The biggest take away from this slice of life flick is the pairing of ex-lovers Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone and whatever/however the film may be there sure is ample buzz around it to assure a box-office hit! But filmmaker Ayan Mukerji doesn't consider it as a trump card and instead treats them as two individual actors with tremendous chemistry while attempting yet again to strike a chord with the youth of the nation. Does it work the second time over? We tell you.
Three best-friends, the feisty Aditi (Kalki Koechlin), laidback Avi (Aditya Roy Kapur) and the full of life Kabir aka Bunny (Ranbir Kapoor) embark on a long trek to the snow-clad peaks of Manali. A starkly contrasting personality Naina (Deepika Padukone) joins the group and despite the dissimilarities becomes their buddy. Admist carefree laughter, passion for life and frolicking Naina falls in love with Bunny but the free-spirited latter yearns only to live his dream, that's to travel each and every part of the world. The trip ends, people part ways but eight years Naina and Bunny meet again. Does love give them a second chance? Watch the film to find out.
Leave aside the biggest casting coup of the year, if not for anything else, filmmaker Ayan Mukerji surely deserves to get the credit for actually bringing to celluloid the true essence of friendship. The way the filmmaker handles emotions both of love and friendship is praiseworthy! There are certain scenes that deserve applauses for example, the way both Bunny and Avi meet after eight years, the dilemma of youth, passion for life and also love.
But that's all to Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. Sadly, Ayan gives quite a few negatives in his second film; the biggest being that of commercialising his storyline. YJHD is laden with cliches of Bollywood and try how hard you can't help but be disappointed by the predictable path is takes. The whole simple girl falling for a commitment-phobic guy is very common in every other romantic film.
Also the length of the film makes matters worse, while the first half is breezy the second of the 161 minutes long film turns out to be a big drag and eventually ends quite predictably too.
Despite its tripe plot, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani keeps you engaged majorly because of the performances of each and every actor and also the screenplay of Ayan Mukerji. There isn't an iota of doubt in the fact that both Ranbir and Deepika make an exception pair onscreen. Their chemistry is absolutely delightful and keeps you glued.
Kalki as Aditi is surprisingly brilliant especially in a fight sequence. Aditya Roy Kapur is a let down however, as he appears straight out of Aashiqui 2 sets with not just the look even the character being just the same. The cameos of both Kunal Roy Kapur and Rana Daggubatti are complete waste. Farouque Shaikh and Tanvi Azmi play their parts well. It is a sheer pleasure to watch Madhuri Dixit groove once again on the big screen and her number Ghagra gives one of the enjoyable moments.
