Writer/Director: Zoya Akhtar
Starring: Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar and Abhay Deol
‘A Captivating Classic’
Few actors in Bollywood are as celebrated as Hrithik Roshan. Ever since his rise to stardom during the 1990’s, Roshan has become one of the greatest actors in the Indian film industry. Whether it’s friends on road trips, soldiers or star-crossed lovers, Roshan has played many strong characters. Arguably, Roshan’s finest strength as an actor has been his bravery. By his abilities to portray commemorated characters which are compelling, Roshan has created a legacy that is lasting. He has often been one of those rare actors with the abilities to create compelling characters through charisma. Roshan has always been an actor with a larger-than-life presence that has elevated every movie regardless of its quality. Shining a bright light in darkness, Roshan has become one of the greatest actors in the Indian film business. A respected icon in India, Roshan has become one of the most commemorated actors in Bollywood Cinema. Throughout a lasting career, Roshan has made several unforgettable films which are without a doubt worth seeing.
I’m a big fan of Roshan and adore all the films he has made in his career. However, “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” is my favourite. Ever since its release in 2011, Roshan’s movie has stood the test of time as Bollywood classic. Packed with breathtaking production-design, stunning storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the greatest Bollywood movies ever made. At the cente of it all is an excellent performance from Hrithik Roshan. In one of his finest roles, Roshan embodies a man forming long-lasting friendships on holiday. Ultimately, what makes “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” a masterpiece is the message. The film delivers a heartwarming message about the power of friendships which will resonate with everyone. Unlike most Indian movies, it discusses strong themes everyone would relate to. A mesmerizing masterpiece about friendships, there are several reasons why “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” is a film that is worth watching.
Set in Spain, “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” tells a story of three friends embarking on journeys to discover identity. Farhan Akhtar plays Imran, a poet with a love for adventures. Imran shares a powerful bond with two friends Kabir and Arjun who share similar love for adventure. Imran is excited when he’s given the chance to embark on a road trip to Spain with his two friends that he has come to treasure. However, Imran’s life forever changes when he discovers reuniting with friends won’t be as easy as he had once thought. Facing a head-scratching dilemma, Kabir questions if he would ever be able to find happiness in his life in India. As his bonds with friends threaten to fall apart, Kabir questions whether he would ever be able to maintain relationships with his commemorated companions that have always held a place in his heart.
Zoya Akhtar is fascinated with the themes of friendship. Before she directed “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara”, Akhtar was renowned for her work on Bollywood movies about friends. Her previous film “Luck by Chance” provided an engaging glimpse at actors seeking success in the film industry through support from friends. With “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara”, however, she created her first road trip film. It was Akhtar’s first attempt to capture the bonds between a pair of friends on a European road trip but she succeeded. Using stunning cinematography, Akhtar captures friends embarking on journey to find their identity. Akhtar effectively employs montages to capture the bonds between a pair of friends on road trip. For instance, montages enhance the Dil Dadhakne Do musical scene. During this unforgettable scene, the three pair of friends bond together by embarking upon a road trip. One admires montages capturing the big bonds among friends that are inseparable. Montages are tricky techniques to employ in Indian movies. As Farhan Akhtar’s “Dil Chahta Hai” suggested, montages elevate films that capture broken friendships. Nevertheless, it works tremendously in this movie. Through stunning visuals, Akhtar captures friendships that are lasting.
Another commendable aspect of “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” is the musical numbers. From a technical perspective, the film is extremely well made. Akhtar effectively creates unforgettable musical sequences to capture bonds between friends on road trips. In Bollywood, most films are driven by meaningless musical sequences without any meaning. It’s rare to see Bollywood movies which feature musical sequences with meaning. That being said, “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” is definitely an exception. Akhtar uses marvellous musical sequences to capture the big bond between friends. For instance, dance choreography elevates the Ik Junoon musical sequence. During this unforgettable sequence, Imran bonds with his friends on a memorable Holi ceremony occasion. One appreciates the choreography capturing the strong bonds of lovers. Moreover, the musical score is superb. Shankar Ehsaan Loy’s music is integral to the film’s success. It gives the film a heartwarming atmosphere capturing the burden that friends on road trips bear. Through strong production, Akhtar captures friends which embark upon an unforgettable vacation.
Storytelling is one of the primary reasons why “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” is a captivating Bollywood classic that’s compelling. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses sequences of silence to capture the relationships between friends with a mutual love of adventure. Akhtar’s screenwriting strength is capturing the strong bonds between friends embarking on powerful vacations through silences. Throughout the movie, Akhtar uses sequences of silence to capture the bonds between friends which fall apart. For instance, sequences of silence are suited towards the underwater scene. During this memorable scene, Imran develops bonds with friends on vacations through swimming in seas. One admires the sequences of silence which capture the relationships between a pair of friends with the lifelong love for adventures. Silence is a tricky technique to use in Indian movies. As Aamir Khan’s “Taare Zameen Par” suggested, silences elevate movies capturing intellectual disabilities. Nevertheless, it worked extremely well in this movie. Through a superb screenplay, Akhtar captures hardships faced by friends whose doomed relationships come with a price to pay.
One appreciates astonishing performances.
Hrithik Roshan delivers one of his best career performances as Arjun. Roshan first attained appreciation for portraying college students bonding with aliens. With “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara”, however, he took on his most serious role. It isn’t easy to embody the personality of a friend whose relationships are doomed to experience disaster, but Roshan succeeded. It’s a role that gave the actor the chances to showcase emotional vulnerability that he had not shown in his career before. This is the star unlike you’ve ever seen him before: charming, emotional and sensitive in his most memorable role. With magnificent expressions, he conveys the angst, desperation and reckless nature of a man with love for embarking upon vacations with his friends. It’s a powerful performance by one of the most celebrated actors working in Bollywood today.
The supporting cast is superb and also worthy of recognition. Farhan Akhtar is extraordinary, capturing the rebellious nature of a writer with the lifelong affection of adventure. Abhay Deol is amazing, bringing comical relief towards the movie as a man whose friendships come with a painful price to pay causing marriages to go astray. Lastly, Katrina Kaif merits appreciation. As a woman that has a love for adventure, she brings energy to the movie.
Finally, “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” would earn appreciation of everyone for capturing friends facing a dilemma. Unlike most Bollywood movies, the film tackles universal themes that everyone would relate to. The film tackles universal themes including identity, friendship and marriage which would definitely resonate with everyone. Viewers aren’t required to be from India to appreciate the movie. It delivers a strong message about the value of friendships which would resonate with everyone. Therefore, “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” is one of those rare Bollywood movies that everyone would adore.
Fans of Hrithik Roshan will definitely appreciate “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” and so will movie-goers seeking exhilarating entertainment. A fantastic Indian masterpiece about friendships, it celebrates the legacy of an actor that has built a long-lasting career which is iconic.
Nearly 15 years following the release of an iconic Bollywood film about friends embarking on road trips to develop relationships that are long-lasting, it’s a riveting reminder about a commemorated Indian actor that has achieved a huge fan following earning worldwide recognition for his abilities to portray characters that are compelling whose memorable movies are definitely without a single doubt worth celebrating.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 