5 Reasons To Watch Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani !

Oh be still, my beating heart! Life might give you the second chance or it might not. But you definitely can give yourself that second chance when it comes to career, love and relationships. Ayan Mukerji’s take on the journey of four friends and their lives may not be the best portrayal of friendship and love. The story is predictably about two diametrically opposite characters falling in love with each other and if you are a Bollywood junkie (like me) – here are 5 reasons why you might want to watch Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani !

1) The Friendship element

Ok the movie is a love story yes, but I personally loved the way friendship has been explored in the film. There are moments in this movie that take you back to your college days. Ayan Mukerji’s take on friendship is a strong flavour in YJHD. The friendship that Bunny (Ranbir Kapoor) and his die-hard buddies Aditi (Kalki Koelchin) and Avi (Aditya Roy Kapur) share, despite their shifting dynamics over eight years, is definitely laudable. The bittersweet qualities that friendships go through did send me back on an emotional roller coaster – Love, care, fights, jokes, being there for each other and the uncontaminated enthusiasm of friends is what inhibits this film from being “just another love story”. It is a story that every young adult will connect to instantly. It is like going back to one of those pages in the past that you would like to revisit – Nothing thoughtful or imaginative about it, but the film is just pure fun!

2) The Music
“Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani” ‘s soundtrack is impressive! Well, I have to say that Pritam is one music composer who has been consistent with his portfolio of super-hit albums in the recent years. And after the two biggest album hits of 2012 – Barfi and Cocktail, he has given a delightful collection of breezy upbeat numbers in YJHD! While Badtameez Dil and Diliwali Girlfriend are mass favourites, I loved the Balam Pichkari number and Kabira. Given that Holi songs are a rarity, Balam Pichkari is one of those rare foot-tapping numbers that makes you automatically want to jiggy with your friends. Lyrics are witty! Kabira brings in a sense of melody with a semi-urban touch, backed by absolutely marvelous instrumentation. You would want to hear the song again and again just for the way Arijit Singh has sung it. Subhanallah too celebrates that softness, romance and flavour of first love. I also loved the Ghagra number with Madhuri Dixit. Here’s sharing with you the making of my favourite song, Balam Pichkari :

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK6JUQFv_fQ]

3) If you are a Ranbir Kapoor fan !

Ranbir Kapoor is superb in this film, as usual. Good to see him doing something light after heavy stuff like “Rockstar” and “Barfi”. He eases into the flirtatious and ambitious “Bunny” that makes him desirable, fun-loving and naughty, all at the same time! Bunny is a dreamer, a wanderer and hungry to travel the whole world. What I like most about Ranbir is that he never shies away from indulging in goofy antics onscreen. And that adds to his already unmatchable charm. But apart from Ranbir, I must also say watch this movie for Kalki Koechlin – her portrayal of the tom-boyish, unpredictable and impulsive Aditi makes her completely lovable. (Pssst.. and at times you might just feel that maybe Aditi & Bunny should have gotten together instead! Fleeting thought. Tell me, who’s guilty of that?)

4) If you missed KJO films

Masand said that “How much you enjoy ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’ depends entirely on how much you’ve missed the typical Karan Johar formula” and I completely agree! Although there are some absolutely memorable “Ayan Mukherji” moments in YJHD, there’s definitely a large portion of Karan Johar injected in the film unapologetically. Excessively glossy, picture-perfect cinematography, larger than life production-sets and a never-ending wedding dance sequence – All these trademarks scream Karan Johar! Afterall, what are Bollywood films without the grandeur, colour and faraway sequences? I didn’t quite mind this much though I did miss a bit of Ayan’s original voice that he showcased in his surprisingly mature debut, “Wake Up Sid”. But at least the young director shows his versatility as a filmmaker! We’ll give it to you, Ayan.

5) If you are a sucker for love stories

 If you grew up in the ‘90s, then you’ll agree that all you know about love comes from the stories of “pyaar, mohabbat and ishq” that afflicted that decade. Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge showed us how to fall in love, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai taught us how to fall in love twice, and YJHD is all about young, crazy and today’s love – about screwed up people who want a lot from life that they probably forget to stop, breathe and smell the roses. Chemistry between ex-lovers Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone was evident on screen.  The film tells us that it’s ok to be single like Naina and it’s normal to fall in love with a friend like in Aditi-Avi’s case. And as in Bunny’s situation, it’s fine even if you a late bloomer. Sometimes, it’s the smaller things in life that take precedence over larger ambitions. Dialing the last number before it’s too late or sending that one text message that might just solve all problems – amidst the heartbreaks, realizations, failures and misunderstandings, friendship and love triumphs above everything else! A perfect love story? Maybe not. But definitely a good attempt to manifest today’s perception of love and relationships. We like!

Lastly, guys – do check out the YJHD Look Book. If you loved the film, I am pretty sure you would have loved the clothes, style and fashion of the individual characters. So guess what, I have compiled a YJHD Look Book exclusively for you guys! Check it out.

So tell me, have you watched YJHD – did you like it?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rbp2XUSeUNE]

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Kalki Koechln, Aditya Roy Kapur
Director: Ayan Mukherji
Producer: Dharma Productions & UTV Motion Pictures