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In
the picture
Jaane
Tu… Ya Jaane Na****
*ing: Imraan Khan, Genelia Dsouza, Prateik Babbar,
Ratna Pathak and Naseeruddin Shah
Directed by Abbas Tyrewala
Tagline: So when do you know its love?
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Debutant
Imraan Khan has been making news for some time now. The son of filmmaker
Mansoor Khan (Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander)
and the nephew of Bollywood's Aamir Khan, Imraan is the big debutant
star of 2008.
The media frenzy that surrounded him was massive. After all, this
was for the first time that Aamir Khan was producing a film without
acting in it. A film with a young and new cast and that too with
a debutant director.
And this launch hoopla also had its rivalry. Harry Baweja was also
launching his son Harman Baweja on the same day with the sci-fi
flick Love Story 2050. |
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Post
Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na's release, it is safe to say that Imraan
Khan has won the war between debutants with a huge margin.
Our introduction begins to the film with Aditi (Genelia D' Souza)
and Jai Singh Rathod (Imraan Khan). Two best friends who spend their
days and night together. If Jai is the anti-violent, soft spoken dude,
Aditi is the girl who wants to fight, scream and is completely wacky
in a non-dangerous young way.
Their group of friends knows they are made for each other. Their parents
know it. But Aditi and Jai find it too amusing to be a couple.
Jai and Aditi decide to find the one for each other. It all seems
to be going well until Jai finds a companion and Aditi doesn't. What
unravels then is the story of Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na.
But this is just the surface of the film, the synopsis. There is so
much more to it.
First off is the story itself. It's a simple story but a story well-told.
And that is where the difference lies, what separates it from the
plethora of bad films.
Think more of Dil Chahta Hai and less Ishq Vishk.
There is laughter, the infectious power of youth, there are tears
and confusion, all so true to twenty-year olds. The emotions run high
and they make sense. There is no over-the-top drama that lingers.
Abbas Tyrewala not only directs the film but is also its writer. And
his sense of humour is wicked. His career graph is filled with films
that prove it. Whether its Main Hoon Na or Munnabhai MBBS or Love
Key Liye Kuch Bhi Karega, the comic timing is never lost. And here
it remains one of the film's brightest features. And not the vulgar
kind that Bollywood seems to be churning out at lightning pace. Its
light, it's universally funny and not to hard to digest as is the
case with many Indian comedies these days. |
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One
sequence that deserves a mention is between Ratna Pathak (Jai's
mother) and Naseeruddin Shah (Jai's father). Jai's father talks
to his mother from a picture, just like telly serial Hum Paanch.
He is dead and no one can speak with him but his wife. And both
Ratna and Naseer deserve applause for pulling those scenes off so
genuinely. In a word, they are hilarious. It's this kind of punch
that makes Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na such a delight to watch.
As a director,
Abbas is a force to reckon with and will be remembered with the
likes of Farhan Akhtar. Jaane Tu… is a fantastic directorial
debut. He never looses focus and keeps the film what it really is:
a young film that tackles an urban college love story.
Then there is the acting.
Imraan Khan pulls off a youthful Aamir Khan without a glitch. In
one sequence, he even looks a lot like Aamir. Mostly Imraan's Jai
works because there is so much conviction to him. Harman Baweja
should take a cue from Imraan, especially when it comes to dancing.
And he proves that he maybe a better dancer than his Uncle Aamir
on 'Pappu Can't Dance Sala'. Imraan is a fresh face and casting
him gives Abbas major points. It is hard to think of anyone else
who would make this character so alive. And to Imraan's credits,
he takes every emotion and runs with it naturally.
Now this is one actor who is definitely one to look out for.
Even though Jaane Tu… has been sold to the people on the Aamir-Imraan
connection – simply because the interest in this Uncle-Nephew
trio is huge – but make no mistake that the film is not just
an Imraan Khan but a Genelia D Souza film as well.
Genelia has had some acting experience (Masti, Mere Baap Pehle Aap)
before but she hasn't been able to make a mark until JTYJN. She's
loud, naïve and at the same time, just doesn't understand what
her heart really wants. The level of believability she brings to
her role is fabulous. Genelia is without a doubt, the other half
of the film. And she is as delightful as Imraan.
Another actor who deserves a mention is Prateik Babbar, the son
of Samita Patil and Raj Babbar. The boy has acting in his genes
and here it comes alive. As the brooding, often irritating, somewhat
lonely younger brother to Aditi, he is exceptional.
And finally there is the music. AR Rahman's last two films Guru
and Jodhaa Akbar had seriousness to them but with Jaane Tu..., Rahman
embraces the young and he does it exceptionally well. This is no
'Mauja Hi Mauja' that will become an anthem for a few weeks and
will be forgotten with the next big number.
Whether it's the mighty beats of 'Pappu Can't Dance Sala' or the
young love of the title track or the hopeful 'Kabhi Kabhi Aditi
Zindagi', this is Rahman on his best. He remains India's finest
composer and this album is just another feather in his mighty musical
cap.
Had Jaanu Tu… Ya Jaane Na been edited a little more tightly,
it would've been even more delightful.
But this is a fact one can overlook because on the whole, it works
as a film.
Aamir Khan pulled all the tricks he could. Inviting the big guns
of Bollywood – Salman Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor
among many others – to the film's premiere, he made sure the
film opened big. Not only did it open but Jaane Tu... has become
the third biggest film of the year – after Race and Jannat.
Aamir's presence could've ensured the opening numbers. But Jaane
Tu... has made it in the top ten at the UK box office within two
weeks of its release, and that is because it's a complete film.
Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na is easily one of the best films of 2008 and
one of the best youth films Bollywood can be proud of. Forget Love
Story 2050, these are the debutant stars to watch.
-- Maheen Sabeeh
*YUCK
**WHATEVER
***GOOD
****SUPER
*****AWESOME |
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