Ali’s fascination with the concept of salvation makes his films stand out because they are more like journeys, which is reflected in how his characters travel a lot. PHOTOS: FILE
KARACHI:
The year 2014 is shaping up to be a good year for Bollywood, with two stunning films releasing in the first two months.
If Dedh Ishqiya was a basic plot executed with style, class and finesse, then Highway is no different. In a nutshell, it is a movie about two strangers on the road, but manages to explore many conflicts and ideas that are deeply embedded in the characters’ relationship.
It is certainly not a love story. One might be fooled into expecting one by the trailer and word of mouth and step foot in the cinema thinking of it as one. Love in Highway serves the same purpose that scores do in a Ram Gopal Varma film — merely to create an atmosphere for the real drama, and it is that drama that makes you sit through two and half hours of a Bollywood film.
Director Imtiaz Ali’s fascination with the concept of salvation makes his films stand out, because they are more like journeys, which is also the reason why his characters travel a lot. However, in that journey, it is usually one gorgeous woman who becomes an object of yearning for the male protagonist, and gives him a purpose to fulfill and a nirvana to strive for, and that’s where Highway takes a U-turn.
The film begins in a posh household in India where Veera’s (Alia Bhatt) wedding preparations are underway. She is the only daughter of a rich business tycoon. One night before her wedding, she sneaks out of her house to go on a long drive with her fiancé because she feels suffocated in her home.
They drive on and on upon Veera’s insistence, until they stop at a gas station. There, a burglary takes place and consequently, one of the dacoits takes Veera hostage. Her fiancé keeps on yelling while sitting in the car as the dacoits disappear along with Veera.
That is where the chemistry between the bubbly and outgoing Veera, and the composed and conservative dacoit Mahabir (Randeep Hooda) starts developing.
Like any focused director, Ali doesn’t spend a lot of time in building up the story, and within 10 to 15 minutes, we find ourselves on the highway, where the real action takes place.
It is this smart pacing of the film that keeps this rather long piece of fiction alive as Ali has a narrative shock to offer every time one starts to think it is getting stale.
Beyond a carefully constructed story that at times does a get a little self indulgent, it is the incredible performances by both Bhatt and Hooda that make it one of the most well-executed films of recent times.
Bhatt had a glossy launch through Student of the Year, but Highway is what she will always be known for. She manages to cover a vast range of emotions with immaculate versatility and surprising resilience, making her count among the likes of present-day acting divas Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra.
Hooda, on the other hand, has always delivered (with the exception of Murder 3), but more than his abilities as an actor, it is his complicated character in the film that makes him give his career’s best performance.
Mahabhir’s physical strength and loud voice camouflage a fragile being that is brimming with years of hatred and depression. Occasionally, Mahabir presents the strange dilemma that he is faced with, and Hooda carries his character’s baggage with glory.
All in all, Highway is a smart film because every time you think it will subject the audience to a cliché, it instead manages to turn many associated with both Bollywood narratives and Ali’s previous work on their head. It might unsettle you if you are a regular Bollywood buff, but that is also its ultimate strength — treating emotions in a manner that keeps basic human nature in mind, unlike the usual treatment of the ‘Rajs’ and ‘Rahuls’ of Bollywood.
Verdict: Highway succeeds in creating an epic saga, where Lootera failed to do so. From the slow pace to the use of natural light, everything is well orchestrated. It is one of the rare Bollywood films where love is kept in the background, as more thoughtful ideas take the forefront. A must watch!
Rating: 4/5
Published in The Express Tribune, February 27th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (11)
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@Salaar Sulaman: The desert scene was not a chroma scene- they did shoot it in Sambhar, on location, but they shot it during day and later made it into night. The colour correction wasn't great I agree. But perhaps that's what the filmmaker wanted to achieve, because these days Hindi cinema is technically very sound, although most of them have crass stories. Alia will be remembered for this film, but for me Randeep steals the show. Highway hasn't been as commercially successful as Ali's other films, and that's what sets it apart. I've always admired Imtiaz, but after Highway, I have become a Imtiaz Ali fan for life.
I would recommend all Movie buffs to watch Marathi Film - FANDRY. Released in English subtitles.
The movie features a Sindhi song too.
While, Indian friends takes a swipe at us, I would still say that the movie was simply outstanding. Plus, I wonder how and why movies like Chennai express, Dhoom or Dabang can make 100,200,300,400,500 and movies like highway struggle. What does this reflect of the Indian society? Swipe back;)
@Saahil: Get your facts right before making sweeping comments.
@saahil, Ur atrium cinemas are full of Bollywood movies including the one reviewed here.
For whom have you written this review. Indian films are banned in Pakistan.
Sorry writer, I am not agree with you. I watched the movie and I could not find my self bound to screen. No doubt, acting of both actors were accordingly and give Alia few percentage above then hero because of cuteness. But, poor execution of script and flaws in script make the movie down. There were some flaws with the lights and the croma scene they shooted for desert. Their are some other technical flaws as well which were not expected from Imtaiz Ali. I'll see if that movie would do business like Ali's earlier movie did.
I don't consider myself to be a very emotional person but I actually cried at the end of this movie..This was one of most well made hindi films of the past many many years....Alia Bhatt's acting was totally unexpected and she completely nailed it. Randeep Hooda will surely be nominated (if not win) for a National Award for his acting & imtiaz Ali will definitely win it next year.
A refreshing change from the crass item song ridden mindless masala bollywood cinema.
5 out of 5 from me.
this was the most pointless movie I have ever seen...has the author even seen the movie or just copied this article from an indian newspaper?