Film Review: Highway

Starring:  Randeep Hooda and Alia Bhatt

Directed by Imtiaz Ali

Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala & Imtiaz Ali

Written by Imtiaz Ali

Music by A. R. Rahman

Cinematography Anil Mehta

Editing by Aarti Bajaj

Imtiaz Ali has shown courage to do a film with an unusual story, as is his style, not common in Bollywood. This film is more of a travel story with many twists and turns.

The story opens with the preparations on for the marriage of Veera Tripathy (Alia Bhatt) who is a young girl from a very rich family. She is a happy-go-lucky character. Just before the marriage day, she slips out of her house at night with her to-be husband. She wants to travels the lonely roads like a free bird, enjoying the wind and the fresh air around. But she is kidnapped at a gas station on the outskirts of the city by a gang whose leader is Mahabir Bhati (Randeep Hooda), who were there to loot the gas station.

After being captured, Veera is forced into a car and driven to the gang’s hideout which is beyond the city limits.

The gang comes to know she is the daughter of rich man who has high political connections in Delhi and they have no chance to ask for ransom for the release of the girl as they will be found out.

It is then Mahabir is no mood to give up, and puts the girl inside the back of a truck with some friends and moves on.

They travel the Highway, from Ajmer Sharif into some parts of Rajasthan, then move on to Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir. The passage shows beautiful scenes which are really a joy of beauty to the eyes.

The story takes a turn when the girl does not reject her captivity but starts enjoying the ride along the roads, enjoying every place and scene and most importantly the freedom that she missed in her rich lifestyle. She also speaks her heart out to Mahabir and tells him about some dark secrets of her life. When Veera asks Mahabir about his mother, she rakes up his childhood days in his mind which had witnessed some bitter experiences.

The story picks up interest from the beginning but somewhere in the middle loses pace. The ending could have been better but was quicker than expected.

Alia Bhatt in the character of Veera has done very well. Her talent can be seen in the chubby-bubbly character and also her emotions clearly visible in the dramatic scenes. Randeep Hooda as Mahabit Bhati fits in his part with his unkempt looks and he has portrayed his character like that required of him. Both have done justice to their roles.

Music in the film by A.R.Rahman is really good and befitting to the sequence. And the cinematographer Anil Mehta has done a commendable job. Unless one watches the movie it is hard to depict in words.

The film is not a typical Bollywood drama or romance but the road travelled gives a breather to the mind. It is a movie with a difference.

Highway is worth watching for it is a story which happens in our society but not told in everyday life…something different.

© gouriguha 2014