Writer/Director: Zoya Akhtar
Starring: Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar and Katrina Kaif
‘A Captivating Classic’
Not many actors in India have made movies audiences treasure like Farhan Akhtar. Ever since his rise toward stardom in the 2000’s, Akhtar has become an Indian icon. Whether it’s rockstars, world-famous runners or bold lovers, Akhtar has portrayed many powerful characters. Arguably, Akhtar’s strength as a star has always been his powerful presence. He is one of those actors that has often had a talent for elevating every movie he makes by his sheer presence. Even when he isn’t a main focus of a movie, Akhtar has often left a lasting impression. Through his abilities to play compelling characters audiences relate to, Akhtar has become a beloved Bollywood icon audiences value. Throughout his strong career, Akhtar has made engrossing movies that are worth talking about without a single doubt.
I’m a huge fan of Akhtar and adore all films which he has made in his career. However, “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” stands out as being his most meaningful film. Released in 2011, Zoya Akhtar’s movie offered a strong portrait of unbreakable friendships. Packed with breathtaking musical sequences, bold storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s an incredible Indian masterpiece. At the centre of it all is an iconic performance by Farhan Akhtar, who embodies a poet that seeks to reunite with his friends on a trip. Ultimately, what makes “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” a classic is appeal. Unlike most Bollywood coming-of-age movies, it tackles powerful themes everyone would relate to. A brilliant Bollywood coming-of-age drama, there are countless reasons why “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” is worth watching.
Set in Spain, “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” tells a story of three friends embarking on journeys to overcome pain. Farhan Akhtar plays Imran, a poet with love for adventure. Imran has always shared strong bonds with close friends Kabir (Abhay Deol) and Arjun (Hrithik Roshan) who share similar love for adventure. Imran is excited when he’s given chances to embark on a road trip to Spain with two friends he has grown to treasure. However, Imran’s lifestyle changes when he discovers reuniting with friends won’t be as easy as he thought. Faced with a dilemma, Imran questions if he would ever be able to find happiness in his life in India. As bonds with his friends threaten to fall apart, Imran questions whether he would ever be able to maintain relationships with his companions holding a place in his heart.
Zoya Akhtar is fascinated with the coming of age genre. An incredible Indian female filmmaker, Akhtar has made great movies about friends on an adventure. Her iconic film “Luck by Chance” offered a powerful portrait of actors seeking to find success in the industry by chance. With “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara”, however, Akhtar crafted her first friendship drama. It was the director’s first attempt to capture the lives of friends embarking on an adventure but she pulled it off effectively. Using bold cinematography, Akhtar captures a pair of friends seeking to find their identity. Evoking Farhan Akhtar’s “Dil Chahta Hai”, Akhtar effectively employs montages to capture the bonds between a pair of friends upon a journey. For instance, montages elevate the friendship adventure scene. During this heartfelt scene, Arjun is overcome with joy as he embarks on road trips with his friends. Using bold montages, Akhtar creates a portrait of friendship that is engaging. Montages are tricky techniques to use in movies. As Karan Johar’s “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham” suggested, montages elevate Bollywood films about dysfunctional families. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Using captivating visuals, Akhtar captures tensions that friends on road trips are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” that merits appreciation is production. From a technical perspective, the film is 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. 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 Senorita musical sequence. During this unforgettable sequence, Imran bonds with his friends by visiting an exotic bar in Spain. Furthermore, the musical score is fantastic. Shankar Ehsaan Loy’s music is essential to the film’s success. It gives the film a strong atmosphere capturing burden which friends on road trips bear. Through commemorated production, Akhtar captures lives of friends on vacation.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” is a Bollywood classic about friendships that’s compelling. Akhtar’s screenwriting strength is capturing strong bonds between friends embarking on life-changing vacation through the uses of silence. Throughout the movie, Akhtar uses sequences of silence to capture the strong bonds between friends which fall apart. For instance, the sequences of silence enhance towards the underwater scene. During this memorable scene, Imran develops bonds with friends on vacation through swimming in seas. One acknowledges the sequences of silence which capture the relationships between a pair of friends with the lifelong love for adventure. Silence is a complicated technique to use in Indian movies. As Aamir Khan’s “Taare Zameen Par” proved, silence elevates movies about intellectual disability. Nevertheless, it works 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 amazing performances.
Farhan Akhtar delivers one of his greatest performances as Imran. Akhtar achieved appreciation for playing romantic heroes in Bollywood movies. With “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara”, however, he took on his most tricky role. It isn’t easy to portray a bachelor that seeks to reunite with friends on a road trip but he succeeds tremendously. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him in the past before: bold, charismatic and poetic in his most meaningful role. With mesmerizing expressions, he captures affection, bravery and reckless spirit of a bachelor seeking to reunite with his long lost companions. It’s a fantastic performance from one of greatest actors in India today.
While the movie is mainly a bold showcase for Akhtar, the supporting cast is also great and worthy of appreciation. Hrithik Roshan is remarkable, capturing tension of a work-oriented man struggling to find time for his companions. Abhay Deol is dazzling, and brings humanity to a bachelor struggling to organize weddings that come with a price to pay. Lastly, Katrina Kaif merits recognition. As a swimming instructor, she brings an air of romance to the movie.
Finally, “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” would earn recognition of everyone for capturing friendships in India. Unlike most coming of age Bollywood movies, it tackles powerful themes everyone would relate to. It tackles bold themes including ambition, friendship and mental health which would absolutely resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be familiar with Indian culture to enjoy it. Therefore, “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” is one of those rare Bollywood movies which everyone would adore.
Fans of Farhan Akhtar will absolutely enjoy “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” and so would audiences seeking riveting entertainment. A brilliant Bollywood drama, it celebrates a beloved actor in India.
Nearly 15 years following the release of a groundbreaking Bollywood movie about a pair of friends embarking on adventures in Spain, it’s a sparkling reminder of an actor that has managed to gain a huge following through his abilities to portray compelling characters in memorable movies that have never lost their endless abilities to definitely entertain.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 