Highway: The journey worth the effort...

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First things first, if you are going for Highway be prepared for a larger and meaningful subject being covered within the realms of the original plot. The sub plot holds a broader and bolder spectrum towards the end of movie (forced it seemed) but relevant indeed. Now to get back to the movie. Well made, well conceptualised and defined in it's natural shape, the movie is a definite coming off age for Imitiaz Ali after his last outing, the forgettable Rockstar. Fresh pairing of Alia and Randeep brings in the contrast and the odd chemistry of the two, which builds up. The relationship they share and at the fag end when they seem to be getting in their comfort zone, the Director delivers the master stroke (watch it for the details). The film builds itself up quite nicely and the locales add to the mood. Not the Yash Chopra stuff but stark, raw, unexplored the very Western part of HP (Kinnaur, Kaza...) in it's most dangerous and delectable stage. The mood is captured oh! so well and Imitiaz's passion for travel shows vividly frame after frame and the perfect anti-thesis to this, the typical South Mumbai girl, Alia Bhatt.

This has to be the coming off age movie for Alia and she does not let go off the initiative. True there are some rough edges here and there in the performance, but I am sure she will age well with time. Only hope, she gets more and more of such movies. It's a pity that the Hindi film industry has not yet explore enough with women centric roles, barring a Mother India or Kahaani or Gulab Gang here and there. But Highway is an Alia Bhatt movie throughout and her character's look and feel brings the perfect contrast to the setting in which she is kidnapped into.

Randeep does justice to his part too, another of the character, where there are enough opportunities. Yet, how I wished Randeep's dark and brooding character could have been developed and invested a little more. There are several moments in Highway, where Randeep's character (Mahaveer Bhati) could have interspersed well into the occulence, case in point, the first time confessions of Alia's character (Veera) where Randeep's presence is diffused (why should you?) or where Veera decides to get into an impromptu jig with Mahaveer's side kick.

One particular factor that seemed to come back more and more to the theme of the movie, was the two central character in the movie and the entire effort to move around with them paid off well. Perhaps the landscape added to it and the relief in the setting.

Moments that stand out in the film. Randeep's confession, Alia's weird questioning herself, why she decided to hide herself when police came checking on her in the truck, the confrontation scene at the end of Alia with her family members. Yet I thought towards the end of the movie the scenes were forced into for justification and perhaps those answers were really not required. I failed to understand why the end of it looked forced and uncalled.

Nonetheless, the movie stands out for being bold, brave and stands out in the midst of mindless saga of hindi cinema that keeps churing out. Music is spot on and Rehman does not let go off. Patakha Guddi, Maahi Ve and Kahaan Hoon Main are gems.

So do not lose the plot and head for Highway, even though I know there are limited halls running the movie. But the journey will be worth it...

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