Songs rock, story fails

Ranbir Kapoor’s middle-finger salute, in a way, defines Rockstar — it doesn’t care.

The singer defies the system and greets his fans with blows most of the time. All he cares about is his love Nargis Fakhri (all pout, no show).

Imtiaz Ali treats Rockstar with the same freedom he gives his protagonist (Ranbir, in a role of a lifetime). Everything would have worked so wonderfully well had the script been not allowed to assume that it’s a kite let loose.

Rockstar wanders from Delhi to Kashmir to Prague, and then comes back to Delhi — a journey which doesn’t make much sense story-wise, but transforms Ranbir’s Janardhan into Jordan, the rebellious star with mass hysteria powers.

Damn the flaws, the movie makes an impact, courtesy Ranbir Kapoor, who proves he is in the business not just because of his surname. As the Jim Morrison fan hunting for a heartbreak so that he can become a star too (after gyaan from college canteen that great pain makes great artistes), Ranbir portrays the naive wannabe, the rock performer and the emotional wreck with amazing ease. Alas his pair, model-turned-actress Fakhri, seems still trapped on the ramp.

Now, what is Rockstar without A R Rahman! The maestro’s music is the soul and spine of the movie. All songs, already chartbusters, are woven beautifully into the story.
Rockstar succeeds in exploring the eccentricities of a musical genius, but falters while telling his story. And all you take back is Ranbir and Rahman.