Wake Up Sid

Wake Up Sid is a film that reminds you of those college days, when for those naughty few guys in class, life was all about - girls, cars, night life and gaming. Directed by Ayan Mukherji, Ranbir plays the lead role of Sid while the very talented Konkana Sen Sharma is Aisha. Karan Johar's Dharma Productions produces this refreshing entertainer that should be remembered and loved for years to come.
The character of Sid has shades of Hrithik in Lakshya, Aamir / Saif in Dil Chahta Hai and director Ayan Mukherji seems to be a huge fan of Farhan Akhtar and his films. After a long time we have a movie that is restricted to the lead characters, yes the director has included some ill-conceived characters like those played by Rahul Khanna and Kashmeera Shah, but the focus largely remains on Sid and Aisha.
Wake Up Sid strikes the right cord from the onset. With simple but tight screenplay, delicate dialogues and lots of freshness, the movie leaves you tingled all over with joy. No exaggerated scenes, no unnecessarily long flash backs, no fuss, no melodrama, Ayan has given the movie just the perfect treatment it deserved. Hope to see a lot more of this young and talented director. The movie starts off very well, quickly introducing the characters and without wasting time divulges deeply into the lives of Sid and Aisha. You instantly feel the connection with the characters and can easily relate some of your experiences too, and this makes Wake Up Sid a great watch start to finish. The instant birthday celebration, the one where Sid's mom practices English to be her son's friend, the father-son confrontation and later the first pay cheque, are among the many scenes that make an impact.
While the first half is fast-paced, the second half gets a little sluggish and stretched. But as the movie nears the climax, it picks up pace and leaves you heart-warmed. A big round of applause to the entire team, the movie feels right and looks absolutely fantastic on screen. It has what it takes to cast a charismatic spell on its audience. Anil Mehta's cinematography is first-rate, be it the Queen's necklace at Marine Drive, or the Mumbai monsoon, everything is captured beautifully. The background score too is perfectly in tune with the movie. The blending of Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy's music into the script, adds to the depth and feel of this light-hearted entertainer. Among all the songs, Iktara stands out the most. And at the end, you walk out of theatres mesmerized with some bitter-sweet memories lingering in your minds.
Ranbir Kapoor and Konkona Sen Sharma are rightly cast. No one else could have handled these roles with such dexterity and charm. Ranbir effortlessly fits into the skin of Sid and excels in every scene. Konkona Sen Sharma is always dependable and as Aisha she is at her natural best. Anupam Kher and Supriya Pathak are good.
To sum up, Wake Up Sid is a charming experience. A feel good entertainer for audience of all ages, especially the youngsters. Do watch it.