Highway: Not a crime to like it, is it?
I loved the Highway the film, despite it’s obvious disconnect with reality, despite its apparently pointless meanderings. Like Imtiaz Ali’s previous directorial venture Rockstar, the thing that struck me about Highway was the strong development of the protagonist’s character. I was involved right from the beginning with the story, gasping when Alia was kidnapped, trying to understand her state of mind when she babbled and laughed in unexpected places, sympathizing with her when she lashes out against exploitation and abuse. I think it is really hard to achieve the brilliant and unreal innocence of both characters, Jordan (played by Ranbir Kapoor) in Rockstar and Veera (played by Alia Bhatt) in Highway. And it’s not a bad thing to sometimes enjoy this sort of innocence for what it is.
Alia has been directed brilliantly in Highway and that’s what really worked for me. I loved the subtle point the film made, about the cage of affluence, the hypocrisy of elite society that still practices conservative values while exhibiting a modern facade. Even without the dramatic appeal of a situation as extreme as child abuse, I would willingly concede this point.
Alia’s attraction to her captor is bizarre, but the desperate rawness of Randeep Hooda was appealing nevertheless. The likelihood of finding the sensitive side of a thug in real life is remote, I agree, but that possibility is part of the romantic charm of Highway. It’s not about reality, its about storytelling. And Imtiaz does that really well!
Posted on February 27, 2014, in Personal and tagged alia Bhat, film review, Highway, Imtiaz Ali. Bookmark the permalink. 14 Comments.
good One π
thanks!
π
nicely described… makes we want to watch it!
well, its a very personal opinion. if you are a hopeless romantic, go watch. if you the cynical type, go and enjoy cribbing about it! there’s no excuse to not go to the movies π
an abductees fascination for her abductor is probably the easiest to understand in the movie…or may be i am hopelessly cynical… or may be i spend too much time working in gender… dunno… sometimes the puerility of movies like this makes me want to puke :(…but then you know me…
“I loved the subtle point the film made, about the cage of affluence, the hypocrisy of elite society that still practices conservative values while exhibiting a modern facade. ” – one of the two reasons I love highway too! You wrote it brilliantly!
Thanks! Glad you agree. What is the other reason?
Cinematography and Enchanting music π
Finally i come across a “Highway” review which praises the movie as the way it should be praised.
Personally i loved the movie, the way both the characters were described is amazing and how they potray what has happened to them is beautiful as well.
And as for Veera’s infatuation with the kidnapper thats a psychological phenomena called the ‘ stockholm syndrome” where the captive feels more secure with the captor.
Regardless, beautifully written π
Thank you! It’s so personal, how each person views a film. That in itself is interesting!
I know… recently, i watched total siyappa and i liked it for a one time watch. Nothing that i will remember for long but i remained entertained during the movie. But while getting out i hear a woman in the cinema say ” Is sey behtar tha mein mur jatee” π
So ya thats what makes cinema interesting π
mar jaati? a bit extreme. audiences are as melodramatic as the movies themselves! ha ha!
Lol true that…. π