Highway Movie | Imtiaz Ali, Randeep Hooda, Alia Bhatt

Movie Review: `Highway` is mesmerizing, but not enthralling

Cast: Randeep Hooda, Alia Bhatt

Director: Imtiaz Ali

Rating: **1/2

There is an altogether different league of cine thinkers staying in tinsel town who over the years by their cine magnificence have fetched an exclusive repute for themselves. And certainly Imtiaz Ali is one of them, who over the years have not only kept fans fascination fixated to his style of movie making, but at the same time has always succeeded in matching the expectations of fans' too. Be it "Love Aaj Kal", "Jab We Met" or the just released "Highway" every time Imtiaz has come up with something innovative yet pleasing.

This Randeep Hooda Alia Bhatt starrer, romance on the road kind of love saga opened with an above average occupancy of 63 percent at the multiplexes.

As the story of "Highway" marks its onset, it showcases the kidnapping of Veera (Alia Bhaat), who is the daughter of an influential business pioneer, by a gruff, rustic criminal, Mahabir Bhaati (Randeep Hooda), during former's late night highway outing with her fiancee. With frames rolling ahead entire kidnapping gang headed by Mahabir ends up being in a state of panic due to the influential status of Veera's family, but it's Mahabir who remains unperturbed on his decision of demanding ransom in lieu of releasing Veera. And from there begins a pleasing road jaunt across some of the most aesthetic locales of north India. So what happens next does Veera gets released or not to know watch this mesmerizing love saga from the creativity lab of Imtiaz Ali.



Well as far as storyline of Highway is concerned then with "Highway" Imtiaz has once again exhibited his fascination for the love on journey kind of cine tales. Although "Highway" falls in the league of unconventional movies and that's because it's been long since any such premise has made its way to big screen.

But instead of making it a plain cine delight moving on and off the road Imtiaz has deployed a good amount of human factor, by embedding a few heart touching emotional condiments like childhood suppression etc.

As far as this Alia and Randeep starrer is concerned then contrary to his style of picking a unique story idea while trying his acting prowess, this time Imitiaz has opted for a somewhat OK premise, but with an unconventional pairing.

Some of the cineastes may feel that it is a novel premise, but if we try to turn the pages of Indian cine history then one ends up being in the era of eighties, when Subhash Ghai's "Hero" featuring Meenakshi Sheshadri and Jackie Shroff made it to theaters. Certainly both these cine-flicks subsequently have a rendezvous with different fates, but due to a high degree of resemblance in their plot, it's the "Highway" which ends being on the lower notch despite having a different premise in the contemporary age of Indian cinema. As far as scripting is concerned then sans any unwanted inflation "Highway" is appropriately placid on that front.

If we go by the screenplay of "Highway" then it is something which emerges as a stand out feature of the movie where everything knitted in it magnifies the overall appeal of the onscreen proceedings with a great magnificence. Soon after marking its onset premise of Highway starts enveloping you, especially till the moments it keeps itself away from the purview of romance, but as soon as the first hour ends the advent of emotional drama somewhere down the line diminishes the pace of the narration and adversely impacts the appeal of the movie.


But what further adds to the charm of "Highway" is its, DoP which captures the scenic beauty of Northern India with such a brilliance that you completely gets enveloped in what is being offered to you in the form of this on-road love saga.

Besides, it's the top notch cinematography of Anil Mehta and editing of Aarti Bajaj which somewhere down the line prevents Highway from sinking into the quagmire of boredom. Certainly at a few places Aarti seems to be losing the control over editing part which could have been more edgy, but for that it's the over stretched premise of the movie which deserves to be held responsible.

As far as, direction of Imtiaz is concerned then, undoubtedly he has done a commendable job on various fronts, but if we compare Highway to the previous works of this ace cine wizard then it lacks that charisma which Imtiaz's previous cine delights like "Jab We Met", "Love Aaj Kal" and "Rockstar" had in them.

Coming to the performances then, certainly Alia has looked far more improved then her urban dame avatar of "SOTY" but this stunning damsel needs to improve a lot if she really wants to carve a niche in Bollywood and have a fate different to her elder sis Pooja. As far as Randeep's performance is concerned then it is going to be like praising something which has already secured an apex position in the hearts of the masses. Supporting cast comprising of Durgesh Kumar (who played the character of Goru), Saharsh Kumar Shukla (Aadooo) despite having a very limited scope for performance manages to grab your attentions with latter emerging as a somewhat stand out performer.

With tracks like Pataka Guddi etc, music of AR Rahman is as usual top notch, and never alienates from the theme of the movie.

Although, it's Imtiaz's legacy which always succeeds in making his cine chronicles a talked about affair, but this time despite having so much intelligence and emotions deployed in "Highway" the movie may not succeed in emerging as a great BO success story.


To sum up despite having a mesmerizing romance, a magnificent execution, and some very aesthetic locales the movie may not succeed in making a dent on BO and may end up a run of the mill kind of the affair. But yeah at the same time it will conveniently succeed in satiating the emotional quench certain classes. So despite it's being a mesmerizing cine affair, but sans entertainment I am going ahead with 2.5 stars for "Highway".

Title Clash: Bollywood films with names similar to Hollywood films

Recently, Ajay Devgn's film, titled 'Action Jackson', ran into trouble with Warner Bros slapping a notice against the film's producer, claiming that the title belongs to them.

It may be pointed out here that Warner Bros had produced a film by the same name back in 1988 and it starred Carl Weathers and Sharon Stone. As per the notice, producer Gordhan Tanwani - a member of the Indian Film and Television Producers Council along with Warner Bros - has been asked to change the title.

The IFTPC has summoned both the parties to resolve this issue. HitList takes a look at other instances where Bollywood films have borrowed titles from Hollywood productions.

'Highway'


Bollywood film: This is a film directed by Imtiaz Ali starring Randeep Hooda and Ali Bhatt. A romantic drama that traces the life of a young city girl who takes the highway at night with her fiance and is abducted while on this journey. The film, produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, is slated to release on February 21.


Hollywood film: Directed by James Cox, this 2002 film was a crime drama, starring Kimberly Kates and Jared Leto.

Title Clash: Bollywood films with names similar to Hollywood films

Recently, Ajay Devgn's film, titled 'Action Jackson', ran into trouble with Warner Bros slapping a notice against the film's producer, claiming that the title belongs to them.

It may be pointed out here that Warner Bros had produced a film by the same name back in 1988 and it starred Carl Weathers and Sharon Stone. As per the notice, producer Gordhan Tanwani - a member of the Indian Film and Television Producers Council along with Warner Bros - has been asked to change the title.

The IFTPC has summoned both the parties to resolve this issue. HitList takes a look at other instances where Bollywood films have borrowed titles from Hollywood productions.

'Highway'


Bollywood film: This is a film directed by Imtiaz Ali starring Randeep Hooda and Ali Bhatt. A romantic drama that traces the life of a young city girl who takes the highway at night with her fiance and is abducted while on this journey. The film, produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, is slated to release on February 21.


Hollywood film: Directed by James Cox, this 2002 film was a crime drama, starring Kimberly Kates and Jared Leto.