Wake Up Sid Movie Review
This one has no middle ground. You will either love Wake Up Sid or just hate it. A section of the viewers are likely to complain about the lack of a coherent plot and its leisurely pace. But on the flip side, that’s exactly why Wake Up Sid works. Director Ayan Mukerji hasn’t gone in for a lavish, exaggerated debut. Like Love Aaj Kal and Luck By Chance, restrained and subtle portrayal of emotions are its high point.
Sid Mehra (Ranbir Kapoor) is not Aamir Khan of Dil Chahta Hai or Hrithik Roshan of Lakshya. They may have been rich and lazy. But both were essentially kind hearted, chilled-out guys.
Sid on the other hand has been depicted as an extremely arrogant and rude youngster. He shares an uncomfortable relationship with his parents. And while he is proud of his father’s bank balance, Sid is equally embarrassed about working in his family’s bathroom fittings business. It’s elements like these, which distinguish the film from a regular urban comedy. In fact Wake Up Sid does not go in for an out-and-out humourous take on Ranbir’s character. Neither does it give long, melodramatic sermons.
Sid’s journey towards self-discovery begins when he meets the mature and older Ayesha (Konkona Sen Sharma). An independent, ambitious writer, she is everything that Sid isn’t. Opposites attract and the two start enjoying each other’s company, just because they are unlike anyone else in their lives. Ayesha’s world of struggle is like a learning experience for Sid. An incident forces Sid to move in with Ayesha. Reluctantly, he even starts realising his responsibilities. But proximity does not translate into love for Sid and Ayesha. The differences in their personalities that brought Sid and Ayesha closer, emerge as the biggest challenge in their relationship. And Sid’s search for his own identity keeps influencing his ever-changing equation with Ayesha.
Ranbir Kapoor plays Sid with utmost sincerity and conviction. As the clueless, rich kid whose life is defined by his credit card, Ranbir looks born to play the part. Kapoor has a rare screen presence. And this film is proof of why he is way ahead of his contemporaries. Perhaps Ranbir actually is Sid for many strugglers in Bollywood – who might be envious of his famous surname. But then as the film suggests – being born rich is no crime, wasting away one’s life is. And Ranbir Kapoor is certainly not wasting the opportunities he is getting. Here is one actor who can pull off a solo hero movie.
Konkona Sen Sharma has played these independent, career driven roles before. But despite a sketchy part, her natural enthusiasm is an asset to the film. Anupam Kher is in form after a long time. As the firm father he delivers one of his strongest performances ever. Kudos to Ayan, for not making Kher repeat his ‘DDLJ dad’ act. Kher and Kapoor’s intense interactions are amongst the best scenes of the movie.
Wake Up Sid’s look and soundtrack belong to Farhan Akhtar’s style of filmmaking. Which is why nothing looks made up or fake. The college portions are not wannabe cool and appear straight out of life. Sid’s friend circle and hangout spots give a sense of reliving Mumbai’s college life.
The narrative is restricted to a short span in the lives of its characters. No dramatic flashbacks or time leaps. From confusion to self-discovery, Sid’s journey is wrapped up in a crisp timeline. Despite coming across as a bit abrupt, Ayan breaks the norms by not promising a happily ever after ending. Unlike a regular Hindi film climax, Ayan makes no commitments. The movie’s end is just a moment in Sid and Ayesha’s life.
A lot of interesting characters like Sid’s intern friend or Ayesha’s boss (Rahul Khanna in a confident cameo) could have been fleshed out more. But given Ayan’s treatment, they are people who were in Sid’s life only for that period. So they exit the plot once they are out of his life. But despite some of these perhaps deliberate inconsistencies, it’s the dialogues, situations and performances that make it an effective film. It may appear slow and shallow – but look closely and you’ll find a deep connect.
Verdict: When the veterans are royally messing up screenplays, Ayan Mukerji deserves full marks for his maiden effort. His conviction shows in every department. Wake Up Sid is easily the freshest film in the marquee.
Rating: 4/5
Via – Buzz In