What men want?. Review on Dil Chahta Hai

What do men really want? For women with a lil’ bit of stuff on their top floor this query is a piece of cakewalk. For the blonde’s lemme tell you sugar darlings, the answer is not just sex!

Women know men on their fingertips and are able to read their minds with ease. A reliable source tells me she knows what men really want.

Music

Cars

Girls and gadgets

Clothes and accessories

Wine and beer

Travel

Ask Farhan Akhtar and he will say, ‘ What haven’t you seen Dil Chahta Hai yet?’

Life is a party. Some arrive with a bang and others like to make a silent entry. Farhan Akhtar belongs to the league of men fashioned to make a gala entry. They do not follow but simply lead. DCH is a living example of this. Akhtar deftly creates a profile of three fine men who believe in working hard, partying harder. They get what they want. Nothing is impossible for the trio. Even stars seem within their reach, such is their determination.

Ever noticed how men like to do things first. Take for instance the simple act of reading the morning newspaper. Men like to grab it first. When it comes to driving, men prefer to be seated on the driving seat. When it comes to playing pranks men are always way ahead. Farhan belongs to this league. He made Dil Chahta Hai – a movie not just different but one of a kind. A movie so chic and modern, one would like to call it ‘a venture ahead of times’.

Three men is all it takes for Farhan to describe the entire clan. DCH is not just a movie but an entire generation packed in one roll. It is about the urbane spirit that the Indian youth is now sensing and adopting. Farhan made this movie to tell the tale of men, to capture the images of youth, of being free and liberal, the maturity that creeps in their life, and of seeing (accepting) reality. In a way it is about ‘what men really want?’

Do you want me to tell you the story? Of course not. I can hear the chorus, “We all have seen DCH”. I also know not a single soul that has not watched DCH till date. I myself watched it pretty late, but hey better late than never. If u have missed DCH go watch it.

Forget the story lets talk about some of the best performances that we have seen in this movie.

In DCH the roles played by Aamir, Akshaye and Saif are truly outstanding. I see them get into the character skin deep. Take for instance Akshaye Khanna’s (Siddharth or Sid) appearance. He looks so intense and so drawn inwards, as if lost in his own world of paints and colors. As if each moment he is trying to paint a picture invisible to us. Post DCH Akshaye was seen in Hungama, an out an out comedy. Again his role was entirely different than what he delivered as Sid in DCH. The point is Akshaye is an actor with outstanding caliber. He needs time and space, its not far when he will come out of his shell and deliver some memorable performances.

Coming down to Aamir’s tale. Twenty years down the line Aamir will still be a guy in his twenties. He never seems to grow old. Picture him dancing to the tunes of, ‘Papa Kehte Hain…’ and in a moment we will remember him as the chocalate guy next door. Somehow he has managed to keep that charm intact and alive in his performance as Aakash in DCH. This is amazing. Who else has been able to hang in with his teeny-charm for so long. Do not be surprised if two decades later he goes after a girl in her sweet twenties. Aamir as Akash is a daredevil, full of life and vigour, upto pranks always, a person who does not believe in love. In a nutshell Aamir appears authentic. Looks like he is playing himself – happy, cool, rich, urbane, sexy, and then mature.

Now this is where Farhan weaves his magic band. He creates characters so similar. Characters who live life just for the pleasures associated with it. And this is where the characters differ. Aakash looks forward to living the moment while Sid looks for eternal happiness. The movie actually revolves around these two men, their emotional and egoistical clashes.

Now we come to Saif (Sameer). This movie would not have been complete without Saif’s presence. He is the one falling in love all the time. He carries his heart on his sleeve and is ready to give it away at the first opportunity. Show him a girl and he is already fantasizing and planning having kids with her. For this Saif is often on the receiving ends – being mocked, ridiculed and played upon by Aakash. Saif makes us laugh by laughing at himself. They say the greatest fool is one who laughs at himself. (I guess it should be the wisest is one who laughs at himself). With DCH Saif managed to create a niche for himself. He has been since DCH looked upon as an actor with some meat. His performance in Kal ho Naa Ho is memorable and now coming up shortly is Parineeta (aperiod film I guess and certainly a challenging role).

Men are the weaker sex. They can indulge and survive the most dangerous games but when it comes to a woman, they crumble like a pack of cards. Aakash goes after Shalini (Preity). He who never believes in love begins to understand its intensity. (One thing I like about Aakash is that though a flirt he is able to measure true love. He goes after a girl and gets her). This also gives him reason to comprehend the depth and intensity of Sid's feelings for Tara (Dimple Kapadia plays a divorced woman) and dismisses them off as a good opportunity for a ''young lad'' for his ''sexual initiation'' with an ''experienced'' woman. The story begins when the friendship among the three is disrupted temporarily.

This is not a woman centric movie. Call it a fun movie or what you will but there are moments when you hold your sides that ache of incessant laughing.

DCH carries loud music. The movie itself starts rolling with a song. Koi Kahe Kehta Rahe….A great song. All three (Aakash, Sameer and Siddharth) hold center stage in this song and are seen together. Then there is this funny track called Jisse Dhoondta hoo…filmed on Saif, who as usual is fantasizing. Tanhai is a sad song and revolves around Aakash’s sad love story. The title track Dil Chahta Hai is kewlll and is again filmed on the trio. They are shown having fun while heading towards Goa for a vacation. This song is really cool.

Watch this movie….again.