You can take the Rathod out of Ranjhor, but you cannot take the Ranjhor out of Rathod

It is not exaggarating at all to say that this can be called the DIL CHAHTA HAI of the year. It is dew fresh, it is immensely enjoyable and entertaining minus any form of saccharine or sugar coated romance (which has been almost synonymous with Bollywood). JAANE TU is a breathe of fresh air with a ton load of mint. And the best part of it is, it doesn’t act as a tailor made launch vehicle for Imraan Khan (unlike the other debut releasing this week, yeah the 2050 movie) , but as a whole ensemble entertainer with the perfect choice of actors to play the characters- some unknown, and some very familiar. And oh yes, Jaane Tu is not the debut for Imraan only. It also marks the debut for Pratiek Babbar (son of late Smita Patil) and welcomes back to the screen -Anooradha Patel, Kitu Gidwani and frames Naseeruddin Shah as Ajay Singh Rathod in a painting. Beat that!

Now where do I begin. Of course, from the oil pastel effects when the opening credits are shown. Love all around you in different hues as Rahman’s Jazz settles you down. You need 5 seconds at best to feel it, the smile on your face emerges and you just know it, that this is going to be good. And good it is not, it is GREAT. Of course, we are by now swept by the melody of “Kabhi Kabhi Aditi” to that extent that I have become a bit repulsive to it. But the movie brought it all back. The movie also has a secret character in it- and that is BOMBAY- the roads wet with rain, and reflecting back the streetlights, the necklace at Marine Drive, Sanatcruz Airport, and well, St.Xavier’s picturesque Basketball court. I say -”Aise main Koi Kaise NAA Muskuraye” (How can one not smile at this ). The cinematography is simply put - brilliant.

Next up: Casting Dir. Pakhi. Give her all the adjectives ..the good ones. Excellent job. Because it doesn’t matter if a good actor has got enough footage or not enough lines to speak. It is if he/she can make an impact in even a 2 second appearance. Kitu Gidwani and Rajat Kapoor play the unhappy couple and just a 2 minute conversation is enough for you to believe. Jayant Kripalani and Anooradha Patel on the other hand come across as the coolest parents. Sounds and seems true. Ratna Pathak Shah and Naseeruddin Shah play Imraan’s parents. Ratna Pathak is the “Professor turned Naari Shakti” types which suits her to the last inch. And well, what can I say about Mr.Shah. Even in an oil painting, he is able to infuse life. He speaks, I listen, I laugh and then I applaud. Even the silly Khan Bros as Marlboro Men from Ranjhor made me chuckle with the AID..a.S joke. And yes, it is a welcome relief when Paresh Rawal is not considered as the Dean of Comic Affairs and not handed over with the entire comedy department.

As for the new league of actors included, the one that stands out the most has to be Jiggy (Jignesh Patel) played by Nirav Mehta, a typical Gujju in the gang of pals, who naturally stands out with his streaks and off-beat fashion and of course his accent ( Says Sushant as Soo..saant). Stereotype you say, I know a few exact ones in real. The nicknames are even fresh-Bombs, Meow, Rats, Rotlu, Jiggy. Damn it feels like back in college and it feels good. Only that we had a couple of Non veg suffixes and prefixes. But not to forget, in a very short screentime, Prateik Babbar manages to leave a mark. He feels very confident onscreen and doesn’t try to go overboard.And well, Manjari does manage to make my heart skip a beat. As for Soo..sant (actor name unknown), he is the daftest prick ever. Or so did Mr.Tyrewalla intend him to be. And it is these set of actors which give all the moments in the movie, from the Hum Paanch-esque picture talking, to the Gujju Surprise Birthday party, to the three doctrines of Ranjhors. I will not reveal anymore.

And when it comes to the dazzling part, it is indeed the lead pair which scorches the screen. First up,Imraan. The only actor to have showed his butt on Indian cinema (in Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikander, source: Channel V interview), Imraan is no lame ass actor making a debut on a Chacha Jaan’s publicity boat. Imraan lives the role with the same credibility as Chachajaan Aamir’s Aakash of Dil Chahta Hai . And thank God, that we are finally over actors aged 40 playing college kids. For a time, I started believing that all actors were doing their PhD and somehow their research work dissertation got stolen. Imraan is a charm to see, not at all methodical, and very real. Of course, half of the credit goes to the director Mr.Abbas Tyrewalla and the writer-Mr.Abbas Tyrewalla. Genelia on the other hand, as the chirpy, over the top types, loud gal of the gang is again very real and is not at all filmsy (you know when reel tries to copy real and in an attempt to spice things up makes the curry inedible). Her yuppiness, envy, anger and most importantly confusion is all visible in her eyes. And damn! she does it so effortlessly. Bravo Bravo!!

To wind up, I’d just say “go watch this one”. Because we have all seen this done before, but never before in such a way. Yeah , another college romance. Yeah, another- boy meets girl-boy and girl confused and fall for someone else-and realisation at climax-boy and girl come of age to unite-kinda story. Yeah, in the words of Mr.James Hetfield -So F***ing What!! You’ll love the narrative and the style of story telling, much like Mala did in the climax and hugged Genelia saying Meow, even when she hasn’t met them even once. And you’d for sure be singing-Tera Mujhse Hai Pehle Ka Naata Koi, without caring for your pitch and scale.