Movie Review- Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara is definitely a ‘must see’ for its crisp freshness. And for the free (if you discount the movie ticket and popcorn cost, of course) tour of Spain. And for Farhan Akhtar’s mannerisms. And for the subtle, funny lines throughout the two-odd hours. And for the electrifying chemistry between the two of Bollywood’s hottest stars- Hritik and Katrina. And since the kissing scenes have now become as commonplace as the handshake scenes, a couple of them should not deter the families from going and watching this flick as one.

It is a story of how three friends (Hritik, Farhan and Abhay Deol) arrange a trip to Spain as a pre-planned ‘bachelor’s party’, before Abhay Deol gets married in two month’s time. They also agree to participate in three adventure sports- one of the choice of each friend- this is how the film includes scuba diving scenes with Katrina as the diving instructor, the parachute jumping sequence, and the famous annual Spanish Bull Run. The Tomatina festival is an added attraction. The casting director deserves a pat on his back for the choice of the actress for the role of Abhay Deol’s fiancé. Somehow her character’s stupidity and irritability shows so well on her face that either she’s done the part so well or she’s like that only. Apart from the fun and frolic this foursome has during the entire run of the film, including playing silly pranks on unsuspecting strangers, the story has an emotional touch with Farhan finding his father in Spain who he’d never met before because the latter had ditched her mother while she was still pregnant with him. The estranged father is played by Naseerudding Shah, who has seemed to grow oh-so-handsome with age. His five minute appearance in the movie is so effective that had his character been given a longer screen time, he’d have given the younger stars a run for their monies.  There’s added drama about Abhay not actually wanting to marry his fiancé (how he ‘accidentally’ gets engaged to her is hilarious). A couple of songs are nice numbers, the music quite reasonably having a Spanish touch to it. 

The Spanish tourism department could have well financed the movie to the last paise because including yours truly, many must have made their minds to travel to Spain before they die after watching this one. My rating: 3 on 5.