JAB WE MET
MAUJA HI MAUJA
By Vishal Verma

Rating:- * * *

What is it?
Whatever be their personal story, it doesn’t matter over here. Shahid and Kareena can rejoice! After their previous debacles together on screen, ‘Jab We Met’ displays a wonderfully striking chemistry between the two and the movie works.

Writer director Imtiaz Ali proved his mettle as a sensible filmmaker in ‘Socha Na Tha’ and now with ‘Jab We Met’ he only goes further. Here is maker from Bollywood to look out for.

‘Jab We Met’ has plenty of light moments & they have been handled adroitly. What is remarkable is the treatment by Imtiaz to a plot which is predictable and you know the end but the director over here handles it cleverly and holds you through out the journey.

The on screen chemistry between Kareena and Shahid is striking and is further flourished by witty tongue n cheek dialogues, humour and of course by their performance. Kareena walks with all the claps and accolades. It will not be surprising if she bags some awards with this performance, her best till date. She really brings the bubbly, talkative, chatterbox alive with her outstanding performance.

But the movie has its flipside, after the lively, humors, highly entertaining first half, the second half drags a bit and the proceedings become a bit slower comparatively.

And sadly, Imitaz too falls in the trap of the world famous dilemma of a writer- director, the problem is - he gives a solid start packed with punches every now and then, but now it has a predictable twist and he has to conclude in a way to do a proper justice to the marvelous start. So he hurries up the proceedings in the end that anybody would have done. So creatively this comedy somewhat turns out to be a tragedy for the maker.

But, am I complaining!           

What is it all about?
Aditya (Shahid Kapur), a defeated, serious, no nonsense kind of a guy who is going through a hell lot of problems, his business is in real bad bad shape and is even more broken as the girl he loves is getting married. Unable to muster up the courage to return home, he drifts out of the gathering and aimlessly boards a train, bounding away into the night.

As destiny would have it, on the train he meets Geet (Kareena Kapoor) - a beautiful but annoyingly talkative girl, a real chatter box. Who is leaving Mumbai to go her hometown - Bhatinda (Punjab). Later, she has plans of eloping with her boyfriend.

Geet irritates Aditya to the point of getting him to leave the train. As she tries to get him back on the train, she ends up missing it and the two find themselves stranded on a desolate station with no luggage or money.

Begins the idyllic journey through the exuberant North Indian heartland in which this odd couple will make their way through buses and taxis and camel-carts, crossing Highways and deserts and lakes, meeting all kinds of people, to reach her house in Punjab. On arrival, Geet's family mistakes the two for lovers. Before this misconception can be cleared, Geet escapes to her boyfriend in Manali. Aditya leaves with her, confirming the suspicion that they are lovers. In Manali, Aditya leaves to return to Mumbai and resurrect his ailing business, but, realizes that he has fallen in love with Geet.   

Life takes a positive turn and Aditya begins to do well. One day Geet's family who think that she is with him confronts Aditya. He is shocked to learn that Geet has not returned home. He takes it upon himself to find her. He finally tracks her down and begins another journey to reach Bhatinda and flow into the colors and conceptions of a loud and happy North Indian family!

What to look out for?
Striking Chemistry between Shahid and Kareena. Deftly handled situations by Imitiaz Ali, it’s a complete treatment film and he comes out with flying colours. Scenes between Shahid and Kareena are brilliantly written and executed, the dialogues are witty, humorous, tongue 'n' cheek and keeps you involved with the proceedings.

Special mention has to be made for N. Nataraja Subramanium’s eye capturing visuals. First rate production values. And of course Pritam's music, after Hare Rama from ‘BhoolBhulaiya’ he gives another one for tune downloads.

Now let’s look at the performances :

Jab We Met is Kareena Kapoor show all the way. She looks stunningly beautiful and gives an amazing performance. She will certainly get all the nominations.

Shahid though does an earnest job, is overshadowed by this bimbo popularly called as Bebo in Bollywood.

What not?
Post interval the love story becomes predictable and the director in a hurry ends up the proceedings. Songs are a hurdle while watching the film. The foot tapping ‘Mauja Hi Mauja’ comes in the end and is a misfit.

Tarun Arora just signs the muster and Pawan Malhotra, Dara Singh, Kiran Juneja, etc do their chacha’s, Ma’s, and Dadaji’s as expected.

Recommended: Yes! Certainly. Board this train right now at you nearest cinema hall.