There are some films you come out of and you can’t seem to decide how you feel about it. Rockstar was one of those films. It was brilliant at parts with classic Imtiaz Ali elements shining through – but at other moments a weak plot weighed down on the film.
I very much liked the premise of the film. Jordan, an underwhelming musician (played by Ranbir Kapoor) comes to the conclusion that the only way he can make good music is if he experiences pain, as pain is at the heart of every good piece of music. He attempts to experience heartbreak by getting rejected by Heer (played by Nargis Fakhri), the hi-fi girl he meets whilst in college.
However, the main problem with the film lies in the fact that it’s not easy to connect with these characters. While the premise drew me in, I couldn’t make myself feel invested in the characters’ romance. Jordan’s journey as a musician was more interesting than interaction between these characters, but the focus on romance left little time to develop this angle.
What the film lacked in terms of plot, it made up for in sheer style. The soundtrack, locations, cinematography, set design and styling are exemplary and make the film an entire experience. Imtiaz Ali throws in elements of brilliance with the type of wit, dialogue and scene construction that we have to come to expect of him. His flashback-style of direction is at first slick and will be appreciated, but beware, it can become cumbersome for some viewers.
The highlight of the film is Ranbir Kapoor. His performance is phenomenal and he makes the character his own. He embraces the little nuances, and convincingly portrays both the awkward boy and crazed rockstar roles. Nargis Fakhri fits her role very well in terms of looks, but nothing else – she overacted and pouted way more than was necessary. The supporting cast does well, in particular Kumud Mishra.
The one thing that strikes you about Rockstar is that it’s not an easy film to digest – unlike Imtiaz’s previous films which were mostly fun entertainers, Rockstar comes with an element of darkness to it. Everything is not laid out on screen for you as is usually the case; the film has depth and makes you think. Pain is essential to music – but for a person who desires desperately to be both a good musician and a happy person, how does one strike a balance? Is there a balance? Rockstar doesn’t tell you the answer explicitly, which, in my opinion, is its greatest strength – it leaves you with a haunted feeling and sense of unfinished business that you will ponder upon long after exiting the hall.