Art & Entertainment

Rockstar

However much you may quote Rumi, you may still not be able to reach the viewer’s soul.

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Rockstar
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Starring: Ranbir Kapoor, Nargis Fakhri, Piyush Mishra, Shammi Kapoor, Aditi Rao
Directed by Imtiaz Ali
Rating: **

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Imtiaz Ali is a persuasive director. Delhi college boy Janardhan Jakhar’s journey to becoming rockstar Jordan has moments that tickle the imagination. The opening sequence of a rockstar racing through the streets of Rome, moving past the crazy fans, straight to his concert is kinetic. Or the scenes of the musician’s assimilation of the varied forms in his repertoire, from the Sufi strains of Nizamuddin dargah to the Gypsy folk on Prague’s streets. Or the tongue-in-cheek vignette of a mata ka jagraata in Dilli. Imtiaz shoots these moments wonderfully and then goes on to cap it with a heart-tugging shehnai-guitar jugalbandi with the late Shammi Kapoor giving a nod to the late Ustad Bismillah Khan. Music as the meeting ground for our today and yesterday.

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You wish there was more such instances of an artiste’s tryst with and passion for his music. Similarly, the underlying tensions in Jordan’s family could have been better explored, specially that sassy sister-in-law who keeps sticking too close to him. But Imtiaz sidelines it for a love story that’s tragically lame and tame. And one can’t just lay the entire blame for it at the doorstep of newcomer Nargis Fakri, despite her acute lack of expressions and irritating, silicon lips. However hard Ranbir may try (the unsteady Haryanvi accent and a ‘silly instead of the simpleton act’ notwithstanding) his character’s inexplicable attraction for her isn’t convincing enough. Their love story in the first half is as banal as a Mere Brother Ki Dulhan. Be it eating gol-gappe or seeing Jungli Jawani in Amar Talkies or drinking narangi, the friendly banter feels simulated than spontaneous.

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In the second half, Imtiaz attempts to go grand as the lovers’ passions get scaled up several notches and come dripping in pain and tragedy. But what drives the anguish? Where does the pain come from when the love at hand is puppyish and laughably melodramatic, what with some stupid bone marrow issues holding the key. Jordan’s angst also feels more designer and sexy than real. I kept wondering what he was rebelling against, and how the ‘Free Tibet’ issue comes to figure in his rocking life? Imtiaz strikes other false notes, especially the way in which some characters on the side come and go. Moreover, he chooses the most innocuous actors to play these roles, be it the heroine’s sister, father or husband. Even the play of words (burger and bugger) makes one cringe. In Rockstar the setting, imagery, costumes, get overwrought and orchestrated, the emotions become magnified. What Imtiaz forgets is that simplicity can sometimes talk much more. And however much you may quote Rumi, you may still not be able to reach the viewer’s soul.

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