Wake up Sid

When I went to see Wake up Sid, I didn't know what to expect. I knew it would be funny and have a feel good factor, and of course it was starring the up and coming Ranbir Kapoor. This accompanied with the Karan Johar factor, ensured that I take time out and go watch Wake up Sid.

I had read several reviews before going to watch the movie. Most of the reviews said, Wake up Sid - enjoyable, Wake up Sid - clean entertainer, Wake up Sid - refreshing, Wake up Sid - sweet genre (what's that) while there were some that said, Wake up Sid - watch for sure, preferably in theatre.

So off I went to PVR and was pleasantly surprised to see that it was just 2 hours and 15 minutes long. 'Wake up Sid' started on that good note and stayed that way throughout the movie. Ranbir Kapoor was brilliant in his role as Sid. The camaraderie he displays with his friends, the way he handles a relationship with his mother which was different with that of his father, the way he handles his two very diverse neighbours, and last but not least, the way he embarks on his journey of life with newcomer to the city, Konkona Sen, tells you that Ranbir Kapoor has arrived and Ranbir Kapoor is here to stay for a long, long time.

There were a bunch of little girls, most probably in their pre-teens who were sitting a few rows ahead of me. Excerpts from their conversation during the interval: "I'm in love with Ranbir yaar, he rocks". "You mean you love him yaar, not 'in love' silly". "Nisha, don't be silly, what's the difference, you are sounding like Miss Daisy." See Sneha, you fall in love with boyfriends and husbands, but you love Shahrukhs and Ranbirs". "Stop it you two, I love Saif, but I have to wait till he gets fed up of Kareena, aah!" "Don't you think Ranbir was wearing such cute boxers. My mother calls them chaddis". By the time the movie ended, they were all Ranbir Kapoor fans and I personally think, that too, will remain unchanged for a long, long time.

Ayan Mukherji, in his directorial debut has come up with an ace. Not only has he touched on so many delicate issues that concern the youth of today and what they stand for, he has also portrayed the other side of the story in Wake up Sid. Ayan Mukherji has brought this out in his exemplary direction of both Anupam Kher as the dad and Supriya Pathak as the mum.

Today's generation are not worried about anything, not even about themselves. They believe in choices. If Sid's father worked hard to achieve all that he had achieved, it was out of his choice or maybe lack of it. In the same way, Sid wants to be able to make his own choices in life. Ayan Mukherji conveys several important messages through Wake up Sid.

Failing an exam does not make you a failure in life.
It is okay to put your foot down and make some demands if you are paying all the bills. (this one for the parents)
Children of today, don't care about your money and don't care about your rules. They have the guts and gumption tocmove out and do their own thing, in order to live life on their own terms.
If you are making a movie, it doesn't need to have sexual overtones, be filled with oomph and have people flitting across the 5 continents in different designer outfits in order for it to be a box-office hit. Ayan Mukherji has just proved this.
Movies don't have to be 3 hours long.
If you are upset with someone, there is no need to scream, yell, shout or nag. Just spend the night at the neighbour's.

My favourite one, of course, was the one about the monsoons in Mumbai.

I don't know who the casting director is, but kudos to him/her for doing a stupendous job. Every person cast in this movie has more than done justice to their roles. Even his choice of Chhotu was spot on.

A post on my Facebook said that Wake up Sid is now her most favorite movie of the year. I am sure there are many who second that.

So here's to Wake up Sid, to Ayan Mukherji, to Karan Johar, to Ranbir Kapoor, to Konkona Sen and all the rest of the gang who have given us this fun, thought-provoking, enjoyable, funny, classy and clean movie.