Rockstar (2011)

The Plot
Janardhan is a shy young college kid who wants to become a big musician. But, he doesn't find the inspiration. Based on his friends' idea that a beautiful girl can give him inspiration and some pain, he decides to fall in love with Heer, a dancer. Heer is about to get married. But, still they bond and Heer slowly falls for him before getting married and flying away to Prague. Janardhan is rechristened as Jordan by Heer

He is thrown out of his home after some money problems. He goes to a famous mosque and improves his music in the divine abode. He slowly starts coming up as a musician and also records a CD for a company called Platinum Records. He is soon sent abroad on a contract with Platinum to perform in Europe.

There he again meets Heer and they again bond big time. This time Jordan and Heer fall in love madly despite Heer already being a married woman. She is inconsistent and also has some health issues. On one instance, Jordan is mistakenly booked for intrusion and assault at Heer's house and he is arrested. He is not helped by his company and he becomes royally pissed off with life due to his failed love in particular

He comes back to India and is a really eccentric 'rockstar' now with his own dressing style and with his own legion of fans after his number "Saadda Haq" becomes a rage among the masses. Jordan doesn't care about protocol and his manager/well wisher has a tough time handling him.

As expected Heer is again back in his life, after she leaves her marriage and comes back to India. She is dying and is in her last stages and Jordan is her only solace and hope for some happy moments before dying. They spend time together before Jordan again gets a foreign contract. He delivers a grand performance,thinking of the love of his life as she is on the cusp of death.

A haunting emotional saga.

Hits

• Ranbir Kapoor delivers a once in a lifetime performance. He literally lives the role. The various stages, the various makeovers, the awesome dressing style as the rockstar, the fire he shows in his performances, his rage, his deep love etc. etc. One of the best ever performances. This young man is the next big thing in Indian cinema for sure. 
• The way the movie starts and how the momentum builds up from the moment Ranbir is introduced to the point he goes on stage for his live performance, is something that is to be seen to be believed. 
• A.R.Rahman lights up the movie with his soul stirring score. All the songs are an aural and visual treat. Saadda Haq stands out due to the sheer adrenaline factor. But, visuals wise, each song is equally inspiring. The background score is terrific as well. The Mozart of Madras has definitely been inspired.
• The initial scenes where Ranbir falls for Nargis as he sees her 'tango' dance have been nicely worked out. The guy's innocent longing eyes as he admires his girl are beautiful.   
• 'Kun Faya Kun' is a separate poem in itself and the way Jordan immerses in the divine surroundings and polishes his music is a real mesmerizer. 
• The cinematography is top notch. Be it the narrow lanes of Delhi, the snow clad Kashmir valleys or the lush green Europe. Pure eye candy. 
• The female who plays the journalist has the best role among the limited ladies in the movie and she really lives it up with her believable portrayal. She is very cute, sexy and really heats it up in the scene when she tries to seduce Jordan in his caravan
• Shammi Kapoor has a beautiful cameo and the legend wins us over with his calm presence. The guy who plays Jordan's manager/well-wisher is another entertaining presence. 
• The movie is visually haunting. The screenplay is also non-linear and beautifully worked out in an intelligent manner. 
• Mohit Chauhan is the voice of Jordan. He has sung all the songs in his sexy voice and he is one of the biggest heroes of  the movie. 
• The unique 'rockstar' suit is another plus. The way Ranbir carries it off is another delight. In the initial stages he wears stiff clothes, then he progresses to short kurtas and jeans before the grand 'rockstar' suit towards the end. 
• The movie has a delightful first half before an emotional roller coaster in the second half.
• The climax is really haunting. The "Parindey" song adds to the mesmerizing factor in the climax. 

Comments

• The title of the movie is quite misleading. It's a pure love story of a musician who uses his experiences at love to make some divine and addictive music.
• Jordan's transition to an overnight rage in India is quite abrupt. It's as if just because he goes to jail and is notorious with the media and the law, his popularity shoots through the roof. He even carries out a 7 city tour. This is also a take on the ways of the Indian media that is always looking for news to sensationalize. 

Misses

• The over hyped Nargis Fakhri. She doesn't know to act. She looks beautiful no doubt. But, she is the one missing link in an otherwise top notch movie. She is a horrible actress
• The movie drags at places due to the scenes between Jordan and Heer as they go around bonding and falling in love. The second half in particular loses steam in the middle.  

VERDICT

Haunting cinema not to be missed and worth experiencing many times. A royal salute to Ranbir Kapoor, A.R.Rahman and Imtiaz Ali. 

Wake Up Sid (2009)

The Plot
The film is about the coming of age of a filthy rich young brat named Siddharth Mehra aka Sid. Sid is in Mumbai. He fails his degree exams and has no aim in life. His father is a rich businessman who specializes in flower furnishings. Sid isn't able to fit into his father's business as well.

Sid just has fun with his 2 buddies Laxmi and Rishi. He meets Aisha one day and they instantaneously hit it off. Aisha is from Kolkota and she has come to Mumbai to be independent. Basically she is the exact opposite of Sid. Sid helps her settle in Mumbai and Aisha also gets a job in the magazine "Mumbai Beat"

At one stage Sid has a major fight with his father and he moves out of his home. He lives with Aisha and slowly learns about life. He learns to cook, clean up, wash etc and also gets the urge to work. He is very good at photography and he gets placed as an intern at "Mumbai Beat" thanks to Aisha. Sid works his way up and finally gets a permanent posting as an Assistant Photographer.

By then Sid's father calls him back home and they mend their differences. Aisha also falls for Sid slowly but surely. Sid had been having love feelings for her from the beginning but she feels he is too kiddish for her liking. Finally Sid comes to know about her feelings for him, through her first published article.

Sid and Aisha unite in the Mumbai rains in the end.

Hits

• Such realism in the way relationships have been portrayed be it - love, friendship, mother son bonding, father son bonding. Beautiful to the core. Great work by debutante Ayan Mukerji. 
• Brilliant acting by the entire cast be it Ranbir Kapoor, Konkona Sen, Anupam Kher as the dad, Supriya Pathak as the mom, Sid's friends Laxmi, Rishi & Kashmira Shah as Sonia. Perfect casting. Even the characters in the flat like the young kid, his mom etc. are so life-like.
• Lovely songs by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Amit Trivedi. Peppy, meaningful and melodious at the same time. The BG score by Amit Trivedi is so well in sync with the movie. 
• Even though each of the cast has done a brilliant job, it is impossible to single them out because everyone is equally brilliant. 
• Nice light screenplay that becomes serious just at a couple of points.

VERDICT

One of my all time favorite cults. Ranbir arrived in a big way with this light-hearted coming of age classic.