I'm a bit late on this, but I saw Wake Up Sid (like...three weeks ago?) and I must say, I really think Karan Johar has grown up. It is a complete change from the Dharma we all know (and sometimes love). Not to say that the "candyfloss" cinema isn't substantial or enjoyable, because I personally loved K3G, Kal Ho Naa Ho, and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai will forever be my favorite film. However, anything that you stereotype as a Karan Johar produced film, just throw it out the window!
Lavish sets? Uncheck!
Melodramatic filmi mother? Uncheck!
Love at first sight? Uncheck!
...You get the idea.
Some people thought that this movie was rather boring and very predictable. I can see why they see that. But my take on it is that the movie wasn't meant to be unpredictable or a mystery/thriller in any which way. It's a slice of life kind of film. If you want to escape to your bollywood masala i would not recommend this at all. If you want to see a true story with real people then I would say you should check this out (if you haven't already). Sid is someone almost all of us can identify with. Whether you're in your youth or 30 years out of graduating college, it will be either relative or nostalgic. Sid is your ordinary college kid, who doesn't want to spend his days worrying about tomorrow. He just wants to have fun, and live in the moment. He's focused on today. He gets in the usual riffs with his parents, with one going too far, and decides to leave home. Ayesha becomes his best friend, but even more than that, his guidance. I know it sounds cliche, but it is lovely to see. Their relationship is built on the premise of complete friendliness and trust. They are real. Ayesha gets pissed off with Sid when he leaves her apartment a mess and Sid gets pissed off with Ayesha when all she does is criticize him.
He asks her, "we could have been something more. What's lacking in me?"
"you're still a child, Sid. I need a man...not a boy."
And later, when she is at the jazz club with her boss, and he asks her if she doesn't like jazz, what music she does like, he tells her "you're still such a child." And it's there, in that moment that one realizes that there is a Sid in all of us. You may think you are the most intellectual, ambitious, level headed and responsible person in the whole world. But there will always be someone who comes along that still sees you as less mature than them. But, even that's not the point. You're not less mature than them (well, in some cases maybe you actually are!). It's all about the perception. We judge people based on different criteria than we use to judge ourselves. And all it takes is a single sentence to wake you up out of oblivion, and make you realize that we're all Sids, just trying to get through the harsh world; we're making mistakes along the way, falling down over our own stupidity. But really, we're just waking up.
Alas, for now it's bed time. ;)
On a side note--Kurbaan's music is out, and I am loving it. Favourite tracks are "Shukran Allah" "Kurbaan Hua" and "Ali Maula"
The trailer is really generating excitement, and the film looks great. It does have hints of Fanaa to it, but probably due to the locations and terrorism theme. I'm not a huge fan of Kareena, in fact until Omkara, I hated her. I hated her attitude and I did not enjoy her acting. Post Omkara I've been going easy on her, and have enjoyed a few performances since then. I am really looking forward to her performance in this. I don't think she'll be 'mindblowing' or anything, but I think she'll do a good job. The film itself looks like it is going to be really intense, so I hope she and Saif don't let us down! I also am really hoping that Karan is nice to us fans and releases a trailer of My Name is Khan with this film! One can hope. That's all for now,
Sleep well and don't forget to WAKE UP eventually!