Rock On!! (2008)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Director:

Abhishek Kapoor

Writers:

Farhan Akhtar (dialogue)
Javed Akhtar (lyrics)

Release Date:

29 August 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

Live your dream

Plot:

Four friends reunite to relive their moments of glory as a rock band. |

Plot Keywords:

Rock Band | Band | Boyfriend Girlfriend Relationship | What Happened To Epilogue | Jump Cut

Awards:

9 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Farhan Akhtar	...	Aditya Shroff
Arjun Rampal	...	Joseph Mascarenhas
Luke Kenny	...	Rob Nancy
Purab Kohli	...	Kedar Zaveri aka Killer 'KD' Drummer
Prachi Desai	...	Sakshi Schroff
Shahana Goswami	...	Debbie
Koel Purie	...	Devika
Nicolette Bird	...	Tanya
Sai Gundewar	...	Bartender
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Suraj Jagan	...	Ajay
Reema Kagti
Himanshu Powdwal	...	Music Video Director

Runtime:

India:145 min

Country:

India

Language:

Hindi

Color:

Color

Certification:

Singapore:PG | India:U

Filming Locations:

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Company:

Excel Entertainment

Trivia:

This film garnered the most prestigious honor from the Library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for including the "Rock On!!" script as a part of the Oscar Library.

Quotes:

Killer 'KD' Drummer: [singing Gloria Gaynor's song] At first I was afraid, I was petrified Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side. But then I spent so many nights thinking how you did me wrong And I grew strong and I learned how to get along And now your back, from outta space I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face I should have changed that stupid lock I should have made you leave your key If I'd have known for just one second you'd be back to bother me Go on now go...

Movie Connections:

References Karz (1980)

Rock On!!...bring it on!

Rock is all about employing electric and bass guitars, thundering drums with a mix of organ or piano or synthesizers giving you all a severe head-banging session. Well, that's what rock means to me and Rock On! is a great attempt bringing the same feel to 70MM! Rock On! is an ideal example of bridging cult with mainline Hindi cinema. Kudos!

The movie is about how 4 talented friends with same passion for music creates a band called Magik and wanted to become 'somebody' in music industry. The movie focuses on how they stay together, achieve what they want to, broke up with each other and re-unites one last time. Director has done a marvelous job in bringing all characters alive. He didn't allow more characters floating all around and coming in between. He simply focuses on Magik and their select close ones.

Soul of this movie lies in its music. The music of Rock On! is packed with extremely catchy kick ass numbers. Though all the numbers are rocking but my top three favorites are 'Zehreelay' 'Pichhle Saat Dinon' and 'Ye Tumhari Meri Baatein'. 'Zehreelay' is the heaviest soundtrack of any Indian movie so far. It's wild, full of energy and extremely noisy. Lyrics are weird and the interesting part is the vocal. You can do extreme screaming when you sing in English but when it comes to Hindi, it's a different ball game. It is tough to sing so loud and extreme that too with perfect vocals in Hindi. Simply hell yeah! 'Pichhle saat dinon' is a song that grows on you and later, you can't live without. The song is so popular that they have made a spl video for it. 'Ye Tumhari Meri Baatein' is beautiful song with a tinge of jazz to it. It will make you feel as if it is made for you and your love. Another wonderful track is 'Socha hai'. It's like back to roots, real rock song where lyrics come out from no where. Title soundtrack 'Rock On!', 'Sindbad the sailor' and 'Fir Dekhiye' are simply outstanding. Another special song is a slow rock ballad 'Tum ho to'. In age of one song wonder soundtracks Rock On! is a surprise package. Each and every song is a chart buster. In fact, I'm now so used to listening Rock On! songs where ever I roam! Office, Pubs, Music stores and channels, Radio its every where! It's like rock music in its purest form with a strong, insistent back beat, and a catchy melody!

The movie is well crafted but the plot is not something new. It's a predictable movie and you know exactly what will happen next. Also, dialogs don't have that punch like the songs and its theme. I like Farhan Akhtar as a director, singer, and actor but excluding his voice. I do not know why but some how he is not that great when he talks.

There are so many well crafted scenes that had lit up this movie. My favorite scene is where Magik performs at a local society to raise money. I will not reveal much of it but I just couldn't stop laughing like mad while watching it. Also, the scene where Magik performs at a music contest then fights with each other and split. Its sheer delight as director sketched those scenes brilliantly.

Rock On! truly justifies its title with some heavy dope of rocking music and acting. More important, it's the simplicity of the movie which will make you happy while coming out of the movie screen with a message to all- know matter what may come... keep rocking!