Not all who wander are lost. -J. R. R. Tolkien
One must forever strive for excellence or even perfection, in any task, however small, and never be satisfied with the second best - JRD Tata
INTRODUCTION
Every one of us has Objectives in some way or another. Without any objective, life is meaningless. Whatever we do, however trivial thing we do, we have an objective to complete. When we have objectives, we need to strive hard. We need to excel. We need to be the best we can be. Every hurdle will become a stepping-stone for achieving the objective and success. Then success will be just a matter of time.
Lakshya, was one of the most awaited pictures for quite sometime. It was probably the most awaited film since Devdas, in certain aspects. With such a huge star cast and fan fare surrounding it, it was to be barbecued in case it failed to impress. Such is the effect Farhan Akhthar created with his debut superhit, Dil Chahta Hai. While DCH is a welcome change to the Indian filmdom for its unconventional nature, Lakshya springs in a lot of things in a unique way. Lakshya has a lot of great things, if you take film-making as a whole. On the other hand, it is not doing exceedingly well. Why? Well, You can’t judge the people all the times. No one has a crystal ball to do such wonders. What Farhan did is somewhat of experimentation. He did it is a masterful way. Although he made few mistakes, you need to give a big round of applause for him. He is one of the few directors taking the Indian film industry in the right direction.
Following the magic of DCH, Lakshya was surrounded with so much hype that the disappointments in various fronts, in various forms are huge as well. The simple reason for the same is the large star cast the film was having. I watched the film in a theatre and could really appreciate certain aspects. Let me delve into the review.
LAKSHYA – PLOT
Karan Shergill(Hrithik Roshan), is a rich, aimless, spoilt brat with nothing to worry and is least bothered about making big in life. He has his papa(Boman Irani) to give him anything and everything he wants and is a pet. He has a largely successful brother Udesh in US. He passes time with his friends and an ambitious girlfriend Romila(Preity Zinta). One fine day, he applies to IMA when he comes to know that his friend Parvesh is applying there. His friend backs off. Thanks to Romila’s sagacity, Karan discovers himself(!!) and sets a lakshya. His entry into IMA is a cakewalk and he leaves the academy in a few days. After an egotistical tryst with his dad, he returns to the academy with convicted vigor and objective and passes the academy with flying colors. His first post is at Kargil. He has colorful, ambitious and highly patriotic officers defending tiger hill 5179. Major Damle(Big B) is the head of the squadron. After an infiltration by Pak Soldiers disguised as normal men, the post is lost. In the meantime Romila becomes big and famous journo. She has broken up with Karan for a silly reason and is engaged to a successful man. As chance would have it, Romila visits the post where Karan is posted, amidst war. What happens to the war? What happens to Karan’s Lakshya? What happens to Romila? For all these, go and see Lakshya
LAKSHYA – ANALYSIS
Lakshya did not live up to the expectations. Lakshya had everything available to be one the most remember able super hit of a movie. You need to mix various ingredients in a perfect manner to make a sumptuous meal. If you miss a thing or two, the recipe will not be perfect. Lakshya missed couple of things. A great story spoiled by a slow screenplay and a bad character development. While it is still a nice film to watch, you would have seen a masterful epic if it had the other two taken care off. Obviously, it would have taken 6 hours or 2 hours otherwise. Lakshya has some exceptional cinematography, hummable songs, exceptional locales, wonderful action, great acting and nice dances. Still it is not a film with a take away for all types of filmgoers. Why? Javed Akhthar’s screenplay is rather too slow. A lot of filmgoers would despise under developed character of Big B and many other stalwarts in the movie.
I feel following are the finer points of the film
♣ Lakshya is like a role of a lifetime for Hrithik Roshan. He has given it all and it perfectly shows in the film. He has done everything in the best possible manner. Not a single scene is overdone by him. He has done his KMG scenes during the flashback in the best possible way.
♣ Main Aisa Kyun Hoon song is beautifully done. Great choreography by Prabhu Deva. HR has done is so well that I wonder if PD would have done it better
♣ Nice acting by Big B, Lilette, Preity Zinta, Boman Irani, Sushant, Om Puri
♣ Exceptional cinematography capturing the might of Himalayas and the largest constituency in India(Area), Ladakh. Christopher Popp has proved what a Hollywood cinematography means and his filming clearly differentiates what the normal films lack. The picturisation of the MI-2 style mountain climbing by HR & CO is simply best. So is the drive by scenes in the mountainous ladakh. I was paid back just by the wonderful cinematography.
♣ Listenable songs by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. MAKH and Agar Main Kahoon are excellent
♣ Excellent action scenes by Vic Armstrong
♣ Good editing and sound recording scenes
♣ Good sequence involving dad-son egotistical tug-of-war between HR and Boman
♣ No glorified bashing and unwanted masala for the war. Simplistic and effective handling of the war scenarios
♣ IMA Academy scenes are excellent.
♣ Show of excellent patriotism by army officers. Nice show of army discipline and the fun they have, to show the officers of might having normal life.
CONS or That’s not goods
♠ Big B’s character is way too underdeveloped. All AB fans are largely disappointed. Same is the case with Om Puri and Boman Irani
♠ Preity looks all the same in the film. She is way too old for a collge girl. She perfectly fits the role as a Burkha Duttaesque Romila.
♠ The screenplay is too slow and couple songs are totally unwarranted.
♠ Lack of humor is another weakpoint. FA could have included some comedy instead of couple of songs and unwanted scenes.
♠ IMA academy scenes are kind of a lift off from the movie “Full Metal Jacket”. You find the charisma of Stanley Kubrick missing in this one
♠ There are many times you are left to complete sleep. If it was not for the cinematography and action, I would have slept.
♠ The breakup of HR & PZ and Romila & her Fiancee is too weak and makes you wonder
♠ No development for the war. Couple of scenes focusing and no bidirectional action till the end.
♠ Not many scenes to reflect the effects of war. Though there are many dialogues and few gruesome scenes and a song.
CONCLUSION
Forgiving its shortcomings, Lakshya is a nice film for a moment to reflect ourselves. It has nice music, songs, good camera work, classy art direction, nice acting, and great action with nice scenic views of himalayas. This is mostly a film aimed at logic loving patriotic people who love to watch nice, different films than at general audience. Obviously the critics will have a lot to bash about also. You can watch it at your leisure but watch at once.
LAKSHYA is nice film. Make it a Lakshya to watch it. 3.25 stars
I hope you liked the review. Do comment as time permits.
KALIL
