Long Post. My Review of “HIGHWAY”. (some spoilers). Hope you like it. Here goes-

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Remember the lovely road trip film, “Zindagi Na Milegi Doobara”, the magnificent journey of characters set in magnificent Spain. We understood their relationships with their work, their pasts, their loves and their lives as they came to terms with their realizations. Or “Motorcycle Diaries”, the gorgeous coming of age of Che Guevera, as two friends ride across the vast lengths of gorgeous South America? We witness the gradual but inevitable transformation of Che, and we understand his sadness as he understands life out there. Or “Yu Tu Mama Tambien”, the all time favorite road trip, set in Mexico, where two friends learn about the ” fragility of life and the finality of death”. And of course also about sexuality as they drive, drink and fornicate.

Road trip films are soulful, as are road trips. Its never about the destination, its about how we get there. Travel has always been chicken soup for the soul. The journeys are typically through breathtaking landscapes. The vastness and infinite power of Nature has much to do with ones transformations. Mountains, rivers, valleys… the mist, the sun and the trees, tell us what they have come to know over millions of years.

Unfortunately “Highway”, Imtiaz Ali’s film, isn’t a great road trip film. What a pity that, Veera ( Alia Bhatt), the protagonist’s statement- ” I don’t like where I came from. I don’t like where we are going. I like the journey, and would like it to last longer”…. was wasted.

The landscape they traverse- the “relationship” transforms as do the surroundings…from the truck moving in the darkness of the night to the dry salt and arid deserts to the greens and the to the beautiful serene snow, mountains, valleys and creeks.

There are several inflection points, which if well handled, would have moved the movie from ok to good. For example, its not clear why Veera’s fear so suddenly dissolves. Its not abundantly evident how and why she finds Mahabir (Randeep Hooda) attractive . One doesn’t easily see Mahabir as a wronged man and so there’s little empathy for him. The plot doesn’t unfold, the characters don’t develop, they just abruptly discover each other and get discovered.

But there were several redeeming scenes. I especially like Veera sitting on a rock watching the river hurtle by, first laughing and then crying. I liked the scene when Mahabir cries as he realizes he has come to far in his life’s journey. He knows that in life you can only go forward, never to return to the crossroads and take another road to another destiny. How he wished he could.

Alia Bhatt was very good for most part. Randeep Hooda sometimes growls and barks rather irritatingly but when he is melancholy and pensive he is good too. Much is written about its cinematography. I found it average, just about doing justice to the beautiful landscapes. The music is vintage AR Rehman .

One thing one must say is that in-spite of all its flaws the film stays with you in your mind. Do watch.

.My rating: two and a half stars.