Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara 2011

The story is not unique (3 guys go on an all-boys adventure holiday road trip, as a 3 week bachelor holiday before one of them ties the knot). The philosophy it stands for is nothing new (live life today, to the fullest, in the moment, letting go and not just get caught up in life's traps). The 3 lead characters too, we've seen before (the poor funny guy who is really not so happy, the 2nd generation business family son who's a regular guy, the hot shot money obsessed, all work-no play stock broker).

And yet, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara works beautifully and how. Logically speaking, there is not many ingredients in the movie that are brilliant, but all together, it just comes through. What Zoya Khan has successfully managed to achieve is a rare feat in movie making. It's a movie that lives with you much longer after it's over. In many ways actually you could say, that the true experience of the movie begins after you walk out of the theatre and the few days after it. Many brilliant movies, with great plots and powerful characters serve as great entertainers, that you clap at, marvel at, enjoy during, but then move on away from as quickly, after it. Not ZNMD. This movie lives on, as an experience you can feel for much later.

ZNMD belongs to that special genre of movies that are "feel movies", that leave behind what the film felt like, not necessarily linked to the story line or the dialogues. ZNMD is a light, free, spontaneous, sunny film that leaves a glow in you. While you are trying to follow the storyline of the movie, what's really happening is that you're soaking in the Spanish countryside, the fields, the sea, the drive, the sun. While you're empathising with Imraan's search for his real father, what you end up feeling, is his poetry (Humne dil ko yeh samjhaya…Dil aakhir tu kyun rota hai... Duniya mein yunhi hota hai). While you're watching Arjun so obviously falling for Laila, you unknowingly feel the wind of the Latin farms flowing through your face while driving in the open air convertible. While you're sorry for Kabir for being trapped in the upcoming wedding, you're subconsciously dancing in abandon with señorita, kneeling and hugging her belly.

The magic of ZNMD is not in the movie. It's in the several moments in the movie, that collectively leave you with not what you liked about the movie, but how it made you feel. It's a sensorial movie, that opens up and fills up the senses. And in that it again breaks a stereotype. Thats possibly, it's biggest success. It does not fit to a paradigm of movie genres. It's not a comedy movie, but it's funny in parts. It's not an action movie, though it does have action. It's not a romantic movie, though it does have romance.

And what makes the experience complete is Shankar Ehsaan Loy's once again master piece sound track, that captures the essence of the movie. Once again, SEL give an album and a background score that is unique to the movie, and not typical or predictable. Over the years, we've come to realise that there is no SEL type. Every movie and it's sound track is unique. And ZNMD sound track is exactly that, unique. Capturing every moment, feel of the film.

Farhan Akhtar is fabulous in the movie, with some terrific performances, over-shadowing Hrithik who gets exposed for his limited skill in trying hard to be spontaneous & unrehearsed. Abhay Deol is not too bad, and is able to carry off his normal, seedha buoooy role. Katrina delivers a surprisingly polished performance. And Kalki is wasted playing a possessive, conventional girlfriend.

But, all in all, a great young fun movie, which is a must watch, on the big screen to be able to feel the movie, in the way it's meant to be. Its got it all. Deep sea diving, Para gliding, Bull run, Tomatina festival, and the Spanish country. Many have called it Dil Chahta Hai of 2011, and that's quite true. 150 minutes of pure young abandon fun.