Disappointing. Review on Lakshya

Dear Farhan,

After watching Dil Chahta Hai, I was keenly awaiting your next release. After an abortive attempt two weeks back, I finally got tickets for the show last Sunday, and was I pleased! It was with mixed emotions that I watched the movie, and finally when I left the hall (at the end of course), I had this strange empty feeling that can only be called disappointment.

I hope you will condone my audacity. After all, the only reason why I am penning this down, instead of keeping shut, is because I am a fan of yours and would like you to scale greater heights (can there ever be a defined lakshya for a movie maker?). I am aware that with my verdict I am perhaps going against popular view. I must, therefore, attempt at defending my stand.

In my opinion, a movie, like any other product, has two elements to it - the conception or design, and the execution or production. As far as the latter is concerned, Lakshya has done pretty well. The camera work is excellent. The performance of most of the actors is also good. The music, though, could have been better. But in a movie like Lakshya, I guess music need not have a big role to play. So, no complaints.

Where the movie has let me down is the not so perfect conception, and for more than one count.

I would not go so far as to identify the aimlessness of one young man with that of the Indian youth in general. I think the youth is pretty much focussed, albeit people older may not understand that. But, for this young man to discover himself, his mission, his identity, did he necessarily have to be the hero that the movie makes him out to be? I mean, if it was a group of soldiers who had finally hoisted the national flag on peak would it have been a less of a self discovery for this guy?

Preity's character is another example of, if you'll pardon me, ill-conceived characterization. What does she do in the movie? If she was modelled after Dutt ofTV, then I am sorry to say that she ended up being just a sorry caricature. Not once have we seen her near a war site, not once have we seen her interviewing a soldier on the living conditions at such heights. An actor of her calibre has been wasted on the role. And so have been a few others.

Was the love angle really necessary? Or did the omniscient pundits tell you that without it you did not break ice with a section of the audience? Frankly, Preity and Rithik look more like friends than lovers. I can understand Preity's disdain when Rithik flees the IMA on the sly, as I can understand her standoff. But Rithik did go back didn't he? He did complete the training, right? What then was the reason for Preity's continued standoff? And, amazingly, she even gets engaged to another guy. Even more amazingly, she breaks off the engagement. All rather convenient. All for a cause, I guess.

Some say that a lot of research has gone into making this movie. The movie does not provide much evidence of this, though. We catch glimpses of the kind of lives soldiers lead on the war front, when they are not engaged in battle. But I think a lot more could have been shown. It is very difficult for a movie to stand on only one character. We did see quite a few in the second half. Except for Karan's, how many soldiers' backgrounds, emotions, leisures or private life do we get to see? I am sure you will concur with me that life on the battlefront is not just about singing songs, as it isn't all about fighting either.

The second half of the movie drags. War front need not be as tedious, really. Preity's opportune appearances wherever one would find Rithik is quite surprising. And so is her apparent joblessness as a journalist in these scenes. What beats my comprehension is the presence of some of the best actors in this movie who have rather insignificant contributions to make, for example, Lillete Dubey, Amitabh Bachchan, Om Puri, Amrish Puri. I am not suggesting in any way that these actors did not do justice to their roles. But I am baffled by the necessity of their presence in such insignificant roles.

I am sorry if I sound too harsh. As I said, I would not have bothered if it were someone else. I am well aware of your potential. I fervently hope and believe you will make realistic movies that have depth as well as sound entertainment value.

Wish you all the best!