Rock On is Bang On! review

Loved ur article! I fully agree with u on two points. Firstly that Farhan Akhtar may have done more than just playing a lead role here. Even if not the ghost director he would have surely guided debutant director Abhishek Kapoor throughout the film (in fact the similarities with Farhan's DCH are quite uncanny). And yes the lyrics were cool! Even "Meri Laundry Ka Ek Bill". Though a close friend of mine too thought the song was disappointing. But to me it was groovy n cool, just the sort of stuff that makes rock music endure over generations. Smriti, I invariably end up liking your articles. Please write more often!

I think that "close friend" is me. I particularly didn't like this song:-

Meri Laundry Ka Ek Bill, Ek Aadhi Padi Novel… Ta Ra Ta Ta Ta ….Ta Ra Ta Ta Ta…
Ek Ladki Ka Phone Number, Mere Kaam Ka Ek Paper… Ta Ra Ta Ta Ta ….Ta Ra Ta Ta Ta…
Mere Taash Se Heart Ka King, Mera Ek Chandi Ka Ring
Pichhle Saat Dino Mein Maine Khoya
Kabhi Khud Pe Hansa Main Aur Kabhi Khud Pe Roya

Though, within the setting of the film, it's completely justified as a college kid wrote it...however, one should also notice that it won the prize....

It sounds little outdated to me ...and the simplicity it aims to attain turns out to be "attempted". Probably I can't reconcile to the fact that Javed Akhtar wrote it.

Putting up the lyrics here for your perusal Aniruddha, I'm sure you couldn't make out what they sang:-

Meri Laundry Ka Ek Bill, Ek Aadhi Padi Novel… Ta Ra Ta Ta Ta ….Ta Ra Ta Ta Ta…
Ek Ladki Ka Phone Number, Mere Kaam Ka Ek Paper… Ta Ra Ta Ta Ta ….Ta Ra Ta Ta Ta…
Mere Taash Se Heart Ka King, Mera Ek Chandi Ka Ring
Pichhle Saat Dino Mein Maine Khoya
Kabhi Khud Pe Hansa Main Aur Kabhi Khud Pe Roya

Ta Ra Ta Ta Ta …. Ta Ra Ta Ta Ta …. Ta Ra Ta Ta Ta ….… Ta Ra Ta Ta Ta ….

Present Mili Ek Ghadi, Pyaari Thi Mujhe Badi… Ta Ra Ta Ta Ta ….Ta Ra Ta Ta Ta…
Meri Jeb Ka Ek Packet, Meri Denim Ki Jacket… Ta Ra Ta Ta Ta ….Ta Ra Ta Ta Ta…
Do One-Day Match Ke Passes, Mere Naye Naye Sunglasses
Pichhle Saat Dino Mein Maine Khoya
Kabhi Khud Pe Hansa Main, Aur Kabhi Khud Pe Roya

Kaise, Bhuloon Saatva Jo Din Aaya
Kisi Ne Tumse Ek Party Mein Milwaaya
Kaisa Pal Tha Jis Pal Maine Tumko Pehli Baar Dekha Tha

Hum Jo Mile Pehli Baar Maine Jaana Kya Hai Pyaar
Maine Hosh Bhi Khoya Dil Bhi Khoya
Kabhi Khud Pe Hansa Main, Aur Kabhi Khud Pe Roya

… Ta Ra Ta Ta Ta ….Ta Ra Ta Ta Ta…… Ta Ra Ta Ta Ta ….Ta Ra Ta Ta Ta…

Maine Pichhle Saat Dino Mein Ye Sab Hai, Khoya..

Smriti, somehow or the other, I have a feeling that you may be correct in what you have said yhat "Has Farhan Akhtar ghost directed this movie?" But I will also give benefit of doubt to Abhishek Kapoor. The rock concert scenes - and I have seen plenty in life, are exactly to the way that these rock stars are seen performing.

I have just come back from watching this movie and I thought it was enjoyable.

Boys, thanks so much! About the rock concert scenes Pratik, I guess the credit goes to Director of Photography - Jason West. :wink:

And Bikas, though you are right the song sounds quite simplistic and also it looks like an effort on part of Javed Akhtar to somehow copy Gulzar's style of prosaic writing, the song makes sense to me. Here is a guy who is talking about the things he's lost in the last seven days, some not so precious and some invaluable like love. makes sense to me. :razz:

Smriti, this is exactly what I thought...javed akhtar attempted a gulzar...and lost his essence, couldn't archive Gulzarian simplicity...something like "woh aakhein bhi kamaal kartee hain, simple se sawall kartee hain"

Smriti, you are absolutely correct that the credit should go to the Director of Photography for the Rock Concert scenes. It was also the way that the actors performed as well that I think that really made it look it was real and not just acted.

Smriti I hope that you don't mind but I am going to put up a discussion about whether Farhan Akhtar ghost directed this movie? on the forums under "Bollywood" at : http://dearcinema.com/discuss/
I think it would be a good topic for a discussion.

HI all,

The film has drawn certain amount of inspiration from Dil Chahta Hai and may be from Jhankar Beats. Thats why it seems to be ghost-directed by Farhaan Akhtar. It was super-hyped by the 'Big" producers. With a predictable storyline and slightly unrealistic Rock Band, the film was disappointing for me. well, Can we imagine a rock band without the joints and the dopes, let alone the alcohols? These guys were too clean to be rockers ! This is my opinion. Secondly, the lyrics were really really bad despite its pretentions to be "simple". Bikas, may i just correct you with the Gulzar lyrics from the film Bunty Aur Babli. Its " Ankhen Bhi Kamaal Karte Hain, Personal se sawal karte hain ". well, this correction does not make any difference to the point you have made. :lol:

Pratik,
I guess Bikas will have to take the call about putting up the discussion.

Pranjal,
Yes, even I thought a bit of joints and dope would have made it more credible but then Arjun rampal was asked the same question by a reporter to which he replied that "Yes, they did these things as well but that is not what the story was about so the director refrained from showing that aspect". Would you like to buy that? :grin:

the film is about a band. music is in the centre, but the weakest part of the film. i dont think i will remember no.s of this film after one year. rock on music/lyrics should have been more rocking