Jab We Met (Makes You Smile)

Watching films is a conscious decision and quite honestly, I went to watch this film as a form of escapism, not to rack my brains over its plot nor critique it frame by frame. This film gives you exactly that – an escape from your creased life in the form of Kareena’s character. At the same time, it’s important to add that this film wins only because of its characterization. The plot is quite contrived and yet it makes for engaging cinema largely because of its simple charm and intrinsic humor. A chatterbox, complete-nonsense, forever-optimistic character of Kareena’s is contrasted by a serious, mature and listless character of Shahid. From the promos, it seemed like another Khushi or 36 China Town to me. Thankfully it isn’t! The chemistry between Shahid and Kareena works big time and the repartee is the best seen in Hindi cinema.

The film begins with a heartbroken Aditya (Shahid Kapur) boarding an outstation train, unaware of the direction of his life. In comes Geet (Kareena Kapoor) on the same coach of the train, a self-proclaimed agony aunt pushing him to talk about himself. She tells him that she plans to elope with her boyfriend while he is wallowing in his own grief of losing his girlfriend to somebody else. Geet irritates Aditya to the point of getting him to leave the train. As she tries to get him back on the train, she ends up missing it and the two find themselves stranded on a desolate station with no luggage or money (All is fair in Bollywood baby!) Predictably, this train journey is then spilled over on the road, to a hotel and few other twists till Shahid becomes more tolerant of her, positive about life and they reach Bhatinda, her hometown.

Their journey from Mumbai to Bhatinda is a rollercoaster for the audience! (Picture this - Kareena: Mein tumhe kaisi lagti hoon? Ekdum mast, jhakkas? (He nods reluctantly) Phir tumhe meri behen bhi pasand aayegi. Tum uske saath bhaag ke shaadi kar lena!!)

For the couple, it’s about self-discovery, surprise and living on the edge. This beginning, which keeps you in splits, goes downhill post-interval as Geet and Aditya run away from home to unite Geet with her boyfriend Anshuman. While Aditya goes back to his poor-little-rich life and pursues his music (which is encouraged by Geet) alongside dreaming of jiving with Geet in conference rooms. Yes it’s happening, he’s in love but his is a silent love until circumstances change it. This divide between first half where each and every shot is measured and second half, wherein time zooms ahead is too abrupt! The time lag in the second half is hardly comprehensible.

Shot formations during song picturizations are quite unique especially Nagada and Yeh Ishq hai. The local flavour of Punjab and Manali respectively are brought out beautifully.

Imtiaz Ali, in his second film itself promises his audience of originality and freshness in the genre of romantic comedy unlike the glossy, rose-tinted and lavish romances that the Indian audiences are fed upon.

Clearly Shahid and Kareena hold the film together. Geet is impulsive yet endearing. She seems immature yet she has the gumption to stand by her decisions. Kareena stops’ playing herself in the film and that credit goes to the director. While she yaps, or when she suffers silently on being let down by her love, she’s top notch!

Shahid is pure eye-candy; one can’t stop ogling at this dapper Aditya. He’s rich, intelligent and one-woman guy. Shahid has rightly underplayed this role and somehow this clicks better for him than his pervious clowny histrionics in Ishq – Vishq etc

The amazing thing is, when he dances to Nagada half way into the film, it strikes you “Geez, dancing is not his ONLY strength!” Tarun Arora (Anshuman) needs to co-ordinate his voice and hand gestures. I hope his character was intended to be funny.

Also, a big grouse - the kiss between Kareena and Shahid was a big anti-climax. Why you ask? The famous MMS two years ago gave us a much wilder version of it!

Go, watch and celebrate a good love story.

- Janvi Gandhi
janvi.87@gmail.com