Film Critic: Goher Iqbal Punn, askMamu.com

Producer: Saif Ali Khan in association with Eros International
Director: Imtiaz Ali
Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor
Music: Pritam

‘Love Aaj Kal’ has been well in news since the outset. Saif Ali Khan is making his debut as a producer with this film. Written and directed by Imtiaz Ali, the movie stars the likes of Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor. Much hype and hoopla had been witnessed before the release, so viewers’ expectations were very high. Now let’s check this out whether their expectations go well or simply fall flat.

‘Love Aaj Kal’ is a love story. Bollywood has produced a long list of romantic flicks so far and the trend is going on rapidly but this one is different. And to write and then execute this type of film on the celluloid is not an easy task to do but Imtiaz Ali has succeeded in it with aplomb. It is a novel concept where two stories set in different eras run parallel and have a similar end.

This is a movie where the cinegoer has to be very attentive while watching it because the past and present run in tandem. Once you put your eyes off the screen, you would definitely lose the plot. If you are to go along with the goings-on of the film, you have to be aware that Saif Ali Khan plays double role in the movie. From beginning till the end, the flick is magical and gets you glued to the screen.

This outing is swaddled with the complex relationships because the couple in love lives in complete refutation. The film is called a director’s show all the way. The talented Imtiaz Ali deserves all credits for writing such an interesting story and comprehensive script. He has managed to take the script on screen very brilliantly. Imtiaz deserves full marks also for taking out the luminous performances from Saif, Deepika and the rest of the cast. It is also a fact that the story like this is not for every section of the moviegoers but what binds all is the classy execution of the movie that appeals to all.

Love Aaj
London, San Francisco, Delhi – 2009

A modern day couple, Jai (Saif Ali Khan) and Meera (Deepika Padukone) live in London. Both are very happy being in each other’s company but find difficulty when it comes to tie the knot. But the time arrives when life pulls them in different directions then they decide to tread with the flow of life. Jai is of the view that “These Heer-Ranjha, Romeo-Juliet type janam janam ka saath type couples exist only in story books, we have to be practical”.

Love Kal
Delhi, Calcutta – 1965

When Veer Singh (Rishi Kapoor) sees Harleen, he is struck by a thunderbolt. He becomes crazy in her love that he travels a thousand kilometers by train and then reaches her place and stands under her balcony to have a glimpse of her face. He does not speak even a word with her.

Love Aaj Kal

Veer is unable to understand that how Jai very skillfully treats the matters of heart without passion like a financial transaction. On Jai’s part, he finds it difficult to absorb that how Veer Singh could have been so naïve and silly about his love Harleen when he was young. When both the stories unzip, the viewer realizes that the process of relationship could be different in different eras and times, but the experience of love in which the lovers fall is the same.

Love Aaj Kal is laced with different eras and a novel theme. It’s a hardcore film that has mainly been targeted at the youth.

In the first half, the flick mesmerizes the viewers in bits and this is not for any lacking in any section of the movie rather it is for the writing that seems different to the moviegoers because they have not seen this type of story on the celluloid earlier. But the second half is the one that spells magic with the cinegoers fully. In this portion, Deepika decides to marry and the last reunion happens. This half has a lot of emotions that simply touch your hearts. The scenes, which impress the most are: when Saif interacts with Deepika and when he finds changing in his behavior in the US are the really heart-arresting.

Imtiaz Ali appears as a classy storyteller with this film. His forward thinking shows his brilliant mind. The direction is a class in itself. Pritam enthralls with the music. N. Natarajan Subramaniam’s cinematography is fantastic. Editing by Aarti Bajaj is unblemished.

Saif Ali Khan is in the industry since very long but this one can be called his best performance till date. Deepika Padukone depicts her talent. She is not only beautiful but also a fine actress. Rishi Kapoor is great to watch. Neetu Kapoor’s comeback is super. She looks decent in her part. Rest of the cast is good also.

On the whole, Love Aaj Kal will see a mammoth turnover at the box office due to the brilliant starcast, novel subject, melodious music and Imtiaz Ali whose name is what cinegoers trust a lot.

Rating: 4/5

- The writer is a popular and experienced Bollywood and Indian TV Analyst. He shares a good rapport with Hindi film industry, Indian television fraternity and the celebs of these swanky worlds. You may contact him at the e-mails: goheriqbal@yahoo.co.uk, goher.punn@yahoo.com and goher.punn@gmail.com