Jab We Met : Achhi hogi Socha na tha

Just when the Art of making a good romantic movie was vanishing somewhere in oblivion with the new murder mysteries and thrillers filling up the theatre halls, here comes Imtiaz Ali with his very fresh "Jab We Met". Love has many shades, many small itches that can hardly be converted to a piece of art. I think it is this where the movie scores. The most important thing for a romantic movie is, it should look fresh, and with Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor in it it is definetly a daunting task.

Theme is important for any romantic movie. As per my interpretation, here the movie was not about a boy meeting girl, falling in love, and realizes later, the way it has been done in many different movies earlier. But the movie's main theme was when one falls in love, One changes in to be a different person. The partners personality is bound to be rubbed on to him/her. Beautiful theme which was rarely captured in earlier movies.

I think the director, Imtiaz Ali, has made it a point to give us movies exploring these mushy mushy corners of emotions. His earlier movie "Socha Na Tha", exploring Confusions in Love was a fresh work of art too. While this deals with a separate corner. Good Work Mr.Ali.

My Suggestion : After watching both the movies I would Like to Suggest Imtiaz Ali to give us a out and out comedy movie. I think his comic timing for characters is amazing.

The story of the movie is quite simple. A ditched lover Aditya Kashyap (Shahid Kapoor), rejected and dejected just wants to go away from his business after his girlfriend's marriage and on an unplanned journey on train he meets Geet (Kareena Kapoor) who just cant stop talking. One person full of frustration and dejection, another full of life and fun. Well slowly as they pass through some of very interesting nothings through the movie, as they go from Mumbai to Bhatinda and from Bhatinda to Manali where Geet wants to marry Anshuman (Tarun Arora). But it is not about their individual aims, which they themselves seem to have no clue about, but is about the journey that you have with Aditya and Geet and subsequent change in Aditya. Once Aditya moves away from Geet, he feels how Geet's personality has rubbed on to him and he changes as a person from a mature, dull person to one who enjoys life.The Punjabi Family of Geet, Anshuman, Aditya's office seen and all the fillers that fill the screen space around Shahid and Kareena seems to be as appropriate as it can.

Various scenes like the Geet's babbling in train, Hotel Decent scene, Aditya's meeting the Punjabi family all are good. The movie is absolutely entertaining in the first half and later gets slow in the second half. But it is never boring. The use of smartly written, witty and lively dialogues keeps you along with the story and the character. Screenplay takes a very simple stroy to a differnt level altogether. All in all an absolutely brilliant effort by Imtiaz.

I dont like Kareena kapoor, but this was the first movie where I should say she was a perfect cast for the role and she has given it her best. Shahid Kapoor out of place in some serious scenes as an Industrialist, but shines everytime he is with Kareena Kapoor on screen. Pawan Malhotra (as Kareena's Uncle) and Dara Singh plays a good cameo, and so does Tarun (situation that he faces are hilarious).

But the movie is about the chemistry between the lead couple. This is to Shahid and Kareena what Guru was to Abhishek bachhan and Aishwarya. First film where you love to see them together. Editing by Shirish Kunder is good. Manali as a location for this movie is good but does not match the charm of Goa that Imtiaz Ali created in 'Socha na Tha'.

Music of the film, as an Album is good. Pritam creates good lively music but it does not mix up with the movie and the story well. You feel that songs are coming abruptly and are not carrying the story any forward. "Mauja Mauja" (sung by Mika) and "Ye Ishq hai" (Shreya Ghosal) are good and lively. In My opinion the music lacked the absolute melody that is required for a romantic movie. A melody that was so obvious in Sandesh Shandalia's music of "Socha Na Tha". Well Sandesh gives one song in this movie and that is my favourite in the album "Aoge jab tum ..." beautifully sung by Ustad Rashid Khan. Lyrics By Irshad Kamil are OK.

Overall the movie is worth a watch. If I could I would have rated the first half of movie as 4* and second half as 2*.

Overall the movie gets a 3* with a recommendation to watch.