Rock On!!

Spot On!

Rock On Movie Review By Bhushan

If Dil Chahta Hai set Farhan Akhtar’s cinematic ball rolling, with ‘Rock On’ Farhan dribbles it with the dash of Diego Maradona and the finesse of Zinedine Zidane.

‘Rock On’ is new age Bollywood’s ode to rock music and friendship.

Abhishek Kapoor’s film makes no bones about venerating Rock, much in the same way Mithunda starring 80s block buster Disco Dancer eulogized disco. Although Kapoor manages it in a very honourable and a considerably less vulgar way.

With some sincere performances, mind-blowing cinematography, a simple storyline and easy-on-the-ears dialogue, the film intersperses between an almost lyrical flashback with a terse, banal present.

The film opens up with Akhtar (Aditya, lead singer), Ramphal (Joe, lead guitarist), Purab (KD, drummer) and Kenny (Rob, keyboardist) who are a band called Magik. The music that flows in their veins makes their hearts throb too.

Cut to the present 10 years later. Aditya’s an expensive business suit and a successful investment banker, with pots of money in the bank, a weighed heart and an intelligent, but demure wife. KD bumbles about in his father’s flourishing jewellery business. Rob’s still holding out; making jingles for ads. Joe is a grumpy, disillusioned father with the love of his life complaining about how her hands smell of fish all the time. And there’s nothing he can do about it.

Repeated flashbacks in the first half of the film, flesh out the story of the band’s falling apart over misunderstandings, ego issues and an element of compromise. The second half tracks the story of the band’s reunion against all odds.

Farhan’s debut as an actor is as sincere and intense, as his debut as director with DCH. His transformation from the heady bohemian and reluctant, morose money-making machine is brilliant. Although his role in the film is limited to acting, singing and scripting dialogue, as co producer of the movie, his stamp is evident all over the place. Its difficult to fathom when Farhan ends and the director Abhishek Kapoor begins.

Purab does well as he usually does in the cute, uninhibited chum sort of roles.

Arjun Ramphal’s good in patches. Ramphal fulfills his characters demand for a dour kind of intensity, but he looks a bit wooden with a guitar, an aspect, which he ought to have worked on. The highpoint of Ramphal’s intensity in the film comes when the group meets for a reunion at one of their old jamming haunts.

Kenny’s maverick at the beginning. But by the time you are three fourths of the way into the movie, there’s a slight twitch in your heart. That’s Kenny, who’s quietly slipped under your skin.

Joe’s wife Shahana Goswami puts in a moving performance as a wife, who’s harried by Joe’s attempts to join the band, especially when she thinks financial security ought to be number one priority.

Socha hai, Pichle Saat Dinon Mein and Rock On are rock numbers, which should blow you away if you are a music buff. The music director trio of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy doesn’t disappoint you with the background score too. The live rock concert shots are brilliantly captured and some crisp editing takes them a notch higher.

Without a doubt, like DCH, Rock On has potential to be nothing short of an anthem to the young urban audience at which the film is directed.

Download Rock On!!(2008) Songs:

• Rock On!! (2008) – Socha Hai mp3
• Rock On!! (2008) – Pichle Saat Dinon Mein mp3
• Rock On!! (2008) – Rock On mp3
• Rock On!! (2008) – Ye Tumari Meri Baatein mp3
• Rock On!! (2008) – Zehreelay mp3
• Rock On!! (2008) – Tum Ho Toh mp3
• Rock On!! (2008) – Sinbad The Sailor mp3
• Rock On!! (2008) – Pichle Saat Dinon Mein – II mp3
• Rock On!! (2008) – Phir Dekhiye mp3

Click here to download the entire album(320 Kbps, HQ) of Rock On!!

Rock On!! Music Review.

By Dipika Nadkarni

Farhan Akhtar makes his debut in Rock On and sings a majority of the tracks. Javed Akhtars otherwise pertinent lyrics are somehow a misfit here. The lyrics are quirky and they definitely don’t belong to the genre of rock. Quite disappointing, especially for rock fans, not quite what you would expect from a movie titled Rock On!

The music is wonderful; the music director trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy at their best, but the lyrics is so-so. Unlike what the promos suggest, the music doesn’t create an exhilarating excitement, like rock concerts usually do. And so, this album is most likely to be a hit with only a delimited bunch of listeners.

Socha Hai: This is a track questioning the glitches of life, but the background music paints a happy, peppy, rosy picture of life. Something you’d like to listen to and hum on a road trip. The track begins with heavy electric guitar notes, but the track is still soft and more like power-pop than rock. Farhan Akhtar does a pretty good job.

Pichle Saat Dinon Mein: This track has a heavier bass than the previous track. Incongruous, rather lovey-dovey lyrics, infused with a staggering guitar solo, and an extremely talented drummer sums it all up and gives it potential of being a very popular song in the near future.

The live version is obviously at a concert (as shown in the promos), with the crowds joining in. Farhan Akhtar’s exultant whoops injected into the track are obviously designed to make the crowds go wild.

Rock On: This one, already very popular, makes for nice lively title track, but the inept lyrics make the poor rockers sound a little ham fisted. Oh, but no worries, the catchy beat and fresh tones leave you fairly pleased. The song has a splendid start with electric guitar notes which makes you want to listen to the whole thing. The percussion in this track is amazing yet again.

Ye Tumhari Meri Baatein: A very soft romantic track, sung by Dominique Cerejo. It brings on the déjà vu- you’ve heard it before. I wouldn’t suggest this track if you want to stay awake, or drive. The sluggish drone can promptly put you to sleep.

Zehreeley: This one’s all rock with guns blazing; high, drugged Rammstein-like industrial rock (until you make out the lyrics) belted out by a rather intoxicated sounding SAuraj Jaggan, but on the whole a satisfying track. Not a rock fan? Be prepared to plug your ears midway, you are likely to tire of it.

Tum Ho Toh: A gentle track, probably supposed to be a happy song, but only succeeds in sounding drowsy and melancholic. The lyrics are fitting the background music for a change. Farhan Akhtar’s voice suits this kind of soft music.

Sindbad the Sailor: With a discoish feel about it, it is trademark Shankar Mahadevan music. As the name suggests, its about Sindbad the sailor’s life. Although it has some nice guitar pieces, it is, on the whole, rather disappointing.

Phir Dekhiye: Once again, a very romantic, sweet track. Caralisa Monteiro has a fresh young voice and there is just an acoustic guitar forming the background score. The lyrics are quite nice too. But the song is boring and just doesn’t click.

The album had potential that wasn’t tapped right. It will just create a temporary flutter of excitement and the go.