Entry 13.0 - Rockstar

 

 

It’s been 11 years since the movie released.

A movie which made Ranbir Kapoor an overnight sensation. The day he proved he’s made for bigger and greater things than what people envisioned.

I was a kid (maybe in the 9^th Grade) when I went to watch it. Apart from the songs, I didn’t like it much. It felt like a butchered up job of screenplay, editing and writing in some parts. Maybe that’s why I never had a re-run.

11 years apart, it re- released this month. This time it was a whole different experience. Partially because of the die-hard fans who kept singing loudly as if the screening was a live karaoke event.

This time, the movie made a better impact. This time, I experienced it in a better manner. Here’s a take on this.

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It’s a beautiful storyboard orchestrated with beauty of meaningful songs. One can live the whole movie through its songs..

Jo Bhi Main

We are introduced to Janardhan’s character with this being his go to song.

His love for music is unsurmountable. He’s still trying to find edge in his music realizing that only passion and talent isn’t enough for an Artist. At 20, in college, he doesn’t know how to crack in this big bold world. He’s nowhere on the map.

People are constantly trying to tell him that being an artist takes pain and suffering. That’s what makes one a “Great”. (What do you think?)

Teenage and 20’s is such a time. We constantly find and lose ourselves, our belief, our hope, our people, our principles, our influences and what not. It is as exciting as it is difficult. These are the years who shape us.

 

My favourite phrase in the song is,

“Maine ye bhi socha hai aksar, tu bhi main bhi sabhi hai sheeshe,

Khudi ko hum sabhi mein dekhein,

Nahin hoon main hoon main toh phir bhi,

Sahi galat, tumhara maana,

Mujhe paana, paana hai khudkooo..

 

Katiya Karun

Like every other teenager/artist, Guy meet Girl.

JJ meets Heer.

Heer, a classic case of never judge a book by its cover. Someone who seemed so sophisticated, was the perfect example of a rebel who loved breaking rules.

They made bucket lists for adventures and did crazy things all around, which brought them so close so fast, even they couldn’t contemplate the nature of their relationship.

An unnamed one, different than normal friendship, they were partners in crime.

The lines say,

Hadd Karun Hadd Karun Hadd Karun Roon Roon,

Yaara Bulleh Lutiya Karun, Lutiya Karun Lutiya Karun,

Sari Raat Katiya Katiya Karun,

Translation:

I am going to cross the limits,

As I enjoy being like this with you,

I’ll spin it all night long..in a yarn of you…

In the end, it was too late to act upon what they felt and she was married.

Early in life, we struggle with accepting or reaching out for love. It is powerful, but at the same time it’s a bit naïve and delusional.

Comes the most formative stage of 20’s, where one re-discovers themselves.

 

Kun Faya Kun

When such a beautiful and important relationship goes away,

The heart feels so barren and the weight of the world comes crushing on our shoulders..

Every space and place feels like a prison we can’t get out of, the four walls closing in on us.

It is in those time, we grow the most, our hardships shaping us. We might reach out to the thing we love the most and do the best, all our energy and emotions driven into that one thing we feel the most passionate about.

Jordan (JJ) is thrown out of his house and ends up finding a solace and home at a Dargah. He is constantly feeling lost with each passing day. All he can do is sit and sing with the group at Dargah which ultimately made him better and helped him realize his one true goal.

Music…

क़दम बढ़ा ले

हदों को मिटा ले
आजा ख़ालीपन में, पी का घर तेरा
तेरे बिन ख़ाली, आजा, ख़ालीपन में

ओ मुझपे करम सरकार तेरा
अर्ज़ तुझे, कर दे मुझे, मुझसे ही रिहा
अब मुझको भी हो दीदार मेरा
कर दे मुझे, मुझसे ही रिहा
मुझसे ही रिहा...

कुन फ़या कुन, कुन फ़या कुन, फ़या कुन

This re-discovering makes us alive again. It is a reason of our why and want. Its like being a phoenix, we rise from our own ashes.

He learnt and practiced there with no malice. In the end to be discovered by a renowned Ustad, who paved a new path for his life.

 

Hawa Hawa ft. Tum Ho

They say that time heals all wounds. At least helps you co-manage life.

Jordan found the spark of recognition, financial independence and fame. Still he wasn’t content or happy, always creeped up by the thought that he didn’t belong anywhere in this world.

I think everybody should get rich and famous so that they can see that it's not the answer.

Hence, he risked everything to go to Prague, where she was.

