The film opens with the scene Kabir (Abhay Deol) proposing to Natasha (Kalki Koechlin). The families meet at their engagement party where Imraan (Farhan Akhtar) and others raise a toast to them. At the engagement party, Natasha learns that Kabir is planning a three week long bachelor road trip to Spain with his high school friends Imraan and Arjun (Hrithik Roshan). Kabir explains that the three men have a long-standing pact, and that during the road trip, each one would pick an adventure sport for the trio to try. However, Arjun, a workaholic obsessed with making money, is reluctant to take part in the trip. Later, it is revealed that Arjun’s ex girlfriend had left him due to his same obsession with work. Imraan, though, has an additional personal agenda on the trip – to find his biological father Salman Habib (Naseeruddin Shah) an artist in Spain. They finally set off to Spain, where they plan on to visit the Costa Brava, Seville and Pamplona. They meet Laila (Katrina Kaif), a British-Indian woman on the Costa Brava beach and Imraan flirts with her. Kabir reveals that he has chosen deep sea diving, and they find out that Laila is their diving instructor. Arjun, who can't swim and is mortally afraid of water, is helped by Laila to overcome his fears and explore the world. He soon begins to develop romantic feelings for her. They attend Buñol the La Tomatina festival with Laila, where they meet Laila's friend Nuria (Ariadna Cabrol) who falls for Imraan. In the meantime, Natasha, who has grown suspicious of Kabir's involvement with Laila, surprises Kabir by crashing his bachelor party. Imraan meanwhile spends time with Nuria and Arjun with Laila. After the boys leave, Laila realizes she has fallen in love with Arjun and they express their feeling for each other by a deep passionate kiss after she catches up to them......
K**Y
BUY IT BUY IT NOW! And Don't Be Shocked If You Feel The Urge To Throw Tomatoes!
OMG! If there was ever a movie that made the idea of a road- trip entiticing it's this one! I'm beyond joy with this one and getting my thoughts in order is incredibly hard because there is just so much emotion to work through. This is the most emotional "guy" movie I've ever seen without taking away any masculinity from the characters. Of course, as you can tell by my alias I'm a girl so masculinity isn't my area of expertice. HOWEVER I think I can safely say that my brother would like this movie if I could convince him subtitles aren't awful. He's a bit of a hillbilly so if he would think these guys are manly then they are.Where to start... okay when in doubt start with the obvious and work from there. Spain is AMAZING! It's always been on my bucket list and now wish I really could go. Indian film makers know how to capture fantastic scenery and Spain is captured in all it's natural sensual splendor. I love how even though it's beyond mortal comprehension of beauty it isn't pristine. It's hot, sometimes dusty, and you see that. The reality adds to the sensuality and you feel like you're there too. This isn't a fairy tale this movie is about finding where you belong in your life and friendship. Both subjects get a little messy so is the scenery at times and it works!Music: after Jodhaa Akbar this is my favorite Bollywood soundtrack ever! It's so fresh and different but still retains the Hindi film cultural spirit. There isn't one dragging or loose song here. There all joyous uplifting and energizing they perfectly capture the theme that life is meant to be devoured and love in all forms savored. I could listen to it twenty-four-seven. I know that's a recognized form of torture but the songs are that wonderful. I love them all but the two most amazing are..."Khwabon Ke Parindey" is a pure soulful love ballad that's as light as air. I'd play it at my wedding if I was getting married. The only thing I don't understand is why they dubbed Mr. Roshan's three lines when he was going to sing in his own voice anyway!Which is a perfect segway into "Senorita." Anyone who's a fan of Farhan Akhtar knows he's an accomplished singer and plays in his own band. Also "Rock On" was his baby so it's not surprising he would sing for himself. Mr. Roshan might be a bit of a shock to people who haven't seen "Kites" or "Guzaarish". Abhay Deol I've never really seen before and according to the special features he didn't enjoy singing but he did a fine job. Senorita is a perfect example of how no matter how culturally diverse humanity is there's always a universal constant where we mix perfectly. I'm not shocked that it's the "superhit " of the album.Performances: As I mentioned I've never seen Abhay Deol before so I have to say I'm more impressed than I thought I'd be. I mean just putting Farhan Akhtar an Hrithik Roshan is more than enough for a great film. But Mr. Deol has to hold the trio together in the first half and he does it brilliantly. All of the characters are deliciously human and messy and multi-layered. Kabir has amazing strength and crushing weaknesses and Mr. Deol wisely never overplayed either.Farhan Akhtar has hooked me as a very devoted fan. The first time he came to my attention was with "Luck By Chance" due to my determination to see every Hrithik Roshan movie ever made. And Mr. Akhtar made me so mad in that movie because I adored his character and he turned into the biggest Jackass! Well it doesn't take a genius to know he's good at his job because I was angry enough to almost skip "Rock On". Fortunately he didn't stay a jackass in that film and hooked me forever. Here he's a total doll and a bit of a harmless lecher. But underneath that charming funny exterior is a confused aching young man with wisdom beyond his years. His ability to observe life altering moments and put them into poetry adds so much depth that by the end of the film you're left feeling that he'll somehow change the world with his gifts. I hope that Mr. Akhtar has more oppertunities to play comedies they fit him like a good cashmere sweater.Just once I *wish* I could say Hrithik Roshan wasn't perfect. I do because I sound like a simpering teenager with a massive crush. Well I'm not a teenager and if I do have a crush it's with a publicity image because (God willing) I'll never meet the man! Alas that blasted man was indeed perfect! How perfect? He actually got to direct himself while lip-synching. Yeah I know, it's just too much! Arjun is a seriously screwed up cat but he's