Anjaana Anjaani : Lacks soul

Rating: 2 out of 5*

Starring: Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Zayed Khan (Sp.App)

Director: Siddharth Anand

October 1, 2010 (Sampurn Wire): Anjaana Anjaani is a perfect example of gloss overshadowing the content. While it attempts to be innovative, it lacks soul and ability to keep you engrossed for its 2 and half hour running time.

The film narrates the tale of two strangers in the USA, Akash (Ranbir Kapoor) and Kiara (Priyanka Chopra). They end up meeting for the first time on a bridge from where they are about to jump to end their lives. Kiara was cheated by her boyfriend Kunal (Zayed) while Akash had lost millions of dollars in business. As their suicide attempts fail, they become friends. They then work out a deal to live their lives to the fullest for some days before finally committing suicide on the upcoming New Year's Eve. Then on begins the fun journey of the two who now have a few days to live. The two set out on adventurous journeys together as they are counting their last few days. But before 31st December, they decide to part ways just the way they had met - as strangers.

Mamta Anand's basic plot premise of two sad people meeting on a bridge and going on a road trip is taken from the French film Girl On The Bridge. So also, the idea of a to-do wish-list before dying sounds straight out of Dasvidaniya and The Bucket List. And by now we all know the film's poster is a copy of An Education. Advaita Kala and Siddharth Anand's script gets boring after a while. Some situations are plain childish. Where the film falls flat is the fact that the audience at no point feels for Akash and Kiara that perhaps also maybe because nobody likes cowards, since suicide is the last resort of cowards. Kiara's character often comes out utterly confused where as Akash appear an idiot! Siddharth Anand's direction however is fair and aims at the youth who make up the multiplex audience.

Ranbir Kapoor is good and not only acts ably but dances superb. Well he has also been given a lot of bare chested moments! Priyanka appears very attractive and gives the character her best shot. But sadly, the script lets her down. Zayed Khan is good in his small part and so are Tanvi Azmi and Joy Sengupta.

Vishal and Shekhar's music is topping the charts right now and deservedly so. The songs have been very well shot as well.

Anjaana Anjaani could have been a better film had it got a more engaging and plausible plot but alas! It remains just a good looking product with a good looking pair.

-- Sampurn Wire