The power of an old spark, in one moment nothing makes sense in our life, and in an instant someone/something comes and our lives become meaningful and filled with purpose. Her presence, felt like home. They both re-ignited the spark their personalities had lost.

 

Bichhada Hua Aaj Koi Usko Mil Gaya
O Fir Kisike Chehre Ka Rang Khil Gaya

Hawa Hawa Ae Hawa Khushboo Lutade
Kaha Khuli Ha Khuli Julf Batade

Hawa hawa

This time, older and wiser, Jordan understood hi love for her and professed it. Men are usually late in these things. Even if not in denial, she couldn’t fathom the thought of adultery.

(Tum ho plays in background)

But the power of true love…

 

Aur Ho

Call it love,

Call it an insanity,

Call it anything.

Some wires (feelings) are too live to control. The intensity with which they felt for each other had a gravitational pull greater than of a black hole.

Just to see each other made them lose their control..

“Meri bebasi ka bayaan hai..”

मेरी बेबसी का बयान है
बस चल रहा न इस्स घडी
रास हसरत का निचोड़ दूँ
कास बाहों में अ तोड़ दूं
चाहूँ क्या जानू ना
छीन लूँ छोड़ दूं

इस लम्हे क्या कर जाऊं

This is the most underappreciated song and sequence of the movie.

The emotion, conflict and attraction they felt, I think a person can’t feel it more than a couple of times in his life.

Their choice and desire are questionable, but unescapable,

ओ बेबसी मनन में बसी
आ जीते जीते जी ले सपना

रोके से ना रुके
यह ना थके
आँधी सी जो चले इन्न सांसो की
पता भी ना चले कहाँ पे क्या जले
है दर्र से, तंन-मॅन की, सिहरन से
हसरत की, सुलगन से
भड़के और, शोला शोलाबुझे
धुंआ धुंआ ओह
धुंआ धुंआ लगे
मुझे धुंआ धुंआ ओह

मेरी बेबसी का बयान है

 

Nadaan parinde

 A lot happened, its finally revealed how ill she is. Jordan’s in jail. Their world has changed 360 degree by now. There are high tempo songs  and what not.

But all of this felt like a smoke screen to me, this time not that important.

As can be seen in his own behaviour, he wanted to leave everything and just be with her every moment.

Our longing for something can zoom out everything else in life.

We all are creatures of the dark. We feel the most in our extremities, in suffering and love.

Somehow, we have publicized suffering more. May its something to do with what one generally faces more in life, or its just how tv shows and movies are made.

Maybe that’s why the ending is what it is.

Him singing his best song on the best possible stage, requesting a crow –

Laaga re kaaga re mori itani araj tose
chun chun kahiyo maance,

khaio naa do naina mohe
piya ke milan kii aas
O naadaaan parindeee

(Requesting the crow to consume him bit by bit, leaving his eyes, as he yearns to see his beloved, one last time)

He could feel her soul leaving the universe and them meeting for one last time..

तुम को, पा ही लिया

पा ही लिया मैंने यूँ
तू जाने या मैं जानूँ ये
साथ मैं तेरे हूँ….

When the whole theatre full of 300 people were screaming out their hearts in these songs, I could see someone around me silent in the loudest moment. As if their feeling of the scene was on an entirely different level. Maybe the story felt more personal to them, then again, Love is such a personal thing.

Maybe its what about you take from this piece of Cinema.

It showed all the drama and life problems of a rockstar. From corporate espionage, sex, ego battles and media too.

The question is, did it matter that much in the movie?

Wasn’t it just a story of two people who discovered and re-discovered each other at the most difficult points in their life. Developing a longing for one other which is unexplainable, which is unescapable. It’s so powerful that the world around them doesn’t matter.

Maybe it was a just a tale of two souls who want to escape this world together, to live and experience their own meaning of love.

Love, it has 100 different definitions and none of them are simple.

Jordan and Heer’s was nowhere simple too.

It’s a rare feeling to see something again and drastically change my opinion on it. Maybe this whole feeling on this movie is the classic example of, “The whole is greater than sum of its parts”. Its a journey love told through beautiful words, voice and brilliant piece of composition.

Somebody pointed out to me to look out for the last lines in the movie. Meaning of which a 9th grader could understand nothing of.

The last lines by Rumi, really made me go numb for a while (I think them too)

“Away, beyond all concepts wrong-doing and right doing,

There is a field.

I will meet you there..”