Just the right touch

Rating: 10/10 (25 October 2014)

If I'm being perfectly honest - I initially agreed to watch this movie mainly for the sake of making my parents happy. Having watched the trailer beforehand, this movie seemed like another Dhoom 3, another make of pure "entertainment" value. Might as well go along for the family movie outing and put my brain to sleep. Or so I thought.
Much to my surprise, I walked out of the cinema feeling absolutely delighted, as though I'd been taken on the journey with Charlie (Shah Rukh Khan) himself. There's no denying that this is a movie filled with the usual clichés, cheesy music, and somewhat anticipated triumph of good over evil. However, what distinguishes Happy New Year, in my mind, its heart warming execution. In the midst of the colourful songs and dramatic scenes, Farah Khan has created a movie that so innocuously captures the audience's emotions. Happy New Year is a film that subtly touches on the realities of Indian society - the perception we have of call girls who make a living by 'losing their respect' in society; the dismissive stance we take towards the low-class/nerdy/hopeless "losers"; and the struggle of innocent individuals against the web of corruption and manipulation. All of this beautifully set against the backdrop of a dance competition. The fun-loving, relentlessly aspiring, truly Indian nature of the dance team just leaves you bursting with patriotism for Team India.
Without a doubt, Happy New Year is a film that will resonate well with the audience. A well-portrayed story of 6 'losers' who battle fate, and a must-watch for this Diwali season.