Ummm... that smells fresh. Review on Wake Up Sid

Wake up to a refreshing cinema. Amidst the innumerous remakes, adaptations, inspirations, and bland copies, comes a fresh and original experience.

Wake up Sid, essentially has no story to tell. It’s just an evolution of a character. A happy go lucky boy who takes everything for granted, sooner than later realizes the values. Wake Up Sid, the title itself is a giveaway. It’s not a noble concept. It’s the execution that defines the soul of the film and how.

Sid, Siddharth Mehra, is a spoilt, never serious boy in early twenties. As he puts it himself, for living, he spends his father’s money and plans to do the same after the graduation. He drives and costliest car in the college, dons cool cartoon T-Shirts, draws caricatures when he’s studying accounting, clicks everything in his Nikon… life seems fun in his room.

But he’s more real than many such characters we might have seen on screen. No matter how carefree he is, failing the graduation exams is still a matter of disgust and shame. And unlike in Lakshya, a film based on similar lines, the lad in question here doesn’t transforms from an unsure college graduate to a national war hero. Here Sid is still confused, he has still not passed his college exams, he has still not carved a space for himself, and he is still not independent. He has just started to realize values… values of parents, friends, and responsibility. He has just earned his first pay cheque and position of assistant photographer in lifestyle magazine.

You are bound to have seen a ‘Sid’ in your college days for sure. Well if you were not one yourself that is. Sid is a believable, true to life, real, relatable character. Many, if not most, of us were, are or will be, fully or party, Sid at some point in our life. Have you noticed how I’ve not mentioned Ranbir Kapoor even once? How I am only talking about Sid? That’s the impact of this new kid on the block. He’s into the character so effortlessly, so honestly that you don’t ever realize he is Ranbeer Kapoor… what you see on screen is Sid.

And then there is ever reliable Konakana Sen, who yet again portrays her character with effortless ease. She’s bold, still scared. She’s willing to share her apartment with a young guy, still can manage to keep the relationship pure platonic. She doesn’t care what anybody thinks, but still makes it a point to clarify to Sid’s mother that they are “just friends”. She is Konkana Sen at her best for you.

It’s hard to imagine anyone else, other than Ranbir and Konkana, in the lead characters. And it’s not only Sid that strikes a chord. He’s surrounded by equally charming and identifiable friends. And you don’t expect anything less than class act from veterans like Anupam Kher and Supriya Pathak. And they deliver just that. And look out for Konkana’s boss. He’s not in any of the trailers, posters or promotions. Makers have kept him secret, so would I.He’s good in whatever screen presence he gets. But he should be careful before he gets type casted.

In all praise for the actors, many usually forget the contribution of music trio Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy. The songs add character and soul to the narration. Director has shown a lot of maturity in such a young age in his debut. This one shows a lot of promise and his next would be keenly waited for.

O and forget that Mumbai/Bombay controversy. The film may call the city by any name, but retains the spirit of the metropolis. In fact when Sid describes Mumbai monsoons, you may actually feel bad that you don’t belong to Bombay (that’s what he calls it). Some call it coming of age cinema, some epilogue of Dil Chahta Hai and Lakshya. But if Dil Chahta Hai was staters, this certainly is menu for main course. Bon appetite…!