Yuvvraaj. Starring A.R. Rahman and Gulzar. Co-starring Kabir Lal and Omung
Kumar. Yuvvraaj is Yuvvraaj solely for the magic created by these men. The
magic of Rahman’s music and Gulzar’s soulful lyrics. The magic of
cinematographer Kabir Lal’s lens and art director Omung Kumar’s opulent sets.
Seldom, if ever, has a Bollywood film looked so beautiful. The old-world
architecture of Prague, the green meadows in an autumn in Vienna, the streets
of London — Yuvvraaj is a canvas of these stunning locales offset by the
brilliant music.
--------------------------------
The cold and the beautiful
COMELY KATRINA, A PRETTY PRAGUE, A ROCKING RAHMAN — BUT THE CANVAS DOESN'T COME
TO LIFE
Yuvvraaj. Starring A.R. Rahman and Gulzar. Co-starring Kabir Lal and Omung
Kumar. Yuvvraaj is Yuvvraaj solely for the magic created by these men. The
magic of Rahman’s music and Gulzar’s soulful lyrics. The magic of
cinematographer Kabir Lal’s lens and art director Omung Kumar’s opulent sets.
Seldom, if ever, has a Bollywood film looked so beautiful. The old-world
architecture of Prague, the green meadows in an autumn in Vienna, the streets
of London — Yuvvraaj is a canvas of these stunning locales offset by the
brilliant music.
But it is a canvas with very little soul. A film whose beauty doesn’t allow you
to tear your eyes away from the screen, but one that fails to capture attention
with its drama.
When director Subhash Ghai described Yuvvraaj as Ram Lakhan 2008, he wasn’t too
far from the truth. Yuvvraaj is Ram Lakhan, with a smattering of many other
Ghai films like Pardes and Taal, but it lacks the showman’s touch that made
these films box-office winners.
Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif play lovers and co-performers at a Prague
orchestra. Driven out of home by a wealthy father, Salman is the poor little
rich boy in dire need of money to win over Katrina’s dad, played by Boman Irani
(is there any film now that doesn’t have him?). Greeted with the news of his
father’s death, Salman dashes home to London only to discover that the
deceased’s will bequeaths everything to his autistic elder brother (Anil
Kapoor), leaving behind nothing for him or his spoilt-as-hell younger brother
(Zayed Khan). Rain Man, anyone?
Exploring the changing face of life and relationships, Yuvvraaj strives to
drive home the point that it is not money and property, but filial ties that
are one’s true wealth. The story of bhai and bhai fighting and getting together
in the end has been a Bollywood favourite and Yuvvraaj doesn’t add much to this
tried and tested formula. Subhash Ghai’s trademark opulence and grandeur are
present in every frame, but sometimes so much that one feels that it is a
Sanjay Leela Bhansali film venture.
Salman Khan plays the superbrat Deven with characteristic ease, but at most
times it is Salman the superstar and not Deven the helpless lover and reformed
brother that we see on screen. And what is with those under-eye bags and the
horrible brown wig, Sallu? More so since Katrina Kaif is a vision, especially
in the opening scene where she plays the cello like a pro. And there is none of
the Akshay-Katrina smouldering chemistry between the real life lovers in
Yuvvraaj. Even the blink-and-you-miss romp on the bed is oh-so-thanda, much
like the cold Viveik Oberoi-Aishwarya Rai Kyun! Ho Gaya Na... vibes. One
actually longs for an Akki special appearance!
Extending his Eeshwar act is Anil Kapoor as the talented autistic musician —
and the in-form actor excels in his role. Zayed Khan ably plays a character
that we dare say comes easily to him. And for a change, he does manage to keep
his eyes open through the film! Mithun as the do-gooder lawyer makes the most
of his limited screen time. The wig is a bit of a disaster, though.
At 2 hours, 40 minutes, the film’s snail’s pace is slowed down further,
especially in the first half, by the dialogues, some of which seem totally out
of place in a Subhash Ghai film. Like Salman telling prospective father-in-law
Boman Irani: “Aap ka expiry date kareeb hain.”(!) or the one in which he wards
off an indecent proposal, saying: “Main characterless hoon, par utna bhi less
nahin.” Peppering the film are the scheming mamaji, a
desperately-seeking-attention bhabi and a wicked aunt. But in the age of
multiplex cinema, such larger-than-life characters look incongruous.
After the sparkling Black and White earlier this year, Yuvvraaj doesn’t quite
match up to the standard of a Subhash Ghai film. Watch it if you must for
Rahman, for the scenic Europe beauty, for the loveliness that is Katrina.
The best thing about those three hours spent? The fabulous promo of Luck By
Chance starring Farhan Akhtar, Konkona Sensharma and (surprise, surprise)
Hrithik Roshan. Pure magik, Rock On!! style.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081122/jsp/entertainment/story_10144739.jsp
