Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

ZNMD came as an oasis in a desert of Readys and Double Dhamaals and actually made me feel not guilty about enjoying a film.
The songs, too, are also a welcome change from the Munnibais, Sheelas and Jalebibais (though I must confess I love them too) even though they have not won rave reviews.
The non-existent plot emphasis what the film tries (so successfully) to portray and is a cliché: That happiness is all about the journey and not the destination.
The film requires numerous viewings to send its core message, adroitly hidden: Life is about letting go.
I will not go into the plot (?) here as enough has been said on it.
Unfortunately it seems I may have to wait a while for that though the DVD is now out.
I am enthusiastically waiting for the Blu ray on FlipKart so I can marvel in the photography so lovingly captured by Carlos Catalan (who is rumored to be Zoya’s current muse) that each scene is a caress.
My daughter hated the tanned look of the three heroes and I told her that the look was as per the stipulation of the photographer who wanted to bring a stark of realism of a road trip.
Zoya is an intellectual director but not to the point of being intimidating. She answers a lot of questions in the film but leaves so many un-answered leaving the film open to multiple interpretations without taxing your brain and therein lies its understated charm. Go away Facebook: You can’t replace real life camaraderie...
The contemporary youth dream of retiring at 40 is mocked at delicately by Katrina when she tells Hrithik what if he waits till 40 to realise his dreams and what if he doesn’t reach that age?
It’s the small moments in the film that are cherished: the finest being the scene where Katrina goes after Hrithik on a borrowed Royal Enfield for a lip locking session, for a lingering kiss..( I think Suzanne Roshan, Hrithik’s wife has nodded her approval to the scene as is evident from the acknowlgement in the credits) and the directors coup de grace of her leaving him after the kiss and turning back without looking back.
The scene may, perhaps, not have been that effectual had she gone all emotional.
Other moments are the obvious ones like the expressions of Hrithik after his moment of Nirvana with his scuba-diving and the tomato song where 16 tons of tomatoes were flown in from Portugal and was re-created in Bunol. Some not-so-obvious scenes are Hrithik and Katrina sleeping beneath the open sky, maybe realizing for the first time, their prem for each other, not because of the differences in their nature but in spite of them; the casual throwing away of Hrithik's cell phone by Farhan; the action caught everyone ( I could hear an audible gasp in the Cinema when this took place) by its sheer impudence; Javed Akhtars lovely poems that seem to sneak in deviously with uncanny timings ; the pink phone given to Hrithik by Farhan as a replacement and Katrina expression on seeing it, with just the right amount of horror and shock; Hrithik with his lap top conversation ( through Skype?) with his Japanese business partner.
Farhan has an author backed role with the main punch lines: his turnaround from a seemingly preliminary blasé manner after his encounter (I am not mentioning that person for those who have not yet seen the film) is the stuff Oscars are made of.
Abhay with his minimalist performance shines with a role that one may identify with but not necessarily, sympathise.
We have all been under parental pressures to take on paths chosen by them.
In India we will also identify with girls like Kalki: we have seen and perhaps have known someone who have experienced those types.
The beach scene where Katrina is introduced was actually a nudist beach and the director had to continually ask the nudists to move away from the frame.
Zoya has shrewdly connected the changes in the 3 protagonists through the three elements in nature, that signify a turning point in their lives, maybe, perhaps, also signifying the common bonds and inner different ghosts that have to be exorcised.
(1) Water: The change in Hrithik is brought about by his scuba diving
(2) Air: With Farhan through sky diving in Seville
(3) Earth: Abhay, through the Pamploni bull fight.
What about the element of Fire?
We will never know and Zoya will never tell...
A word about “Bagwati” : the expensive Hermes bag which is as much of a character in the film as the other players.
Is it another way of Zoya being condescending at the unessential uprising of the luxury goods market in our desh?
The poster of the three heroes is a blatant lift up of the film Lords of Dogtown ( a film about skating in swimming pools google it and see the similarities)
But these are small issues when seen in a bigger frame.
The hero of the film is ultimately not Hrithik, Farhan or even Abhay for giving in an in depth analysis of male bonding: It’s Zoya and may her tribe increase...

