Highway of the evolution of indian cinema. Review on Highway

Highway is a story of Veera and Mahabir.But its not the usual boy-girl story!Its totally different from the hero meets heroine and happily ever after one.

Script:

Its a Imtiaz Ali movie and something different is bound to happen.Veera Tripathy, daughter of a big shot is supposedly getting married to another tycoon's son.The "bride to be" and the groom to be" decide to go out for a car ride at the wee hours of night.As the scared groom to be predicted, a ruckus happens and Veera is kidnapped by Mahabir and his goons gang.Mahabir is oblivious of the fact that she is daughter of "The Tripathy" and ignores the suggestion of his friends to return her to her family.He and his gang members decide to demand a ransom from Veera's father.The truck ride spans across different beautiful locations of North India(Punjab, HP, Raj, Kashmir).Truck's number plate keeps changing and Veera's mood also changes after she realizes that there is no way out from the situation(the failed chance to elope from the area adding the reality to her disturbed state).With each passing day, she starts enjoying the traveller's life and the freedom from the so-called high society's norms.She and Mahabir connect to a different level and they share some dark secrets of their past. Direction:

Imtiaz Ali has a mastery in creative film making and he has reached a different level entirely with Highway.Its his experiment with cinema by creating a movie thats a mixture of a documentay, addresses the  grim realities of life and to create a cinema dissimilar from his contemporaries.He succeeds in doing so to a great extent.The fakeness of modern High society and the likeablity of the small town people is flawlessly depicted.The movie touches very sensitive issues prevalent in Indian society with emotions and truth.The fact that he envisioned something like Highway is a reinforcement of his belief in this craft.The Maturity and sentiment with which this movie is treated can only be expected from somebody of the stature of Imtiaz Ali.

Alia's disclosure of what her uncle did to her is a sad yet true description of the dismal double standards of our society.The scene does seem a  little out-of-place, but the reality is portrayed without any cover-up.

The cinematography of this movie wins you over.It seems as if you are on north india road trip while being firmly rooted to your theater seat.The angles at which India's geographic beauty is captured is praise-worthy and has the touch of a great artist.Kudos to Anil Mehta for so beautifully capturing our India.At times it feels as if you are watching a National Geographic documentary on North India.

Star-Cast:

Alia looks great without makeup and tries hard to depict Veera's emotions and turmoil.In some scenes she is terrific(ex-the mountain house scene, the scene in which she tries to elope and run as far as she could, without success and the climax scene in which she confronts her uncle and her family).Its good to see her evolve.But there is a long uphill journey for her.In few of the scenes(in which she talks too much and is super bubbly), she is more like  an impersonator of Geet(Jab we met) and less like Veera.This is not an out-and-out Alia Bhatt's movie.She is definitely good but not irreplacable.

Randeep Hoda-He is one of the finest and least recognized actors of our film industry.Only Imtiaz could have identified the inert talent and rawness in him, which was a must for Mahabir's character.The way he dragged Veera across the farm(grabbing her by her hair), the ruthlessness in his beahviour, his anger against richie richs, the way he fights with his colleagues and stubbornly adheres to his kidnapping plan, the way he listenes to her stories and still portrays ignorance.He has immense potential.The great actor was lost in Cocktail and Heroine.Imtiaz gave him the direction and the right role.Nobody, and I insist, NOBODY, could have done the role the way he did.While viewing the movie, you start empathizing with his situtation in particular and the murderers's situation(which forced them to become what they are in reality) in general.Now thats what you call Indispensable

The rest of the star-cast was great and hand-picked.The actor who played Addoo's role was pleasing and sympathetic.The actor who played Gaurav's role showed the opportunist and lechecrous side of the kidnapper's clan effectively.

Music:

As the movie is, so is its soundtrack-"Different".This is not a regular item number/disco tracks/song-dance routine flick.The background tracks and the music is scintillating.The product by another maestro can be nothing less than brilliant anyway:).Mahi Ve, Patakha Guddi and maa ki lori take the movie to higher levels of excellence.

The most formative scenes of this flick are-

1-The scene in which Veera dances to english track and then Addoo starts moving a leg or two in typical north indian style.Hilarious.Attention paid to the minutest details.

2-The initial shock, turmoil and helplessness of Veera while being transported from once place to another.

3-The scene in which Mahabir asks Veera to go to the police station and go back and she disagrees, forcefully asking him to take her along with him.The chandigarh bus stop scene in succession.

4-The Mountain house scene in which Mahabir remembers his mother and the peace and comfort he and Veera share.

5-Veera's confrontation with her family and outburst at her uncle's misdeeds.

This is a movie which will stay engraved in your heart and mind even after you leave the theater.You close your eyes and you will atleast once see a vision of a truck, Himalayas, Indian roads and farms.

4 stars to this cinematic brilliance.Afterall not every movie arises in you a hidden desire to be kidnapped by some "Mahabir".isnt it?