Neither Rockstar Nor Tamasha, Jab We Met Is Imtiaz Ali's Best Film. Do We Really Need A Sequel?
Main Apni Favourite hoon!
It was almost 16 years ago when a vivacious Geet warmed her way into the hearts of millions of people and not just Aditya Kashyap.
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A game changer for both Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor, this classic tale of girl meets boy wasn¡¯t just another rom-com. It was a fun-filled ride with several emotions on the platter.?
Now as per fresh reports, Imtiaz Ali is planning to make a sequel of the cult classic. The big question remains - Why? Wasn't a 'Love Aaj Kal' Debacle enough to understand that some movies should remain untouched?
There has been no confirmation on who will play Geet and Aditya in the sequel. It's highly unlikely that Kareena and Shahid will reprise their roles in the second one. Can you imagine anyone else play the bubbly Geet other than Kareena? Every since the news broke, many loyal fans have taken to the internet to express their disappointment. Here's what this movie means to many of us, including yours truly!
For someone who has spent her entire teenage binge-watching rom-coms and reading Mills & Boons from cover to cover, this movie sure has a special place in my heart for more than one reason. I admit, that Imtiaz Ali¡¯s cinema is not something that i relate to. I never went bonkers over Jordan¡¯s passion neither did i understand fifty shades of VIBGYOR of Ved.
For me, Tara¡¯s persistence and patience to help Ved find a footing in life seldom resonated but what did strike a chord with my heart was Geet. Her over-the-top approach towards life and her awakening to the harsh realities was something that I personally underwent as well.
illustration credits: Ranak Mann
The beauty of this film was in its simplicity. On the occasion of its 12th anniversary, let¡¯s take a look at several aspects of this film that makes it one of the cinematic gems of the Hindi film industry:
Geet¡¯s story was that of every other girl who lives in her own rom-com bubble until she is tested with troubled times
You might sound delusional to your own self, if you haven¡¯t undergone a rude awakening, especially in your love life (or the lack of it). Haven¡¯t we all met a perfect guy who came into our life with a promise of a 'happily ever after' only to break that charade and our heart into a million pieces and teaching us an important lesson, in its wake? Blessed are those who haven¡¯t experienced a bad heartbreak but sagacious are those who actually do because that experience cannot be explained in mere words.?
Geet, who had the guts to leave everything behind her on a whim, underwent a similar situation when the love of her life turned out to be a casual dater who was just living in the moment and not thinking about a future with her. For him, it wasn¡¯t a love for keeps but a mere chapter in the passing. Her whole transformation from a carefree bubbly girl to a mature young woman was like looking into a mirror for many.
Aditya showed that not every guy is a jerk and the other gender is capable of forever and real love.
Parallelly, Aditya was going through a phase that was becoming of Geet, much later. Their chance meeting was during that time when he had denounced the world in a way and was on an unknown journey to find himself all over again. He had lost the will to maintain a brave face for the world and wanted to just cut off from everything materialistic around him. This went on to show that men are capable of long-lasting love and even they undergo heartbreak.
Not all of them are stone-hearted as projected. Remember that flushing the picture in the toilet scene? Wasn¡¯t the liberating feeling that Aditya went through afterwards satisfying to watch??
The underlying comic flavour took the film to new heights. It wasn¡¯t your regular rolling-on-the-floor-laughing comedy but it did give us dozens of chuckles and most of us wreathed in smiles throughout
The beauty of the film also lies in the fact that it did not have silly one-liners or unnecessary comedy routines. From a ladki ek khuli hui tijori hoti hai to Hotel decent set, it had smart humour that managed to bring a smile on everyone¡¯s faces.
What¡¯s more the humour was endearing, especially when it came from the late Dara Singh in the form of - meri umar mein ek nazar mein pata chal jata hai.?
Interestingly, if you notice closely majority of the characters were given at least one funny line or the other. Geet, obviously, was a powerhouse of entertainment but even her chachaji or cousin Roop had something to contribute as did the receptionist of Hotel Decent.?
In hindsight, It gave us several life lessons. From never losing your inner child to keeping faith that you will find love eventually, it¡¯s never too late to start afresh - this light movie had a lot more to offer than just entertainment.
They say that the most simple things teach you the most valuable lessons. This movie was a classic example of that. A simple line main apni favourite hoon had such an underlying lesson to teach us - Love and accept yourself with all your flaws. Your relationship with your own self has to be the purest one, only then can you give your hundred percent to all your other relationships.
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Remember when a somber Geet finally accepts that she lost herself in her relationship with Anshuman and couldn¡¯t recognize her own self for a long time? It was a self-discovery that takes place for many people in real life as well. Depending on when the fog in your brain lifts, that realisation of finding your true self does hit home and at the most unexpected moment in time.
The OST of the film is evergreen. From party number Mauja Mauja to road trip songs Hum Jo Chalne Lage and Yeh Ishq Haaye, this movie¡¯s music is phenomenal. Every time you listen to these songs, you tend to fall in love with it a tad bit more than you already do.
Music in most of his films is out-of-the-world, I¡¯ll give Imtiaz Ali that. Not only were Jab We Met¡¯s songs super amazing even the film¡¯s background score was unique. For instance, if the missing train melody is played at the randomest place it¡¯ll take you less than a wink to recognize that it has Geet written all over it. The playlist boasts of some peppy numbers and some very soulful tracks. From Nagada to Aaoge Jab Tum Sajna and Tumse Hi, these songs are evergreen. The best thing is that it had a song tailor made for every situation.?
Little antics and many wow moments, there was never a dull moment in the film.This movie did have a cliche yet the most charming narrative
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From the lake jump, meri behen roop ke saath bhaag jao to mujhe karate aata hai, the little details gave us so much happiness that it¡¯s difficult to even comprehend. Not just the direction or the acting, but every little thing was on point. It changed the life of the actors and the director. It turned out to be Kareena and Shahid¡¯s biggest hit film after a series of dull and drab movies. Imtiaz Ali, who is now obsessed with broken and emotionally fucked up characters experienced his first hit after his critically acclaimed Socha Na Tha. (yes, I deliberately skipped Ahista Ahista, you should too).
For the uninitiated, this great movie even went on to inspire Hollywood film Leap Year.?
Last but not the least, it celebrated love in every true sense of the word.?
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This film totally endorsed the popular quote:
¡°Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.¡±
From Geet and Aditya¡¯s self-discoveries to the latter finally mending the bridge with his estranged mother, this film came to a full circle.
To celebrate this movie, it definitely calls for a re-watch, right? Get your weekend started with this masterpiece, folks!?
