Saturday 9 September 2017

Jaane tu ya jaane na (2008) - Review

“Jaane tu ya jaane na” is one of my all time favorite Bollywood movies. This is a friends-to-lovers movie done absolutely right.

What is this about:

Jai Singh Rathore, a.k.a. 'Rats (Imran Khan), the most non-violent Rajput ever and Aditi Mahant(Genelia D'Souza), a.k.a. ‘Meow‘, a highly aggressive, impulsive girl are college students and best friends. Their group of friends consist of Rotlu, Jiggy, Bombs, and Shaleen. Despite saying that they are only best friends, it is apparent to anyone who is beside them that they are in love with each other, but they don’t realize it. Until the day Rats meets his dream girl, Meghna (Manjari Phadnis), and the balances inside the group suddenly change.

My review:

As I said earlier this is one of my favorite Hindi movies. I was looking something like the equivalent of comfort food for movies and this movie came straight to my mind. I think the biggest draw is that, while remaining distinctly Hindi, its well characterized leads give it a more international appeal.


Jai Singh Rathore (Imran Khan) is one of the best male lead characters you will see in Bollywood. He was raised by his mother as a peace maker that hates violent due to the violent death of his father. He is very clever and always finds a way to solve his problems. He is obviously in love with Aditi, but he hasn’t realized. It is very apparent that all he wants is to see Aditi happy. Imran Khan was exceptional in this role. Even though this is the first time I see him, he gives a warmth and makes his characters an everyday guy you would love to hang out with.
Aditi Mahant (Genelia D’Souza) is a rare female character. She is feisty, she knows what she wants and she isn’t afraid to say what she thinks (not always when it comes to Rats). Usually female leads veer towards more traditional personalities, but Aditi is a breath of fresh air. Genelia D’Souza was a revelation in this movie. I haven’t seen her too in any other of her work, but here she was phenomenal. She brought a unique energy to the role and was undeniably lovable. 
The rest of the group is really charming. Each one has his/her personality and funny moments where they shine. It was especially nice to see the different dynamics between the friends and see different aspects of their personalities. 

The director is also the writer and I cannot begin to complement him for his handling of characters. He didn’t have just stereotypes (many Bollywood movies are guilty of that), but he created full characters. His directing was also full of youthful energy and colorful. From the beginning of the movie he set the tone and the overall feel, which he maintain throughout the movie. Also, the twist in the story is a highlight itself.

The soundtrack was by A.R. Rahman and fit the story like a glove. This movie has some of my favorite songs that I keep listening, for example "Tu Bole Main Boloon" a beautiful jazz song sang by A.R.Rahman himself. 

Why you should watch it:

  • A romantic comedy that is both romantic and funny
  • A friends-to-lovers movie done right
  • Charismatic actors and likable characters
  • Skilled direction and writing
  • Great soundtrack

Why not to watch:

  • If you don't like romantic comedies
  • If you don't like Bollywood movies

Final verdict:

10/10. I simply love this movie and I highly recommend it to anyone, whether they like Bollywood movies or not.

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