Review of Love Aaj Kal (2009) by Amit J — 13 Aug 2009

Indian love in the 21st century isn't quite as innocent- or for that matter, Beautiful- as what it used to be in our parents'- and grandparents'- day and age: these days, lovers' egos are much too big; their minds, much too fickle; and they never seem to mean what they say. This, anyway, is the message of Imtiaz Ali's latest offering.

Personally, I didn't much care for it: for one thing, there is no chemistry between Mr Ali's pair of star cross'd lovers. They meet, have sex, break up, and somewhere in between all that, manage to fall in love: but when exactly, and why, and how, is left to our imaginations. Moreover, by alternately telling the stories of a yesteryear romance and the modern one, I have a feeling that Mr. Ali wanted to show us the timelessness of love; that underneath all the glitter, Love has always been the same, and will be so forever: Pure, 24 carat Gold.

Unfortunately, that is a message this film fails to deliver.

Rishi Kapoor, who plays Saif's amanuensis-cum-guide, is, as always, refreshing; but the one true revelation of this film is Harneet. She doesn't say a word, but her Innocence, such as it is, is worth more than all the words in the world. It's not difficult to imagine why anyone couldn't help but fall in love with her. (This reviewer certainly did!).

In the end, Love Aaj Kal is too much icing, but too little cake. For real Gold- and not just glitter- see Jab We Met, Mr. Ali's first film.