Sep 18, 2008 11:48 AM
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They say that cinema reflects life but seldom has a film weaved the music of life in to the very fabric of the film with such an effortless dexterity. Ritesh Sidhwani’s and Farhan Akhter’s brainchild Rock On is finally out to overwhelm the audiences. Directed by Abhishek Kapoor, the film is a mellifluous saga.
Rock On is about four friends in their early twenties for whom music is a passion they dedicatedly pursue. As a band, Aditya Shroff(Farhan Akhtar), Rob Nancy(Luke Kenny), Killer Drummer(Purab Kohli) and Joe Mascarenhas(Arjun Rampal) were a treat. They performed with ingenuity, enthusiasm and most importantly passion. But somewhere down the line, something went wrong and they drifted apart. What makes them part ways and unite later is for you to find out. The movie is interestingly sewn in flashbacks and the director gives the flow a seamless look. The narration is simple, crisp and is replete with myriad emotions.
The plot of the film is neither path-breaking nor jaw-dropping, but a very pragmatic presentation of a slice of life is what that crafted the charm. The situations and episodes are mere symbols to give us an insight into the heart of the characters. We fall in love with them as we proceed through the film.
What sets director Abhishek Kapoor's sophomore film apart is the attention to detail, some great ensemble acting and its bond with reality. Chractersations are top notch; he strikes all the right chords when he creates those brilliant scenes which reveal the un-italicised dramatic tensions without any song and dance. It is here that Farhan Akhtar scores as a first rate actor. He enacts his character effortlessly; blends emotion, enthusiasm and empathy with aplomb. Arjun Rampal has astonished his critics since his supposedly shady performance in Om Shanti Om. This time, Arjun gives a pellucid and stoic performance as an unsuccessful musician with immense tolerance towards his overtly critical wife – played impeccably by Sahana Goswami. Purab Kohli provides ample comic relief as the jester in the flick. His hairstyle is something to look out for. Luke Kenny delivers a satisfactory performance.
In particular, Goswami and Desai- the former playing Joe's wife who could not pursue her dream to be a fashion designer to support Joe's family fish business and the latter playing a sensitive wife who realises that her husband has withdrawn into a cocoon –deserves a huge round of applause.
Music forms the foundation of the film. It’s the passion for music that unites the four and makes “Magik” possible. Music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy is fantabulous considering the fact that not all prefer rock music, but I am sure Socha Hai and Phir Dekhiye are going to be unanimous favourites. The lyrics of the songs speak for itself. Cinematography is emollient and the screenplay has been penned with intelligence.
It is improbable that the film is going to bore you, even if you aren’t a rock music enthusiast. It is one of those films that leaves an impression on your mind and makes you think about it even after it has long drawn its curtain.
