A Rs. 50 Crore Yawn!

A mere 10 mins into the film, Yuvvraaj - Music Binds Love- you would know that you're in deep trouble, a realisation that u have wasted your time and of course, your money!!!

The problem with Yuvvraaj is that its not a bad film...its a boring film.

The movie opens with Katrina playing a cello with a voice over by Aushima. and then something happens...the hero enters and that's it...the trouble begins...

Salman enters the scene with his 'anglicised' - european accent , who happens to be a chorus singer for some xyz opera group for whom Katrina, sole daughter of a billionaire eccentric doctor father, Boman Irani who's against his daughter romancing a living-on-rent-life Salman. Boman was right actually!

Apparently, as one of bollywood's cliches, our hero is an enstranged-second son of a billonaire Indian-English Father (Javed Sheikh) who's sent away after his brawl with his autistic elder brother, Anil Kapoor.

Soon, the father dies and the battle for the power of money begins. Enters third arrogant-playboy son of the only deceased person in the movie to claim the same...

Add to this mess, a bit of cartoon characters, a blue-eyed-mama (why the fcuk blue?), a cleavage-popping-'shuddh'-hindi-speaking bhabhi and other ignored extras...and there you have, Yuvvraaj.

Right from scene 1, the movie's filled with silly dialogues and poor characterisation. Even the serious scenes are so unintensionally funny that u wont feel anything for anybody including Anil's mentally-retarded-musically genious-character.

In one scene, the doctor who examines Anil, even proclaims that autistic people would be genius in classical music...seriously is this the new Ghai-Theory?

Music and Background music are just awesome, with good cinematography though was a bit inconsistent in some places. Editing is sloppy.

Set pieces are ok though in one post-interval scene, salman's house seems to have windows of 5ft high from inside and 2 ft high from outside. now, i donno wot technology might have been used here. but it didn't matter personally...

Salman is totally misfit as Yuvvraaj as it required someone energetic and lively. Add to this, he is is a chorus singer..Gawd! its really someone's talent to find out when he's acting and when he is not and when he is doing both simultaneously...didn't get it right? don't worry...same here...

Katrina looks gorgeous...but she should learn to act. How long can one fool the audience?

Zayed has two great scenes, one shouting and another crying -which give comic relief to the bored audience. this is really worth watching..!

Anil plays autistic but one is confused whilst he is singing...u can't figure out if he is singing or boxing or whatever....His is the only performance... 

Subhash Ghai, i think, is still in 1985.  Can somebody tell him that its 2008?

Yuvvraaj - Music Review

I don't remember me questioning ARR's any of the compositions, ever. His songs from Roja were too much to create an impression in me so much so that i learnt Tamil on my own, both read and write with a little help later...anyways that's a different story...not now!

I have reached such a stage where i just have to listen his music. Nothing questioned. None answered.
However, i do feel like sharing some of my thoughts on this masterpiece.
This is wot i have got to say abt the ARR's next creation, 'Yuvvraaj'.

1. Main Hoon Yuvvraaj - With Fifth of Beethoven's composition to give company, Salman gives an intro into his character in particular and the movie in general. Played by Chennai String Orchestra - A product of ARR's KM Music Observatory (not sure though). Guess this is their first. Sounds good. The composition is reminiscient of the 80's where scores similar to this have had been used as a background track.

2. Tu Hi To Meri Dost Hain - This track hooks on the listener's attention the moment it starts with Benny Dayal's mesmerising voice. Shreya and ARR in that order join him at later stage to give him company.

3. Shano Shano - A hip-hop meets techno meets reggae track but a nice one. This one has a nostalgic 80's feeling though.

4. Tu Muskura - This heavenly composition clearly shows the way where ILaya Raja and ARR truely belong - to another Epoch - where there is no competition but only Absolute Bliss!!!
This astounding track is minimalist in terms of musical arrangements but rests mainly on Alka Yagnik's superb vocals supported by Javed Ali of 'Jashn-E-Bahaara' (Jodha Akbar) and 'Nagada' (Jab We Met) fame. The final alaap is the masterstroke of this number.

I know many 'Rahamaniacs' are of mixed opinion on this song. Imagine a situation that there were to be 2 versions of this song: one with heavy music and another is this. And 'heavy' version would be publicised and this 'soft' version would be titled as 'Tu Muskura -reprise' which is the industry-norm when 2 versions of the song existed. Then I am damn sure that ppl would have definitely liked the soft version more after some time and this would have been a true masterpiece soundtrack as it is now!!!

Truly, I believe, it must have been a huge gamble for ARR and Subhash Ghai especially when, at this time we have all bombarding sound tracks by other composers. Really what a composition it is!!!

5. Mastam - Gulzar's truly visible in this track with his humourous take on the use of words! I felt, this song in the initial stages sounded familiar on the lines of the song 'I am sorry' from the film '1 2 ka 4'. However, a lively song with an ensemble of singers like Sonu, Srinivas, et al.

6. Zindagi - A beautiful feel good number sung by Srinivas. Strangely, the phrase 'zindagi zindagi' and the phrase 'Pyaar hai ya sazaa' from Salaam-e-ishq's 'Ya Rabba' number (S-E-L) sounded similar but both in different pitches. while the latter is on high note in Kailash Kher's earthy tone, the former is a soft number in Srinivas' classical voice.
Earlier too, I felt, Dil Se's end credits and 'Sahara' (sad version) from 'Sivaji -The Boss' were on same lines in different tones. Just an observation.

7. Dil Ka Rishta - Indian Classical Music finally meets Western Classical in this fantabulous fusion number sung marvellously by RoopKumar Rathod, Sonu and ARR with additional vocals. This shows the true strength of ARR where there is a seamless fusion of Western and Indian cords. Its really difficult to differentiate both the types of music. This is supposed to be a climax song where all the 3 brothers with 3 different tastes in music come together to lip-sync this gem of a track! Anyways, a great piece!

8. Manmohini Morey - Literally no two words on this 3 minute 11 sec masterpiece Hindustani Classical number. If you find one, please do let me know. Dude, Vijay Prakash, I think you've truely arrived! Congratulations!!!

9. Shano Shano - Remix - Not an usual remix where the whole song is repeated with a high tempo and inordinate and inconsistent loops. But really a remix sounding different from the original number.

On the whole, i have no qualms in admitting that this is one of ARR's best works. But on the brighter side, which album of his, is not his best?!!

I am definitely glad that ARR hasn't admitted till now that XYZ album is his best. I wish and honestly feel that he shouldn't. Why? You ask me why? well, have you ever heard/seen of a river having its favourite river bank? No isn't? It won't reveal its fav bank and not even when it meets its destination i.e. Ocean or Sea.
I know and wish, ARR will keep searching for his destination while on his way, keep us mesmerised with his music.

Regarding the movie, honestly i don't care. if its good, its a pluspoint! (hehehe).
One info for 'non-Rahmaniacs': if you don't like to hear to ARR try the following:
1. Listen Again.
2. Go to step (1).

After thought: I heard Subhash Ghai telling media that 'Yuvvraaj' is about today's youth and their arrogance. Salman, Anil Kapoor and Youth???!!! I guess, he must have heard of media's lines "40's is today's 20's"...anyways, i admire him w.r.t casting ONLY for ONE thing. A Cello in the hands of Beautiful and Gorgeous Katrina. She truly has that ethereal beauty. Yes, I am jealous of Salman ONLY for this asset of his!!!