To me, one of the best parts of Luck By Chance was, surprisingly, when the opening credits roll. You witness a series of contrasting metaphors involving some junior-artists, such as a winged angel walking into a lousy film-studio washroom.
Two astronauts (with their costumes on) sitting in some nondescript canteen, or a police-woman getting her make-up done in a film-studio make-up room.
You also get to see a bevy of behind-the-scenes craftsmen, chorus-artists, technicians, security-guards, or even chai-wallas - sans any glitz and glamor of filmdom - people you most likely would never encounter in day-to-day life.
This part at the very beginning itself accentuates the sheer dichotomy between the reel and the real, that just disappears on the celluloid screen. Taking this as a backdrop, Luck By Chance narrates a story about the lives of two struggles in the film-industry, and through this also shows how in tinsel-town acquaintances change, loyalties swing, or how people's fortunes can change (and their perspectives transform in the process).
The Story: Sona (Konkona Sen Sharma) is a small-time struggler desperately trying to set a foothold in the Hindi film-industry. But all she manages to get are 2-3 minute roles and, in the process, is continuously (ab)used by a film-producer on the pretext of giving her the "big break" someday.
Vikram Jaisingh (Farhan Akhtar) is another struggler who comes from Delhi leaving his home and his father's well-established business. He takes acting classes, and does everything that could get him his much needed break in films - be it doing rounds of film-studios, flattering a yesteryear's film-diva Neena (Dimple Kapadia) just to get some attention, or smooth-talking his way into manipulating people and situations to the extent it takes.
Both protagonists meet each-other through common-friends, empathize with each-other, become friends, and eventually turn into lovers. Success however eludes both of them for a long time. Things start to seem looking up for Sona when she finally hears that she is going to be cast as a second-lead in a big film.
But her happiness is short-lived when she is told, in-her-face, by the producer (whom she trusted throughout) that she doesn't have "what it takes". The episode leaves her totally shattered and devastated. On the other hand, luck seems to have finally smiled upon Vikram!
A big film-star Zafar Khan (Hrithik Roshan) backs out of a much-hyped movie produced by a famous producer Romy Rolly (Rishi Kapoor), leaving the film-makers looking for a new face (actually justifying that the film now "requires" a new face). Aspirants for the role are shortlisted and it's just by sheer chance that Vikram manages to be shortlisted, to be called for an audition (you would notice the "chance" factor here, put in a subtle-yet-crucial way, just before the interval).
Does Vikram succeed in getting the role? If yes, is he able to save himself from falling into the trappings of success and stardom? What happens to the relationships he shares with Sona and his struggling-days friends. What happens to Sona's life and career afterwards? Well, the rest of the film would walk you through!
Luck By Chance is a slice of (film-industry) life story. As the debut vehicle of the director Zoya Akhtar, the film is to some extent an insider's perspective, and her first-hand (or second, or third, or whatever) account of the inner workings of Hindi film-industry.
Although similar themes have been explored in the past, this movie on the other hand, treads an uncharted path and explores issues such as insecurities, and layers in the complexities of its characters, and even a look behind what we usually perceive as shallow stereotypes. It's an interesting theme executed with aplomb by the director.
The problem is that its very unusual climax and the "inconclusive" ending may or may not strike a chord, or go too well with the audience. But, by and large (if not in totality), it still works as it has more or less all elements of a compelling story-telling, razor-sharp dialogs, and some brilliant performances, that give it the worth-a-watch quality.
The dialogs by Javed Akhtar are crisp, well-meaning, and also humorous at times. The cinematography is not extraordinary but has been used just the way the film required. For instance, Vikram's audition scene (with "Sapno se bhare naina" playing in the background) is excellently shot and the sombre blue backdrop of the film-studio's set effectively captures the tension and grimness of the situation. The music and the songs, even though they may not become chart-busters, are quite likeable. I
n particular, "Sapno se bhare naina" is aptly placed in the movie and just flows with the narrative. Same holds for "Ye zindagi bhi" during the opening credits, which the movie starts with.
The best thing about the film are its performances that range from underplayed to even over-the-top ones, but each of them aptly nuanced just up to the right level by each performer. Farhan Akhtar plays just to his strengths, never going over-the-top in a single scene, and shows that he is successfully carving a niche for himself as an actor as well. Watch him especially in the scene where he breaks down after the spat with his friend. He is first rate.
Konkona Sen Sharma rightfully underplays her part and excels without really relying on any histrionics. Mostly patient and hopeful, watch her vulnerability finally coming to the fore after she gets heart-broken by the film-producer who kept falsely assuring her of giving a chance. Then, on a totally contrasting note, we have Rishi Kapoor who delivers a performance that may seem over-the-top at first, but ends up coming across as a completely natural one.
His versatility still oozes in a character that displays a range of emotions - jolliness, insecurities (or how he hides them in front of others), disappointments, or optimism. He shows he can still give today's young actors a run for their money! Of the remaining cast, Dimple Kapadia, Hrithik Roshan, Juhi Chawla, Sanjay Kapoor, and Isha Sharwani competently play their parts as required (and they all are suitably cast according to how their roles demanded).
The movie has a series of interesting cameos by some well known (or "seen") faces, and from some lesser seen ones (such as Anurag Kashyap - the director of Black Friday and No Smoking - shown as as a brooding/adapting script-writer). Towards the end, Shahrukh Khan in a special-appearance gives a simple yet well-meaning message to Vikram on how to handle success and stardom in film-industry (which in a way shows perhaps why SRK is still the so-called reigning king of the film-industry).
Opinions might differ about the extent to which the movie succeeds in capturing the essence and enigma underlying the film-industry or the characters the movie is based on. The movie also tends to get sluggish in pace sometimes. It nevertheless makes an honest attempt at the portrayal of dreams, ambitions, or complexities surrounding the lives of people working (or waiting for their "chance") in the film-industry. Luck By Chance is an earnest attempt and a brave movie by débutante director Zoya Akhtar (also credited as the writer). With its heart at the right place, it can definitely be watched once for her sincere efforts.
