Strange

How does it feel to be haunted by the constant memory of something you really felt amazing when you were experiencing it?

Some people don't understand the importance of a circumstance. My state of mind. There's a bigger plan. It's all happening for a reason. I need to take my lessons and move on to teh next one. But why do I have to explain? I don't want to do what is right. I want to do what I want to do.

Reckless? Yes. Careless? Yes. Carefree. Yes? I am all these but so what? Could be dangerous, risky and even harmful. But why should I tread the safe path all the time?

'Incident' by Norman MacCaig

I look across the table and think
(fiery with love)
Ask me, go on, ask me
to do something impossible,
something freakishly useless,
something unimaginable and inimitable

Like making a finger break into blossom
or walking for half an hour in twenty minutes
or remembering tomorrow.

I will you to ask it.
But all you say is
Will you give me a cigarette?
And I smile and,
returning to the marvelous world
of possibility
I give you one
with a hand that trembles
with a human trembling.

Simply put

We all have seen loads of mushy love stories in Hindi films as well as in Hollywood. So what could possibly make yet another light hearted simple romantic film work some magic with the audience? Some of the most-loved movies in the world are films with simple themes and universal expressions. The strongest point of Jab We Met is the simplicity and emotions.

Imtiaz is an intelligent director who knows that, what connects with today's audience are emotions they can identify with. So he keeps it as real as possible. Yes, he puts in bhangra numbers and stretches the second half a little, but what he manages to do is, is to make people fall in love with the film by the time the story approaches it's weak moments. He keeps his characters real in extra-ordinary circumstances and does not go for a dramatic climax. The same elements he used in the not so successful but sweet love story Socha Na Tha.

The strongest point of the film though is the lead pair. Kareena and Shahid look like a dream when they are in the same frame. Their chemistry is amazing- a mix of hot and sweet- and their characters are very strongly etched.

Kareena delivers one of the most memorable performances of her career. She may have big films like the K3Gs and Asoka's to her name, but it is the character of Geet that people will remember her for, in the years to come. At first you think that she's too loud but in a minute or two you begin liking her. She could have easily ended up hamming but her maturity shows as she stops short of it. With dialogues like 'teri maa ki' and 'bachpanse hi mujhe shaadi karne ka bada shauk hai by God', she keeps you in splits. The best thing that Imtiaz did with her is to have her use minimum make-up.

The surprise element of the film though is Shahid Kapoor. There is a whiff of some talent here. A restrained and mature performance keeps you glued even as Kareena takes away all the acolades for her tagda portrayal of a carefree, optimistic Sikh girl.

Imtiaz has done a great job in bringing out the best in these two actors. He has also brought on screen the chemistry that has been missing in their earlier films together. Hopefully we'll get to see them together again. Shahid and Kareena play two believable characters, and do a good job at it. Music is feel good and the use of lesser known actors for other characters actually works in favour of the film.

It's romantic yet not mushy. The story is regular but the exectution is innovative. It's dramatic but not filmi. The situations are extra-ordinary yet believable. Go watch it and feel good about yourself, life, love and everything.