ROCK ON

Its all in the genes.. And it hasnt been more evident in anyone else recently. Whatever be the multi-faceted review that Rock-On has received, one thing is blatantly evident. It has given us a new actor in the league of Naseeruddin Shah and Aamir Khan. I might be talking too soon if I were to say that Farhan Akhtar can well become the next Aamir, the coin can turn either way, but he indeed has the potential that can take him further.

Rock-On isnt another Jhankaar Beats. Though there is a tendency to compare, I would anyday rate Rock-On higher. The movie,to begin with, is edited pretty well. It starts off on a slightly dull, low-budget movie note, with an okay song, definitely not the best in the movie. A typical rock-band, funky clothes, long hair. The next few scenes jump 10 years in time, and then, slowly the story unfolds, going back and forth between the years. The transition in the different characters is very much rooter in reality and this is where the movie scores over Jhankar Beats. It does not restrict itself to a few friends passionate about music. Its about how life in all its practicality leads them elsewhere.. and for the audience thats a world outside the movie screen, right into their next door neighbourhood. As in Farhan's debut DCH, the character portrayal is also pretty good. As a friend of mine said, you can almost relate with Debbie's frustration and grumpiness. Another scene, that struck me as taken well, was where Adi meets his ex-love. The scene dint thankfully,lead to an emotional wife/ex-lover crying over the past and declaring their true love and sacrifice. It was a pretty quick shot, a couple of words, to show how, as it happens in reality, the characters have moved on.

Admitted, the movie has a slightly slow pace but I think that is quite over-shadowed by the brilliant performances. Farhan is really impressive. Not once did he give away the fact that this was his debut film. He was also backed by pretty strong performances, Especially from Shahana Goswami as Debbie Masceranhas. The songs might not be to everyone's taste, but they are catchy and nice in an off-beat way. The lyrics might be a little revolting to a few, unable to fathom the idea that Javed Akhtar can actually write this way. But I believe,the songs should blend in the movie. You cannot definitely have a ballad or a bhangra in a movie about Rock music. If they think the lyrics are funny, then some of the best English songs have equally funny lyrics, Norwegian Wood, Smoke on Water to mention a few..and these are classics in their own way. There is definitely no comparison here, but it is indeed a welcome relief over another soulful Udit Narayan number or a nasal Himesh Reshammiya howling away! Farhan's voice suits the songs very well (yes, he has sung most of the songs in the movie as well). Here's hoping, we see more of Rock Ons, more so because it just proves that there is a crowd out here that expects more out of movies than family weddings and bhangras and swiss-alps-shot-movie songs.