A coming-of-age story that should've been great.

Rating: 6/10 (25 August 2006)

How many times has Bollywood made films about corruption,politics,patriotism and tried endlessly to wake India up and change its system?And here comes another one.
But what sets this one apart from those is that ,it approaches that theme in a different way and in a rather effective,long lasting way.The film had a good story,but to develop that story and its characters, is not possible in Bollywood.And instead, it wastes a lot of time showing how these really old looking college kids have fun.
Sue,a British Documentary filmmaker ,finishes reading her Grandfather diary about how intrepid Indians were during The British rule in India where her Grandfather served the English.So,Sue decides to make a documentary about those men who fought for their country's freedom and died at a very young age to spread their messages.So,she arrives in India.India ,as always,Corrupt, filthy and totally helpless.And Sue's friend ,who is also her guide,Sonia and tries hard to find the perfect actors to pull it off.Until Sonia takes Sue to her rebellious and free spirited friends,who are totally westernized.In these free spirited men,she sees her characters and those freedom fighters and decides to cast them in the roles.But these kids are the new generation of men,who defy culture,tradition and all patriotism and think that is a thing of the past.They take life for granted and all care about having fun with the time they've given rather than do something to improve a country that can't be perfect no matter what anyone does.They think they should leave it the way it is and move on,either get out of India or suffer in it.And they would pick the former.But somehow they agree and Sue also falls for one of them,and they start making the documentary .And during the process they start to realize that it is not just one's duty to change a country ,but it is everyone's responsibility to fix the country and most importantly themselves.Then the film takes a weak turn by the end ,and becomes unconvincing in its approach and rather implausible and ridiculous.But ,nevertheless, it leaves an impact that may awake a generation.
It's not inspirational,when it is suppose to be.It does however asks a lot of questions that maybe relevant to youth of India.It may wake them up and temp them to change this over-corrupt and terrible country.But it doesn't get to it and doesn't succeed completely.It spends too much time on the five friends wasting their time ,hanging out and having fun. Instead of being a coming-of-age film ,it relies on patriotism and it's third act is what hurts the film most.It was preposterous and far fetched.A bad move,the film was finishing off well,and it was about to be a good film until that twist in the climax comes up and ruins the film.It becomes hard to connect with the characters and unconvincing.
But having said that,I still think this is one of the first ever Bollywood film that I've seen that somehow manages to tackle the issues that Bollywood have been tackling, with perfection.This film may serve as a message to those youngsters and Politicians and let them know that it is time to wake up and change the system.And it succeeds in that attempt where many like this came and gone with no effect on people.
But it suffers from poor development of the story,and characters are not well written.The screenplay doesn't make appropriate moves and doesn't succeed to make a stronger impact.It's yet another Bollywood film that could've been great if it tried harder and it does.
One really smart technique is the intersection of the past and present. The events of the past,puts these youngsters to look at themselves and those men who gave up their lives for freedom and think of themselves as those men.They realize why they are doing this.
The films moves at a easy pace,and it's entertaining and it is true to its depiction of India as it is and what it is trying to do.However,the biggest problem with the film was its climax.It was a really bad move.The film was finishing off well and would've been a really memorable film ,but its third act was preposterous.I found the film thoroughly enjoyable,never preaching patriotic issues and always focusing somewhat on its message of change.But it's climax leading to its ending was the worst move made by the filmmakers.They were doing good and they could've ended it well.But they had to evoke violence in the film.Letting youth assume that violence solves everything.
It felt like as if the gang lost their minds and were poisoned with drugs or something and made a wrong move.Like most teenagers who don't yet understand the world do.It was a disastrous move.
Alice Paten is the highlight of the film.She is really convincing and gives the strongest performance in the film.Her fluent Hindi accent and emotional depth is well realized.It's a understated performance.While ,Aamir khan was fine in his role.He is actually a surprise ,playing a slacker.And the rest of the gang is just fine,nothing special.
The director presents something refreshing than something clichéd and old.He really brings the best parts of the script to the screen with generosity.His sincere effort is well established.
This film does need an international recognition.And one of the very few films that I came to like in Bollywood.But it never tops Dil Chahta Hai,or Lagaan or Being Cyrus.It is as good as Asoka or Dil se.But it seems that Bollywood is finally looking at their films and improving them.Making them logical and realistic.But as always,films like these don't come along every time.
In the end I started asking myself why didn't Sue just opted for making a Film about Gandhi,like her producers suggested, rather than provoking these idiots,who misinterpreted her message,and chose to be their predecessors and use their actions in todays world.Kids are always kids.