Rockstar
No Pain, No Gain
“Rockstar” is the tale of the birth
of a rock star, his inspiration, need, nemesis and saviour being love. It’s
about his transformation to Jordan a superstar, from Janardhan, a gullible wannabe
singer-musician who is made to believe he can attain his potential only if he
falls in love, feels its pangs and has his heart broken. It’s this pain that
will lead him to the depth of his inner self and bring out the true music, he
is told. What starts out as a comical effort to woo the most coveted Eve in
college to ensure she will break his heart by her refusal slowly develops into
a friendship, music his priority no more. So how does he become a “Rockstar”
and what price does he pay for it? Director Imtiaz Ali`s body of work is a
string of love stories woven around diverse themes in different milieus .He
chooses to helm a musical this time. A strikingly common thread in all his
films is that the protagonists at the outset are friends in denial, not reading
too much into their attraction for each other but unbeknownst to them are actually
in love, the film culminating with their acceptance.
Imtiaz Ali`s choice of a musical
had to be backed up with outstanding music and that he ensures with the maestro
A.R.Rehman. Call him the Mozart of Madras or the Bach of Bharat. Call him what
you will and it would still be short of a befitting description. The music of
Rockstar is quite simply avante garde
and of a quality and depth not heard in some time, with no less support from
Irshad Kamil`s words. The rock ballad, the anthem, the ode to Kashmir, A.R.Rehman`s
customary Sufiana ode to the Almighty, Selvamani`s percussion in the climax
concert and the piece de resistance, the instrumental jugalbandi of the shehenai
and the guitar. Pick any .The sheer variety and class is sure to benumb you.
The songs and music pieces are seamlessly woven into the narrative augmenting
more than hampering the flow of the film. One approached Mohit Chauhan`s choice
as playback singer for Ranbir Kapoor with trepidation but the film puts to rest
any lingering doubts. On the flip side, the overdose of songs in the attempt to
move the film forward, especially post interval does rankle a bit.
The supporting cast has a slew of
hitherto unknown faces that do an admirable job of bringing alive the milieu
and Delhiite-Jat persona. Kumud Mishra as Kathna, the catalyst to Janardhan`s
love story, in particular is a superb find.
Shammi Kapoor`s last cinematic
appearance is not the huge bonus it could have been, but is still memorable
enough as a posthumous release.
Nargis Fakhri, well, like the old
catchline goes, ‘she’s just too good a looker but not too good an actor’ (…so I
guess she’s just right for …chocolate!). For a film that rested so on its`
protagonists shoulders, it’s her looks and chemistry with Ranbir that sails her
ashore. She performs very model like with a stiffness reminiscent of them.
At the end “Rockstar” is Ranbir
Kapoor`s film all the way, be it as the gullible wannabe, the unpredictable
star or the brash lover. This is a performance where he’s let himself go, with
no restraints but yet a well measured consistency, being in character
throughout the film. This is such a strongperformance
where even a special mention of Akki Narula`s eccentric wardrobe for him seems
too minuscule.
Rockstar is crackling in the first
half and a little tedious in the second. Imtiaz Ali narrowly misses out on that
fourth ace from his sleeve to complete his quartet after his earlier three. But
what the hell, a king’s no less a winner, and we now wait with bated breadth
for that fourth ace.
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