I knew I shouldn’t have waited this long before penning down my thoughts about this film, but such are the ways of those surviving in the big bad cities of the world… Time is not always put to its best use… Best for your soul that is…
And yet, this movie took me back to a time when nothing mattered more than getting to know the music of The Doors a little better or whenever a shiver ran down my spine listening to American Pie (the Doc McLean version ONLY - don’t even want to mention the other one done by someone so admired by me on any other day of the week).
Rock On represents, whether its cast and crew like being labelled or not, the coming of age of Indian cinema. Yes, there are many films doing that nowadays, but so many are related to terrorism and the plight of the common man, that this is now a sub-genre in itself, too exploited and almost mass!
It succeeds on many levels while maintaining the cheesiness that Bollywood represents. Here’s a film about people who have lost themselves in the grind of everyday life, and as a result have forgotten who they really are. The loss of their friends, the loss of their dream and the loss of the one thing that put it all into perspective - their music. The film shifts between present day, when each of the unhappy four are trying to get by, some emotionally and some financially, and the past, when there used to be that thing called Magik (the name of their band) where all the happiness flowed from.
The music is a deep breath of life, away from the world of remixes and strippers posing as dancers. It captures rock not just in the rhythm but also in the lyrics and the overall feel. These are not actors posing as guitarists, lead singers, drummers and bass players. They get it and they sell it!
Arjun Rampal is undeniable eye candy as always but I think one can now see glimpses of an actor in there somewhere. Purab Kohli and Luke Kenny are extremely credible too and the former is fun as the group pushover. The ladies are pretty good and well deserving of all the applause they are currently getting. That being said, the immense respect I felt after watching this film is reserved for Farhan Akhtar. He is not only someone who can make modern classics and snazzy action flicks like Dil Chahta Hai and Don. He is also someone who can make a genuine Lakshya and go one to shine as a cocky young rock star turned miserable Investment Banker in Rock On. Hats off!
Rock On made me feel like the music is still alive and so are the people who feel it. Not necessarily the hippyesque teens comparing posters of their rock Gods or old Bawa men lamenting the death of the art. Just someone like me, travelling to work or seated at my desk staring at the computer screen or enjoying that perfect glass of wine while sharing a laugh with fond friends.
