Director – Rajkumar Hirani
Producer -Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Starring – Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi, R. Madhavan, Kareena Kapoor, Boman Joshi
“Brilliant”, “Amazing”, “An emotional rollercoaster” are just some of the catch-phrases I could think of when coming out of the cinemas. The story is based around three students studying at a top rated engineering university, two of them being there for the wrong reasons, not to passionately become engineers but to just become products of the university and their parents dreams. Rancho (Aamir Khan) on the other hand is the clever one that accepts life and engineering because he passionately believes in, and has his own way of living it, by tapping his heart and saying “all izz well”, which takes us to the head-bopping song. Raju (Sharman Joshi) came from a pretty poor background and needed to study to bring good income for family reasons. Farhan (R. Madhavan) wanted to become a wildlife photographer but came to engineering because simply his father was too worried about what other people would think if his son wouldn’t earn as much as a photographer. As the movie goes on all three of them build emotional relationships with Rancho being the inspiration to Raju and Farhan, and later leads to their success.
This is typically a modern Aamir Khan movie, he was flawless throughout and sends out a life learning message, which I feel is important for the youth, Indian youth in particular. Parents want you to do what they say when it comes to career and education without asking what the child actually wants. The message is clear, “do what you are talented at and passionate about without worrying about others”. Sharman Joshi and R. Madhavan also do excellent jobs with their characters. Kareena Kapoor actually wasn’t annoying for once, and Boman Joshi plays an excellent Professor.
Although the movie comes across as an outright comedy, it’s not only that but also very emotional, it takes you on this rollercoaster of laughter and then of tears welling up in your eyes, mainly tears of joy in friendship. There are also a few unexpected shockers that make you gasp, well my cinema did!
The songs were fantastic and not pointless like most Bollywood movies. My favourite being “Behti Hawa Sa Tha Woh” because of the pure emotion behind it. But there has to be a special mention for the cinematography of “Zoobi Doobi”, the old school effects go really well at capturing moments of the lyrics.
Don’t just think about watching it, just go, especially if you’re a parent. I’m sure a lot of young adults will also relate to it.
