Highway Movie Review - Everyone Has A Story To Tell

My house is located, almost at a junction of three states and three highways, so to go anywhere in the city or outside, I have to transverse on at least two. And I enjoy travelling, exploration and journeys are one of the things, that I value when I look back at my life.

I mentioned this because Highway is one movie that would make you reflect a lot, that too a lot many things and wonder about the wonders of your journey  so far. However, the movie may leave you confused.

The Performances

The review will be replete with such instances and personal memoirs because Highway touches many chords, a different one for everyone. Alia Bhatt is a carefree, flying, emotional and eloquent bird, she does have something to tell, which she reveals through the course of the movie. She says that she doesn't wish to go back, neither she wants to reach the destination, she wishes to relish the journey. Alia, once out of her house, is finally able to express her dream, she eventually could fulfill it, but a lot does happen in between, and that what the movie is about. Alia excels in the performance, there is bucket full of emotions for her to show, she does it commendably, expectations increase hence. 

Randeep Hooda, with his one nostril always flared up, taned skin, rugged look, perfect accent, is very convincing. He hardly speaks, is astounded by Alia's mannerisms and tantrums, something bothers him, (which is never revealed in the movie) and is disconnected from everyone around. Around us, don't we know at least one person who is held back, there is something that bothers him or her, rarely speaks the heart out, and could  break down when shown unexpected generosity and love. Randeep Hooda is that individual, all in one.

I was talking to a dear friend of mine, I said lets just to a village, farm and enjoy the greenery, have cows and pets and lead a calm and peaceful life. Alia had the something similar in her little dream. Highway is about this dream, that we have in all of us, to run away from what we have in our lives, make an ideal home in the mountains or on a beach, away from all the baggage and the pain. Alia wishes to escape from the shackles of the richness and as for Randeep, nobody knows.

The Story

It is a very Imtiaz Ali film, not at all a good one. All his characters break moulds they are made in, they are very random in their acts, they do not hesitate (the girls majorly). Same is the case with Highway. Alia embarks on a journey nobody wanted her to ever take, Randeep obstinately moves to go ahead with the kidnapping and ransom thing. Characters do random things, earlier Alia cries when she is kidnapped but suddenly she is all warmed up, she even refuses to reveal herself to the police, a fact even she is not clear about that why she did it. Yes, people are different and their conditioning makes them what they are, but they must fit into the premise of a sensible plot, which Imtiaz could not achieve this time.

Apart from the unconservativeness of the characters, one word that was in my mind till the very end of the movie was 'randomness', there are many more turns in the story which would make absolute no sense. Also, the movie addresses not just travelling, breaking rules or falling in love, but a lot many other things, which leaves viewers to look for a particular direction for the movie to move in. Script is haphazard and there are very few moments that would stay with you after you step out of the hall. Climax, though not surprising, is still not totally believable. There is little humor too, but it is now a part of every movie, here also, it just breaks the monotonous pace of the movie. Towards the end, you just want to get it over with.

On the good side, the movie is a picturesque journey, all the locations are beautifully captured by Anil Mehta, colorful as our country is, so is the movie. The terrain is remarkably used to depict the fullness of the bond in the lead characters, it keeps on getting fuller and brighter. I have traveled a lot on the similar highways, so the recognition took me home. Music and background score is subtle, it is by A.R. Rahman, it has an embracing effect on the plot and does not over spill.

To put an end to this, Highway touches many chords but the music fails to reverberate for long. Highway didn't disappoint me, but it didn't do anything else either. It is a journey in itself, and a journey, how much ever filled with bumps, is never unyielding. Buy the ticket, and tell your story, if you liked it or not.

Stars of the movie - N.A.

Stars to the movie - 2.5