Writer/Director: Zoya Akhtar
Starring: Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar and Katrina Kaif
‘A Captivating Classic’
Few actors in Bollywood are as celebrated as Hrithik Roshan. Following his stardom in 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 characters. Arguably, Roshan’s finest strength as an actor has been his bravery. By his abilities to portray characters which are compelling, Roshan has built a legacy that is lasting. He has often been one of those rare actors with the abilities to create compelling characters through charisma. 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 finest actors in Bollywood Cinema. Throughout a lasting career, Roshan has made great films which are without a single doubt absolutely worth seeing.
I’m a huge fan of Roshan and adore all the films he has made in his career. However, “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” certainly stands out as his most meaningful movie. Released in 2011, Farhan Akhtar’s movie provided an inspiring portrait of friendships. Packed with breathtaking production-design, stunning storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the greatest Bollywood movies ever made. At the centre 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 love for adventures. Imran shares a bond with two friends Kabir and Arjun who share a 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 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 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 work on Bollywood movies about friendship. Her film “Luck by Chance” offered a strong 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 companions on a European road trip but she succeeded. Using captivating cinematography, Akhtar captures friends embarking on journey to find their identity. Akhtar successfully employs montages to capture the bonds between a pair of friends on road trip. For instance, montages elevate 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 bonds of friends that are inseparable. Montages are tricky techniques to employ in Bollywood movies. As Farhan Akhtar’s “Dil Chahta Hai” suggested, montages elevate films that capture friendships. Nevertheless, it works tremendously in this movie. Through strong 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 well made. Akhtar creates unforgettable musical sequences to capture the powerful bonds between friends on road trips. In Bollywood, most films are driven by musical sequences without any significant 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 bold choreography capturing the strong bonds of lovers. Moreover, the music score is superb. Shankar Ehsaan Loy’s music is essential to the film’s success. It gives the film heartfelt atmosphere capturing burdens friends on road trips bear. Through strong production, Akhtar captures friends which embark upon a vacation.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” is a captivating Bollywood classic that’s engaging. Akhtar’s best screenwriting strength is capturing the strong bonds between friends embarking on vacations through silences. Throughout the movie, Akhtar uses sequences of silence to capture the strong 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 demonstrate 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” claimed clearly, silences elevate Bollywood movies about intellectual disabilities. Nevertheless, it worked extremely in this movie. Through a fantastic screenplay, Akhtar captures tense hardships faced by friends whose doomed relationships often come with a painful price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Hrithik Roshan delivers one of his greatest performances as Arjun. Roshan achieved appreciation for playing romantic heroes in classic Bollywood movies. With “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara”, however, the actor took on his most complex role. It isn’t easy to play a businessman embarking on a road trip with close friends, but he succeeds immensely. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and utterly emotional in his most meaningful role. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most commented actors which is working in India today.
While the movie is mainly a bold showcase for Roshan, the supporting cast is brilliant and worthy of appreciation. Farhan Akhtar is fantastic, capturing the poetic nature of a writer embarking on a road trip with friends that changes his life forever. Abhay Deol is amazing, capturing nerve-wracking tension faced by a man that isn’t looking forward to his upcoming wedding. Lastly, Katrina Kaif is extraordinary. As a flirtatious swimming instructor, she brings romantic tension 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 Hrithik Roshan will absolutely enjoy “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” and so would audiences seeking heartfelt entertainment. A brilliant Bollywood classic, it celebrates an Indian actor that’s iconic.
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 