Only The Good Die Young

ZINDAGI NA MILEGI DOBARA (2011)

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara was a big surprise for me. Just when I proudly announced that Delhi Belly will still be the best film of the year come December, here comes competition! Despite loving Luck By Chance (2009) I was skeptical when I saw Zoya Akhtar's name attached to it. I wanted her sophomore effort to be more challenging than the first. Any other film with big stars attached and I wouldn't have added my hopes to the film before watching it. But I must say I'm indeed pleasantly surprised. The film is not better than Luck By Chance (2009) but I'm happy that Zoya did not dumb herself down and bind herself to the shackles of commercial entertainment. In fact, she has found liberation within the boundaries of mainstream cinema. I respect that more than I respect purely commercial films or true art-house films. Change for me is best when it is made without offending anyone. When it is made delicately and minutely that it is an afterthought for the ones who feel it. When it is not shouted out but whispered.

I used the word change but if you watch Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara, it is hardly seems like a film that pushes boundaries, it is not path-breaking in any sense of the word. In content or form. But it introduces a new kind of film to the masses. The fact that they are accepting it (great opening box office) shows the audience has always been intelligent and open. It was about time the filmmakers realize this and it seems they have.

Before I lollygag more, I should talk about the film. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara is very much in tune with Farhan Akhtar's band of movies. But this is no Dil Chahta Hai (2001) or Rock On (2008) which are about friends fighting and later discovering themselves and rediscovering friendship. Here the "fight" is not limited to college kids fighting. These are adults. The way they deal with it is refreshing to say the least. Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara is about three friends who go for a "bachelor trip" to Spain. Kabir (Abhay Deol) is getting married to Natasha (Kali Koelchin). Imran (Farhan Akhtar) comes on board. It is tough for Arjun (Hrithik Roshan) to find time in his materialistic life for some leisure. Leisure is a part of a post-retirement plan. Yes, he comes. Of course. Anyway, then the three friends follow a pact they made some years back which entails that each of them pick an adventure sport one by one that all of three of them have to perform. (I'm glad that there were no strip clubs involved here. Just putting it out there.) All three of them are given one personal crisis each. All three of them are given one fear each that they overcome through each adventure sport. (Water, air and... there should be earth or fire next, right? I digress). Katrina Kaif plays Layla. A character who makes them learn how to "live". A film like this can easily step into the preachy zone more often than it knows it will. But it refrains and limits itself to being inspirational. Inspirational is good. I love the note at which the film ends. (A bit Chariots of Fire-y no?) There's no obligatory denouement. Another point that proves my point that Zoya Akhtar is redefining commercial comedy without showing off about it.

Now let me get to the actual good parts. First is the humor. Zoya Akhtar brings the same humor from her debut Luck By Chance. The witty, situational humor that works ever so wonderfully here. I think I was laughing/ chuckling in almost every scene. Most importantly, the humor is original. It is not something you would see in any other comedy on the Indian screen. (I'm loving the fact that I have said this about two films recently.)

Second is Farhan Akhtar. Now I am a fan of Akhtar as a filmmaker. (Don 2 is coming) (Drool) But as an actor I thought he was lacking. Mediocre at best. Nothing more. With this film, there's more. Imran was the most likable character in the film. He is funny, he is sarcastic, he is an asshole that even the characters in the film admit. He is probably the character that will make me return to this movie again and again. Farhan Akhtar becomes the proper channel that turns Zoya Akhtar's words into comedy. His timing and his tone is just about right. He stole the show even from a star like Hrithik Roshan (What's with the hair, amigo?).

Thirdly, the pacing. I love how the pace is neither too fast nor too slow. It moves at a pace that suits me just fine. Lastly, the music and the songs. Not all songs are lip-synched. Khaabon Ke Parindey is a wonderful song. I could listen to it for hours on loop. Sooraj Ki Baahon Mein has a very 80s pop music feel to it. Synthesizers et al. It's fun. But the song that I would pick as my favorite out of this album is Senorita. What a song! It's catchy, it's hummable, it's a song you never get tired of but above all it's a song that makes me want to dance. Basically it's a song that gives me that "Old Bollywood" feeling yet being a "New Bollywood" song. By that I mean it's sung by the actors like how Hollywood actors would do it. Mostly I love Abhay Deol's bits, raw and real. It just makes the song much more better. (The hand-claps help) (Oh yes I'm a major fan of hand-clapping in songs in case you didn't know) Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy deliver a good album yet again as opposed to recent efforts which were limited to a few good songs here and there.

This brings me to further comparing this film with Hollywood movies. I can see this film being compared to The Hangover (2009) a lot. I would do that too. But I would also say this is a better movie than The Hangover. This is not India's Hangover, this is just a much better film. And I would love it if the filmmakers gave us a sequel. I want to see these characters again on screen. (Doosri Zindagi?) Moreover the fact that I would want a sequel for this than for Dil Chahta Hai (2001) is the biggest compliment I can give this wonderful film.

More than anything I'm glad comedies like this one and Delhi Belly are succeeding when we have, not one, not two but three movies under the title 'Golmaal'. Not to mention those Akshay Kumar movies. 

There's Delhi Belly, Chillar Party and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara playing in the theaters right now as I write and you read. Has there ever been a better time at the Indian movies recently? Not that I remember. What you should do is watch all three, right now!

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