She = Prachi Desai.
Prachi Desai is basically the queen of the universe. Not only is she shockingly classy and subtly gorgeous, but her acting is just slap-you-on-the-cheek effective. She delivers lines sharply, her eyes pierce you like a clerk at Claire's. I love the way she dresses her hair, where she places it all to one side, on her shoulder, near her heart. (Unfortunately, IndiaFM has but one picture of Prachsters, none of the cool hairstyle.) It is such an amazing look. If you think about it, Saksters is the backbone of Rock On!!. Even though she isn't around much in the second half, she lights up the screen and acts confidently. The pre-intermission climax is of what dreams are made. I swear, as God as my witness (lol Scarlett O'Hara), if Prachi doesn't become the next Big Thing in Bollywood, I will quit Bollywood. Now, I don't see Prachsters becoming popular with the masses like Lara Dutta. No, she'll be more of a Konkona Sensharma, popular with the arthouse crowd. To think, Prachi got her start on the serial Kasamh Se (as Baani). Who knew those lame soaps could produce such talent? Forget Magik. The real rock star of Rock On!! is Prachi Desai.
It = Real talent.
I had begun to despise newcomers. Useless nobodies, these were, whose only claim to fame was sharing the same blood of someone rich enough to finance a film that was sure to be disasterous. These newcomers appeared in movies with plots that produced tears (and not the tears of an effective drama). I can think of only three newcomers who have some promise in the last year: Ranbir Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor and Deepika Padukone. Without any talented newcomers, Bollywood is sure to die out. (I mean, eventually Ash will have kids, Preity will go on to play cricket, Rani will realize she is too cool for the parts she's getting and SRK has to die some day or another)
Well, all of that is about to change with the debut of a Miss Prachi Desai in Rock On!!, who is a breath of fresh air. Without Prachi Desai's presence, this film would have faltered. She overshines all four of the lead actors, who try their best to be their best (and they succeed). But, alas, Prachi is such a powerhouse of talent that their efforts, though noble and noteworthy, are to no avail. Rock On!! is Prachi, Prachi, Prachi, Prachi, Prachi and Prachi.
Starring director Farhan Akhtar, Arjun Rampal, Prachsters, Purab Kohli, Luke Kenny, Koel Purie and Suhana Goswami, the film is directed by Abhishek Kapoor who gave us that immortal classic Aryan - the Unbreakable. Music is by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy with lyrics by Javed Akhtar. Let me tell you now: the music is much, much more enjoyable in the film than on the CD except for one (more on that later).
Aditya (Akhtar), Joe (Rampal), KD (Kohli) and Rob (Kenny) are in a rock band called Magik. They were quite successful in their day, winning a competition and thus getting a record contract. Years later, Aditya is married to Sakshi (Prachi Desai) and is a cold investment banker. Sakshi is unhappy because Aditya is unhappy but won't tell her why. Joe is still struggling to get jobs as a musician, refusing to play for weddings because it is beneath him. His wife, Debbie (Goswami) is struggling to make ends meet with a fish business and needs Joe to get over his pride. KD (the artist formerly known as Killer Drummer) works for his father at a jewelry shop. Rob is the only one still making music, as he arranges music for Anu Malik. A chance meeting between KD, Sakshi and Sakshi's BFF Devika (Purie) and the discovery of some photos from Aditya's past piques Saksters' interest and she wants to reunite Magik. It is revealed through flashbacks exactly why Magik broke up. How they come back together for one more concert forms the rest of this tale of music, dreams, adulthood and friendship.
Farhan Akhtar, as Adi, is absolutely terrific. He may have directed only one solidly good film (DCH), but his real talent is acting and I think that is where he should stay. Arjun Rampal corrects all of the mistakes of his past. FINALLY, the Arjun we saw in Moksha has risen from the dead!
Luke Kenny and Purab Kohli are good but not much is required. Kohli says all of his lines with a smug attitude which gets annoying. Luke Kenny doesn't do much until a subplot comes for him late in the game. It is too little, too late and the effectiveness is just not there anymore.
Suhana Goswami doesn't let the nagging get obnoxious. Debbie in the past and Debbie in the present are played differently and expertly. Koel Purie plays that character who is there only to tell another character just what he/she needs to hear. Koel Purie, however, is always pleasant to watch and her character is fun.
Prachi Desai is basically the queen of the universe. Not only is she shockingly classy and subtly gorgeous, but her acting is just slap-you-on-the-cheek effective. She delivers lines sharply, her eyes pierce you like a clerk at Claire's. I love the way she dresses her hair, where she places it all to one side, on her shoulder, near her heart. (Unfortunately, IndiaFM has but one picture of Prachsters, none of the cool hairstyle.) It is such an amazing look. If you think about it, Saksters is the backbone of Rock On!!. Even though she isn't around much in the second half, she lights up the screen and acts confidently. The pre-intermission climax is of what dreams are made. I swear, as God as my witness (lol Scarlett O'Hara), if Prachi doesn't become the next Big Thing in Bollywood, I will quit Bollywood. Now, I don't see Prachsters becoming popular with the masses like Lara Dutta. No, she'll be more of a Konkona Sensharma, popular with the arthouse crowd. To think, Prachi got her start on the serial Kasamh Se (as Baani). Who knew those lame soaps could produce such talent? Forget Magik. The real rock star of Rock On!! is Prachi Desai. For being a film about a rock band, Rock On!! doesn't have very good music. Most of the songs are standard rock music affair. Perhaps I don't like them because I'm not into that style of music. The one song you will take home with you is Yeh, Tumhaari Meri Baatein sung masterly by Dominique Cerejo. The song is simple, with thoughtful lyrics about continuing love. Ms. Cerejo provides a whispery rendition until she finds her own, as I like to call it, about two minutes and fifty-two seconds into the song. She delivers a glorious vocal performance, by thrusting her whole heart into it. She sings strongly but not loudly, keeping in mind the mellow feel of the song. The song's video is very beautiful, with those loving looks between lovers, those montages of happy times. The song is so close to perfection. I will not hesitate to say it is one of the best of the year.
I can say that about the film itself. Rock On!! is such a strong film. Words cannot even begin to describe the effect it has on the viewer. Of its many trailers, only the Y,TMB promo showed much promise. I am surprised at how good this film was. But, who doesn't love a good sleeper hit? Well, anyway, here's to hoping the name Sakshi gets a glorious resurrection. (Sunaina, Shikha and...Sakshi? Me gustan.) Rock On!! rates an 8.5/10.
PS - The latest craze at Fordham is the Prachi Desai Dance. You put your hands into a fist and robottically make, like, a stabbing motion while bopping your torso and your knees. You chant, also robottically, "Prachi Desai, Prachi Desai, Prachi Desai." Everyone was doing it on their way home from the Imaginasian.
