Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

Amidst the hype, Madhuri's ghagra, the Ranbir - Deepika relationship and others, there was a sense of hope and expectation with this film for me, just because is was directed by "Ayan Mukerji". The director of Wake up Sid, which was a film where I really thought of Ranbir as an actor for the future.

This film has a cast of some young and fresh actors who bring their A game to the table. Specially people like Aditya Roy Kapoor, Kalki, and of couse the ever charming Ranbir and Deepika. Their performances do give a fresh and joyous sense to the film.

Coming to the plot, there is nothing you do not expect, A guy who lives a carefree and adventure filled life (Ranbir) and a girl who is like the one friend we all have and know is a book o'holic.(Deepika). This film does not surprise you with the plot or gives a twist or takes unexpected turns, but the actors and the screenplay makes up for it.

Like almost each and every Karan Johar film, this one has that first half fun filled and second half emotion filled plot, if you know what I mean......

The soundtrack delivered by Pritam is really foot tapping and catchy. Even with the emotional sogs, he does leave a mark. Don't be surprised if you find yourself humming some of the tunes even after you leave the hall. (Specially Subhanallah and Kabira)....

Some of the locations of the film shot in manali which shows trekking are enjoyable...

The main fault with the film is the plot itself and how it is presented in a clichéd manner. I don't have a problem with a used plot, but it could have been presented in a way that it does not get boring and too predictable. Guess the makers didn't want to take a risk.

The characters in this film are well built and we connect to them. Even small roles like Ranbir's parents, Kalki, are well acted and most importantly relate-able.

In the end this is a film with good acting, good premise, great locations, songs, but does get very much predictable and some times uninteresting. I give it a 7/10

Yeh Jawaani hai Deewani is a refreshing take on the lives of the youth(of varied types)-their needs,their aspirations,their madness. Inspite of being 3+ hours,it never felt like a long film. It is a movie with a lot of flair,adventure and madness, as you would expect from the title.

The acting cast is mouth-watering. Ranbir Kapoor as Bunny is brilliant. He plays a character who loves to have all the fun, wants to live life at a fast pace and has this quirky ambition of visiting all the beautiful places in the world. Good job Ranbir, great acting skills and mind-blowing dancing skills that is always fun viewing. Deepike Padukone as Naina shines as an actor and shows she is more than just good looks with a beautiful rendition of a nerdy girl who is looking to break all inhibitions. I think she captured a studious,unsatisfied and conflicted girl perfectly. Kalki as Aditi exceeded my expectations. It was a treat watching Aditya Roy Kapoor who always lit up the screen whenever he was present.

The dialogues are crisp and some of them pretty deep and well thought. The music and the songs stand apart. I actually felt like getting up and dancing to the tunes of 'Balam Pichkari' and 'Badtameez Dil'. The costumes are good as well. Ayan Mukherjee seems spot on in his direction and execution as well as in the selection of the cast.

What is good about this movie is that the approach to many things is fresh and is no cliché(The ending is kinda inescapable though).The plot seems perfectly plausible. Bunny does not fall head over heels in love with Naina. They pretty much get back to their lives without any drama.It is circumstances that later makes things happen.

' Yeh Jawaani hai Deewani' is definitely good entertainment overall. An enjoyable experience.Go for it.

Ayan Mukerji previously directed Wake Up Sid, his directorial debut, and he did a wonderful job with a film that was both refreshing and very good in and of itself. Just as it often goes with second ventures of promising first-timers, his next film, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, is nowhere as good. I knew nothing about this film when I started watching it except that it was an extraordinary mainstream success. But I was quite interested in watching it. The film is not bad at all, but it just doesn't live up the hype it seeks to generate at its core premise.

The film follows four youngsters in one of their last trips together before one of them leaves the country. While the film is beautifully shot and is a thoroughly enjoyable watch, it's never more than pleasant, it's never overwhelming, and there's hardly any reminiscence of what the title prepared us for - you'll see none of the youth craze or even youth culture that you would probably immediately associate with this film, and what is lacking at the heart of an otherwise watchable film is the much called-for wild spirit which Mukherjee doesn't manage to capture.

And it's not that Mukerji doesn't try. He does. There are some scenes of running through the markets, there are catchy songs and pretty girls, but the script often makes the story not ring true. The only portion where it leaves a mark is in the relationship between the two friends who meet after many years. The romantic tension between the two leads does work to a point, but sometimes it's too polished and fairy tale-like to really be impactful. And the biggest problem, it mostly just feels a rehash of previous films. At points the references to old Dharma (the production company under which the film is produced) films, people, and songs, is really pathetic.

The film's characters are merely derivative of previous famous characters, and are never given enough depth. Ranbir Kapoor repeats his Wake Up Sid character, and he does it well although it feels he never allows himself to shed all his inhibitions. Aditya Roy Kapur is exceedingly good in some parts and struggles in others, while Kalki is wasted although she is consistently good. The winner of course is Deepika. Again, her character is just a recap of popular characters (Kajol's Anjali in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai; Preity Zinta's Naina in Kal Ho Naa Ho), but she is wonderful, subtly conveying much through her expressive eyes and the tiny, nuanced gestures on her pretty face.

Towards the end, the film grows incresingly fluffy, corny and starry, much to the point of losing the lighthearted nature it sought to define back in the beginning of the show. Heavy music and numerous sentimental scenes are followed by a most shallow moment of realisation on the part of the male protagonist, which is not convincing enough. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani is not bad, I have no doubt some would highly enjoy it. Actually I enjoyed it too, I just expected more from this film and was disappointed. Still so, it is watchable and entertaining, with some nice romantic and musical portions.

This was not really a romantic comedy, despite the cast lineup. It more like a smart, meaningful story. There are a lot of humorous moments but also a lot of good advice. The theme was not the only great aspect of Yeh Jawaani was the beautiful locations picked for the movie. The cinematography really brought out magic of travel and experiencing new things. Deepika once again displayed her acting genius with a transformation halfway through the movie. The new faces were excellent as well. The casting couldn't have been any better. Because I love traveling, maybe I am a bit biased. However, I do truly feel that it is a movie all youngsters should see. Its not too cheesy or dramatic, a bit for everyone to love.

Like all rom-coms, YEH JAWAANI HAI DEEWANI sparkles with romance, merriment and heartache, is brightly glossy and boasts of crackling chemistry between its lead actors, but Ayan makes sure the heady concoction never waters down. The best part is, he never borrows from romantic clichés that most love stories depend upon and that, in my opinion, is this film's biggest strength. Expect no unwanted melodrama, no unwelcome characters, no earsplitting background music to accentuate the proceedings... On the whole, YEH JAWAANI HAI DEEWANI is a revitalizing take on romance and relationships. A wonderful cinematic experience, this one should strike a chord with not just the youth, but cineastes of all age-groups. Watch this celebration of love and get mesmerized!