Movie Review: ‘Highway’
A relative newcomer as leading lady, a male lead who hasn’t yet had a major blockbuster hit with him in a main role and a director whose last film was a little hatke to say the least; this pretty much sums up the credentials of ‘Highway’. When Alia Bhatt is paired (not literally but on screen) with Randeep Hooda under the visionary that is Imtiaz Ali, it is almost a surefire indication that the film may either be a hit or a miss. It would be difficult to say that there would be a midway point as the promos seem to come across as a very out-of-the-box plot fit specifically for the jodi in the film. However, such films seem to split the global audiences of Bollywood. Does Ali hit the right chord with the right actors in a film he’s been wanting to make for over well over a decade?
Veera Tripathy (Bhatt), daughter of a renowned businessman, is preparing for her wedding when the suffocation of family surrounding her gets the better of her. She decides to call her fiance Vinay to take her for a drive in his car. Having sneaked out of the house and enjoying just a few moments of peace before the wedding madness is to be returned to, Veera desperately requests Vinay to take her further afield. The couple start arguing in the car and, when Vinay stops at a petrol station, Veera gets out of the car for some fresh air. At that moment, a gunshot is heard and a group of roughly dressed men come falling out of the station shop. As they run in Veera’s direction and most run past her, Mahabir (Hooda) stops and puts a gun to her head, forcing her to the ground. As she shouts in Vinay’s direction for some help, she is pushed into a car with the men and they drive off, leaving the station. Where were they going? Who were they? What will they do to Veera?
There are a lot of questions that ‘Highway’ leaves unanswered throughout the movie. However, you’d be sadly mistaken if you feel that the story of the film is left incomplete. Without a proper script to carry the story through its shoot and major improvisation at the director’s say, ‘Highway’ suddenly becomes interesting when one learns that the actors are actually acting – without being told what to say and how to say it. Ali, very cleverly, tackles some of the most sensitive subjects throughout the journey of ‘Highway’ but he never lets them take over the overall meaning of the film. Not once are you shown the flip-side and this helps the impact of the story greatly because he makes you identify with only the parts he wants to put in front of your eyes. This is perhaps the biggest thing that sets it apart from your average film and is arguably a high point of ‘Highway’. The audiences’ emotions are not divided between what is morally right or wrong but more with what is going on between the characters and how the relationship between the one who is kidnapped and the captor sees many changes throughout. Ali, it has to be said, has attempted a plot which is undoubtedly controversial but one that is portrayed in a way that should get him international acclaim. If one did not know this was a film hailed by Indian cinema, one would never guess it came from such a world or such a director for that matter. This is not to say that Bollywood is in any kind of time-warp but more that Ali has sought to add one more film to an already evolving industry and audience.
It’s safe to say that Bhatt and Hooda are as far apart as chalk and cheese. This is evident from the very first looks of the movie, however, audiences should walk away unable to imagine any other actors in these two roles. Bhatt’s debut in 2012’s ‘Student of the Year’ is not once referenced or similar to Veera of ‘Highway’. She goes completely de-glam for the role, looking innocent in all the right places and giving the performance of a lifetime in what is only her second offering. Having said that, ‘Highway’ seems to be carried very much by Mahabir Bhatti, played by Hooda. Now here is an actor who arrived on the scene a few years ago but remained a talent that not many had realised the potential of. Ali uses Hooda’s raw acting talent as his trump card, so to speak. Making him appear unattractive, temperamental, and portray one of the least likeable characters possible, Ali very much transforms Hooda from an actor who could have slipped through the Bollywood net to an actor who has now made his mark – better late than never. One only hopes that more filmmakers see this actor in a different light and now begin offering him roles which will give audiences more of him in the way he should be seen.
The music of the movie, composed by A R Rahman, is the soul of the film. Rahman’s compositions are always popular but no doubt when the audiences flock to see ‘Highway’ they will see (and hear) that Rahman is the perfect choice for it. ‘Patakha Guddi’ is very much a freedom song for Veera and is proving popular with the masses. ‘Maahi Ve’, sung by Rahman, is also a great piece of music. Bhatt has given her voice to ‘Sooha Saha’ which is given a fabulous meaning in the film.
As the introduction suggests, ‘Highway’ may well be liked by many and also not quite understood by others. The controversial parts will be an issue for some whereas the seen-a-thousand-times-before road trip plot may come across as tedious to others. ‘Highway’ has more highs than it does lows but, in order to understand the former, one needs to see the latter. There is great potential and realism in the story of ‘Highway’ but, just as life has no script or definite order to follow, ‘Highway’ should perhaps be taken in that same way. Expect the unexpected and throw any prior assumptions you may have out of the window because the only way you will be able to enjoy the true impact of ‘Highway’ is if you are open to the unconventional, the immoral and the downright unpredictable. Get your head out of typical Indian cinematic grandeur and, instead, prepare for a journey of the lifetime.
BizAsia Showbiz Rating: 3.5/5
