alone the fact that the filmmakers couldnu2019t come up with a title for a new film, as you step in post- interval, with a hip- hop number magically crackling on screen, absolutely from nowhere, you realise thereu2019s not even a pretence of a picture left anymore.
Some of the side- characters, especially the modern coupleu2019s parents ( Simone Singh, etc), even the leads in several sequences, seem like theyu2019ve been airlifted from a horror franchise. As does the eerie background score, on occasion.
Kuch bhi chal raha hai ( anything goes). You carry on watching, because you have to.
We all have our own ways of dealing with such assaults on senses. I could hear audiences from the back unintentionally sniggering at key emotional moments. All I could do, sitting in the front- row, is fidget on my phone, and note down lines from Sarau2019s character.
Just to go with the randomness of it all.
These are probably passwords to this pic: u201c Abhi ke liye aur explore, paach saal mein established. Tab pehla serious relationship ( Explore work- life for five years, and then, first serious relationship).u201d u201c Apne andar ke bitch ko bahar aane dena chahiye ( You must let out the bitch within you).u201d Hearing the narrator tell his story, she goes, u201c You know what? Mujhe aage nahin sunna hai ( donu2019t wanna hear more).u201d Mujhe bhi nahin.
All that you need to know, am guessing, is this was supposed to be some sort of a late- millennial take on balancing career with relationship u2014 the new- age commitment phobia, if you will. Going back to Sarau2019s character, she explains, u201c Par balance hai hi nahin mujhme.u201d Have lost all mental balance too. Bas, ho gaya boss.
Love Aaj Kal U/ A : Romance Dir: Imtiaz Ali Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Sara Ali Khan 1 Seriously, what is this randomness? H YUCK HH WHATEVER HHH GOOD HHHH SUPER HHHHH AWESOME
