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Directed by Farhan's sister Zoya Akhtar and produced under the banner Excel Entertainment, "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara" is about a holiday that changes the lives of three best friends - Arjun (Hrithik), Imraan (Farhan) and Kabir's (Abhay) forever.
Kabir, a wealthy young man who works with his father's construction company in Mumbai, is engaged to Natasha (Kalki Koechlin), daughter of a hotelier. Kabir wants to go on an extended bachelor party with his best friends Arjun, and Imraan, before he ties the knot with her and invites them to join him.
London-based Arjun is a financial trader who works at a huge firm. As he grew up without a father and lived a tough life, so his entire focus is to get bigger, better and faster, while Imraan is a copywriter who works at an advertising agency in Delhi.
When Kabir offers to take them on a vacation, Imraan readily agrees, but Arjun is reluctant as he is too tied up in his work. However, after much cajoling he agrees and thus starts their Spain sojourn. All three meet up in Barcelona and set off.
As luck would have it, Laila, played by Katrina Kaif, a bohemian fashion student from London is also there. She takes time off to teach diving every year and this time she decided to do it in Spain, where she meets Arjun, Imraan and Kabir.
First thing’s first, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara has all the ingredients to make one travel to his past. The film, a take on growing up, becoming a man by taking on responsibilities is sensibly written and shot by Zoya. In a way, all it tells is living the moment as if there’s no tomorrow by seizing it.
The film is not just a trip to Spain but it is the journey of each soul, who is involved in it. Thorough banters between Farhan and Hrithik only tell about the serious emotional issues and doubts that they need to overcome. Though the first half is low on drama and restless as the protagonists travel in and out of their hotels, the film is a free spirited drama that engages as it progresses.
Adventures such as tomato fight in Bunol, sky diving in Sevilla, deep see diving in Costa Brava bring and lastly San Fermin Bull run in Pamplona act as catalysts that bring best from the three male guys and Katrina.
The film is a poetic take on comrades and camaraderie as the adventure helps them iron out their differences, get rid of their fears and alter their perception about various things in life. Overall the holiday turns out to be a lesson in life for them and force them to break out of the box.
Yes, the film has its downs too as the comedy in the first half fails to evoke mirth. The film’s running time is another issue as its tad bit long apart from it’s slow pace. Spain was best promoted in the first half after ‘Vicky Cristina and Barcelona’.
Coming to performances, with actors known to excel in their characters, it is no doubt that the three male protagonists deliver what was expected from them. Katrina is improving day by day and this is an example. Kalki lifts her character. While Naseeruddin Shah’s cameo is praiseworthy, Deepti Naval does a fair job.
But on the whole, the true hero’s of the film should be writers Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtar as they penned it with incidents truly borrowed from real life. Carlos Catalan’s camerawork is simply outstanding. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s music fits the bill.
After ‘Luck By Chance’, Zoya brings out another drama that truly lives up to its name, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. A perfect road movie for the weekend.
Kabir, a wealthy young man who works with his father's construction company in Mumbai, is engaged to Natasha (Kalki Koechlin), daughter of a hotelier. Kabir wants to go on an extended bachelor party with his best friends Arjun, and Imraan, before he ties the knot with her and invites them to join him.
London-based Arjun is a financial trader who works at a huge firm. As he grew up without a father and lived a tough life, so his entire focus is to get bigger, better and faster, while Imraan is a copywriter who works at an advertising agency in Delhi.
When Kabir offers to take them on a vacation, Imraan readily agrees, but Arjun is reluctant as he is too tied up in his work. However, after much cajoling he agrees and thus starts their Spain sojourn. All three meet up in Barcelona and set off.
As luck would have it, Laila, played by Katrina Kaif, a bohemian fashion student from London is also there. She takes time off to teach diving every year and this time she decided to do it in Spain, where she meets Arjun, Imraan and Kabir.
First thing’s first, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara has all the ingredients to make one travel to his past. The film, a take on growing up, becoming a man by taking on responsibilities is sensibly written and shot by Zoya. In a way, all it tells is living the moment as if there’s no tomorrow by seizing it.
The film is not just a trip to Spain but it is the journey of each soul, who is involved in it. Thorough banters between Farhan and Hrithik only tell about the serious emotional issues and doubts that they need to overcome. Though the first half is low on drama and restless as the protagonists travel in and out of their hotels, the film is a free spirited drama that engages as it progresses.
Adventures such as tomato fight in Bunol, sky diving in Sevilla, deep see diving in Costa Brava bring and lastly San Fermin Bull run in Pamplona act as catalysts that bring best from the three male guys and Katrina.
The film is a poetic take on comrades and camaraderie as the adventure helps them iron out their differences, get rid of their fears and alter their perception about various things in life. Overall the holiday turns out to be a lesson in life for them and force them to break out of the box.
Yes, the film has its downs too as the comedy in the first half fails to evoke mirth. The film’s running time is another issue as its tad bit long apart from it’s slow pace. Spain was best promoted in the first half after ‘Vicky Cristina and Barcelona’.
Coming to performances, with actors known to excel in their characters, it is no doubt that the three male protagonists deliver what was expected from them. Katrina is improving day by day and this is an example. Kalki lifts her character. While Naseeruddin Shah’s cameo is praiseworthy, Deepti Naval does a fair job.
But on the whole, the true hero’s of the film should be writers Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtar as they penned it with incidents truly borrowed from real life. Carlos Catalan’s camerawork is simply outstanding. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s music fits the bill.
After ‘Luck By Chance’, Zoya brings out another drama that truly lives up to its name, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. A perfect road movie for the weekend.
MOVIE Trailer