I was initially pretty floored by this film -- fantastic direction, visuals, editing, screen chemistry, and great music -- but looking back, I might come down to rate the movie as a pleasant watch for an intelligent audience. I really did like the characterisation of each of the three male actors -- and some of the insights into human relationships.

However, the philosophy of the film can come across as a bit prescriptive and preachy -- which kills its eventual effect in the long run.

It seems that Zoya Akhtar and Farhan Akhtar have tried to pass on the lessons of their own life and their own stories of growing up -- which is a great thing to do, but a great story is not just about the message that the writer/director is yearning to give out; it is about how indirectly it can be told. Unfortunately because of this, some people have admonished the film as idealistic and adolescent.

The male characterisation is great, but the female characterisation required more work. I think more insights into the female psyche would have given a certain thematic balance to the film. Katrina Kaif has an elegant role, but she may come across as a little too nice, and a little too flawless to be true. Kalki is caricatured because of her over possessive tendency towards the character of Kabir, her boyfriend, played by Abhay Deol -- something that could have been avoided. I feel the film would have a far greater longevity in the mind of the audience if the characterisation of the women hadn't been so simplistic.

Overall, the film is a very well-intended one. It does provide some interesting psychological insights through references to psychology and Freud, and comments on how important it is to address issues that are bothering you.

Perhaps there is a larger reason behind letting the female characters take a backseat in the film. Male emotional issues have been ignored for longer than women's have.

There is also another interesting aspect to the film. This aspect is about the effect that economic class and status have on one's personality, which is played out between the three characters, each respectively symbolising the upper class (Abhay Deol), the middle class (Farhan Akhtar), and the rags-to-riches class (Hrithik Roshan). I liked the indication to how these three relate to each other.

The film also brings out the local culture of Spain and traveling through Europe, which is an arena that conventional films have so far not ventured into. Films like these break out of the old-fashioned mystical romance, and come down to talk about love and relationships from a more earthly, human perspective.

This is why I found the movie so refreshing.

I purchased this movie on bluray & they don't have any special features on it.... This is really bad... Don't get confused this bluray will disappoint you if you're looking for special features as well. Otherwise I'll rate this movie 4 out of 5 & bluray 3 out of 5.
Interesting part I would love to tell you guys about this film is after the film's release, Zoya Akhtar expressed an idea to make a sequel of the film. Speaking about it, she said "You never know, I might or may not make a sequel. It all depends on the right content." Reacting to that, Hrithik stated "Only one guy gets married in ZNMD and we still have two bachelors left, so a sequel would be a good idea. Why not Zoya? Well movie is good so will look forward to the sequel of the movie.

ZNMD is one of those rare films which influences you.It actually inspired four of us friends to take a trip..a bachelor trip at Goa (DCH anyone??). Subtle yet layered, ZNMD is a masterful piece of work just like Zoya's extremely under appreciated debut film, Luck by Chance.Superbly acted & brilliantly executed,ZNMD is a cult film as far as Hindi cinema is concerned.The fact that the director respects the intelligence of the paying audience adds a cherry on this delicious cake. And three cheers to flipkart's service as usual.

ZNMD is probably the only movie worth seeing in 2011, amidst a crop of heat-and-serve lazypics such as Bodyguard, Haunted, Mausam, et al. The direction is fantastic, making every scene special with subtle nuances despite the plot not being very profound. The cinematography is immersive, not just the way it captures Spain, but in the way it engages you from interesting point of views. The DVD is good, though the sound could have been better. The disappointing factor was lack of a director's commentary (a la Johnny Gaddar, one of the best Indian DVDs, irrespective of how you liked or not the movie!) or any true special feature. The second disc is merely a collection of promo footage seen on TV. Hearing Zoya, Farhan and Javed saab talk about developing the poetry and themes would have added to the ZNMD experience