got good reasons. The poor man is trapped in a nightmere of materialism and pain and the worst part is he's oblivious to his situation. Still like a butterfly cracking it's cacoon he comes out of metamorphosis with a new lease on life. The best part is that the transition is handled gradually and very naturally. There's no one huge moment where the lightning strikes. It starts with a single step until one journey is over and a new one begins. Mr. Roshan does do some unusual things here. One, he doesn't cover his tatoos. No complaints there although tatoos aren't usually my cup of tea. Two, he gives the middle finger for a split second. In fairness Imram was being too mean, but my two yr old nephew won't be seeing this movie. The last thing I need is him learning that. Three Arjun and Laila sleep together. Sorry for the spoiler but parents should know these things. The scene isn't graphic in fact they're seen actually sleeping but it's clear more happened.I forgot to mention Imram also had an encounter but that's not shown either. Just a post chat with lady fully dressed in Hindi and Spanish. All in all it's very PG for the USA and it all turns out honorable I just won't say how.Ladies: First up, Laila! Katrina Kaif is a favorite of mine and I get the sense that when it comes to Bollywood fans you either love her or hate her. I love her. She's not the type of girl who is nervous about being silly or uninhibited she's a complete natural at playing sensitive, intelligent, strong-willed free spirits. The kind of girl I wish I was. She plays off of everyone brilliantly and she's my second favorite leading lady for Mr. Roshan. But I just have to say she doesn't do the kissing as well as Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Still if I can't have more of my favorite on-screen jodi Miss Kaif definitely has some serious sparks going for her with Mr. Roshan. Can't wait for the Hindi version of "Knight and Day" starring these two. Tom and Cameron who?Natasha played by Kalki Koechlin is pretty much everything irritating to me in another woman. I can't say much more about her without massive spoilers but I will say the actress did not wow me either.Cool stuff: the actors did all the sky diving and scuba diving themselves! The tomatoes action was as real as it gets. And most importantly the car worked!Direction and writing: Zoya Akhtar is so amazing as a director and storyteller. Her brother is no slouch either his dialogue is wonderful and if you get a chance to watch his own directorial efforts do so. It's amazing that this is only the second film Ms. Akhtar directed. I can't wait for more.Why are you still reading this? Buy it! DVD quality is excellent but no subtitles for the deleted scenes.
S**N
Perfect summer movie about the journey of Life
"Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara" (ZNMD) is a complex, honest, and thoroughly refreshing story about friendship, about love, about choices, about ... well ... the journey of Life (lit. 'zindagi'). Writer-Director Zoya Akhtar takes three characters we might think we've seen before ... but deftly makes them original, fresh, and unexpectedly engaging. Her intelligent script perfectly balances the very real, even painful, personal transformation of each character with moments of joy, wit, charm, and humour.No one's Life Journey is ever quite what one plans!Our protagonists? Three best friends since childhood: Arjun (Hrithik Roshan), now an investment broker in London; Imraan (Farhan Akhtar), an advertising copywriter in Delhi; and Kabir (Abhay Deol), a construction architect in Mumbai. Ten years after college Kabir's imminent wedding impels 'The Three Musketeers -- all for one, and one for all!' -- to finally embark on the many-times-deferred adventure challenge they'd always planned.ZNMD explores whether three grown men can survive a 3-week road trip together *and* still remain friends *and* still be the same people.Think you've heard similar, before? Guess again! Ms Akhtar elevates the basic 'road movie' premise into something rare and sublime: brilliant character-driven comedy never cheap but often laugh-out-loud funny, and so true to life and people each of us actually know that it genuinely moves the heart as well as the mind and funny-bone. As each ZNMD character in turn challenges his own fear, whatever personal demon that has been holding back his life, it becomes our victory, too.See ZNMD and discover: *your* life may change, too!Such strong story and plot would be lost, without great acting.Farhan Akhtar (the writer-director's twin brother) just gets better and better, as an actor, every time out of the gate. Already one of India's best young directors, his deceptively brash but sensitive and layered acting in ZNMD is quiet excellence ... and deliciously funny.Abhay Deol I confess I had not seen before. Not exciting, but I like his potential. A good foil for the other two.However the real revelation in ZNMD is, most surprisingly, he whom we might have *thought* most familiar. Hrithik Roshan we see so often in heavy dramatic and/or demanding multi-part roles -- because, let's face it, he's that rare actor who CAN do them, and do them brilliantly well -- that it's easy to forget just how plain damn funny and versatile he can be. Casting one of the world's more notorious compulsive workaholics as, well, a compulsive workaholic? Absolute genius!On the distaff side ... Katrina Kaif. Wow! Where did this performance come from? She's always been beautiful, of course, but in ZNMD for the first time she shows subtlety and depth as an actress. Easily, her very best work to date.Cannot finish without special mention of the fantastic music by Shankar Ehsaan Loy (long my favourite Hindi film composers). Their ZNMD soundtrack perfectly backdrops the film's emotional journey. Irresistibly hummable music spans the full range of moods and emotions, much like our three main characters: everything from amusingly lighthearted ('Senorita', sung by Mssrs Roshan, Akhtar, & Deol) to cool and modern ('Ik Junoon -- Paint It Red') to reflective ('Der Lagi Lakin') and even unabashedly romantic ('Khaabon Ke Parinday').But the rocking 'Dil Dhadakne Do' seems to capture the very Joy of Living ... and that is the ultimate spirit of Zoya Akhtar's ZMND.Perfect summer movie! 10/10Best film I've seen yet from anywhere in the world, thus far in 2011.
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