Gagan K.

I had a chance to watch Bachna Ae Haseeno in INOX, Pune. It was my first experience watching a movie at a multiplex. Thanks to friends Anshul, Siddharth (NLA Pune) for helping. First of all coming to Multiplex experience - It was nice. I was happy to get the tickets easily without standing in long queue. Ticket cost us 120 each. Hall was very nice. But i really hated that crowd. I was not able to laugh out my heart as loud as i usually did in our desi theatres.

Coming to the film. I am in full praise for the screenplay writer. Why? i’l tell you later. Ok now coming to the film. Let me introduce you the film. The film narration is done by the hero of the film who stands on a beach and tells his story of experiences at different stages of his life.

There are three stages. The first stage in 1995 with Minissha Lamba. Minissha who is Mahi in the film is a young girl totally inspired by DDLJ, watched it 17 times and waiting for her “Raj” to come and embrace her life. Here i know, Aditya Chopra was very much instrumental in promoting his age old film. And again we have a scene recreating Dhoom. Oh man, Yash Rajs are so sick of promoting their old movies again. May be in a near future we can see a chow-chow movie with all the stars of Yash Raj banner recreating their old movies. Ok anyway things don’t look so artificial, since DDLJ was a phenomena those days, and girls even to present day tell those lines “aisa pehli baar hua hai satrah aTrah saalon mein. andhe kaa anjaana koi aane laga khwaabo mein.”

Now coming back to the stage one life of our hero … Uff re here Ranbeer is also Rajjjju! Raj and his friends are in switzerland trip and even Minissha and family are in switzerland. Both travelling in same train. Something similar to DDLJ happens. Minissha is very sure of DDLJ happening in her life very soon… By then she realises that her Raj was just a flirt. Stage one close.

Stage two.. Our hero again narrates what happened in 2002 in Mumbai. I liked the way the reels are used for different stages. They look quite similar to the age shown in the film. In this second stage, we have Bipasha, a small town girl coming to Mumbai to make it big in modelling field. Ranbeer and Bips are neighbours. First a fight turns to friendship and we have both living in the same room in live-in relationship.

I liked the way scenes transform and how the walls are broken. Very nice screenplay.. This is why i said about the screenplay writer. Here Ranbeer again leaves Bipasha and flies to Australia, while Bipasha waits for him at Sub Registrar’s office.

Now welcome to the stage 3 in 2005, Ranbeer in Australia. He and his video game freaks are big bosses at Microsoft games centre. Dont know how much Microsoft paid Yash Rajs. Somewhere i find similarity betweeen Yash Rajs and Microsoft - creating monopoly, back door marketing techniques, lock in techniques, trying to act too smart. Many more similarities i can find. Haa… Just think how Microsoft releases its OS and then releases patches in the name of Service Pack (so that we never realise that it was a mistake in them) This side, Yash Rajs first release DVDs and then release another version with those edited scenes and edited songs and behind the scenes… And very soon we may have “scenes that were censored by CBFC- only for international customers!”

Now in this third stage is that we find Ranbeer getting very serious about girls. Deepika is a taxi driver. Loves to be independent, doesnt depend on others, very intelligent. Unfortunately, Deepika rejects Ranbeer because she feels that marriage will end her freedom. Ranbeer is heart broken. What next, he sees Mahi (minissha), Bipasha passing in front of him. Now is the time when he feels the pain himself and decides to say sorry to both his old girls.

Now he goes to Punjab, sets right Minissha’s family and comes back to Bips. Bipasha is now a great model, without a minute to spare. Now very strict she is with everyone. When Ranbeer asks sorry, she asks him to work as her PA for some days and then he will get that sorry. She tests Ranbeer for a few days and finally, she grants him sorry.

Ranbeer returns to Australia to his old home. He is surprised to find letters piled up at his doorstep. Who wrote these letters? Oh yes was he fired by his Microsoft boss? Ok watch the film and get to know.

Musically speaking, i liked Aahistaa, title song and Khuda Jaane Ke. Even picturisation wise, these three songs are great. Aahista is my most favourite.

Performances:
Minissha is quite ok.. But she really looks pale and sick in her visual appearance. Ranbeer looks great in all three stages of his life and has acted very well. Bipasha as a model has done a neat job. Deepika as taxi driver only knows to smile and speak well and attract more customers . Deepika needs to learn some natural acting and improve her accents. Apart from these 4 characters, we find the character of the friend of Ranbeer who gives “killer” ideas to Ranbeer - he has done well.

I liked the camera work. As usual, high budget great cameras can be afforded by Yash Rajs. Editing at some places is innovative. For example, that coffee flow transforms into an elevator opening its door. Background score in fresh, we can hear the sound of fireworks, toilet flush sounds used very well.

What to say about direction.. its neat. But i will tell you, its the screenplay which is the real winner of the movie. The lady Devika Bhagat (who wrote Mr. & Mrs. Iyer) has managed to write a neat screenplay despite pressure from Yash Raj camp. Full claps for this lady. Film is packaged very well.. As usual like all Yash Raj Films.

Not a greaaaat film. But a good film. Watch it once or twice enjoy it. Nice lively jokes in first half as well as second half. Somewhere i felt that keeping 2 or 3 more characters could have improved the film.