Movie Review: Youngistaan

Cast: Jackky Bhagnani, Neha Sharma and Farooque Sheikh Director: Syde Ahmad Afzal

Wish it was so easy to become the Prime Minister of India from a pub-hopping youngster. Wish it was so easy to even romance your girlfriend in between official duties and sing songs against the backdrop of the Tajmahal even as the security paid vigil. Wish it was so easy to scuttle opposition within the party and outside it. Wish it was so easy to enjoy a sweeping victory at the polls just by youthful rhetoric and platitudes

Well, debutant director Syed Ahmad Afzal ends up doing just that in Vashu Bhagnanis Youngistaan. Abhminayu Kaul (Jackky Bhagnani), a games developer living in Japan, gives up his well-paying job and freedom to don the Prime Ministers cap just to honour the promise he gave to his terminally ill father (Boman Irani plays the dying PM). Then on the takeover of the nation is as smooth for him as taking over a well-established family business. The only distraction comes in the form of his relentlessly demanding girlfriend Anvita (Neha Sharma), whod rather romance on the streets than become a princess in a castle.

The film seems topical and could have cut across audiences given the current election scenario but lacks the gravitas of a political drama, which particularly associates itself with the highest seat of power. While there are a million problems that a country faces, the acting PMs problem in the film is only dealing with an immature girlfriend who yearns to have matka kulfi at 4 am! And while she loves him enough to accompany him from Japan and even bear his child, for some reason, shes reluctant to marry him, thereby inviting ire of a conservative public.

Performance wise Jackky Bhagnani is earnest though he lacks the lan that is intrinsic to a character of such power. Neha Sharma is confident and pretty and has the potential to etch her way in showbiz. But the most endearing part of the film is the late Farooque Sheikh (plays the PMs assistant Akbar). Natural, unassuming and flawless, hes gone beyond his penned character. Interestingly, the beginning of the film pays a tribute to the late actor by showing clippings of him on the set where he even happens to tell Jackky, Mera last day tumhare last day se pehle hoga!

The films highlight is the Sufi qawwali Daata di diwaani composed by Shiraz Uppal, composed by Shakeel Sohail and sung by Shiraz Uppal and Rafaqat Ali Khan. The number is the soulful oasis in the simplistic film.

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Movie Review: Youngistaan