Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

Rating : 7/10
Release Date : 15th July, 2011
Time : 135 minutes
Director & Co-writer : Zoya Akhtar; Co-Writer : Reema Kagti; Music : Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy
Starring : Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Abhay Deol, Katrina Kaif, Kalki Koechlin, Ariadna Cabrol

Clearly no one in India does mid life crisis, coming of age films better than the Akhtars. This film, about three old friends (Abhay, Hrithik & Farhan) meeting in Spain, to celebrate Abhay’s impending marriage to Kalki, connects on several levels.


I liked that each of the three came in with a certain pre-defined character, each very different, in different stages of wealth, yet connecting comfortably as old friends do.


I liked that there was tension between Hrithik & Farhan, over an old incident. Some wounds do take time to heal.


I liked the way Katrina instantly feels some attraction for the tightly wound-up, ‘I want to make money so that I can retire at 40’ Hrithik. It came across very naturally, even though someone else hits upon her first.


I liked the fact that they chose Spain, still off the major Indian tourist road maps and they made sure the country was captured in all of its beautiful glory, with some outstanding camera work.


I liked a few little touches : their funny way of speaking English (‘Buoy’ instead of ‘Boy’ etc), copied from an old school teacher (haven’t we all had those), the silly pranks they play including one that goes wrong, the replacement phone that Hrithik gets & the circumstances in which he gets it (there have been times we would all have loved to do it).


What I didn’t like is that everything got settled very nicely in the end, a bit too pat. I didn’t like that the music, while quite nice in the background, isn’t really hummable, no song sticks in memory, makes you leave the hall singing the tune. I didn’t like the issue that Abhay faces or the way it gets resolved – seemed like nothing a conversation couldn’t have sorted out. And Farhan’s issue was just too filmy, and again seemed to sort itself too easily. I didn’t like that the end got slightly preachy, sentimental, with the title line being repeated possibly once too often.


Abhay stood out for his acting, came across really nice and natural. Katrina looked great and came across well. The others were good.


This is one of the films that’s very easy watching – beautiful scenery, great eye candy (with more focus on the men for a change), nice plot and some intelligent dialogue coupled with funny moments. While this will easily make the list of good movies to come out of our industry, there is something about it that stops it being great, a classic. I have a feeling that its the characters, who while endearing, nice blokes, are not someone you totally identify or fall in love with. And I'm trying hard not to compare to Dil Chahta Hai...