Reviews for WAKE UP SID - Page 9

As a country, India is getting younger by the day. Today we have a majority percent of youth which is one of the highest in the world, a fact that is finally finding reflection in our Parliament, and now slowly in our cinema too. Wake Up Sid is a coming of age college film and as its all-English title suggests, targeted towards the growing tribe of urban youth. Refreshingly, though the debutant director is in his mid 20s, he displays a fairly mature hand. Wake Up Sid sets the tone of the film from the very first scene, as we find Sid (Ranbir Kapoor) sitting at a study table, late one night, studying for his final year exams. He puts aside his comic books and music magazines and reluctantly picks up an accountancy book. Then he slowly reads out a question, and struggles to make sense of the equation involved, till he finally gives up. Instantly, the audience empathises with the hero, for who hasn't been through the pain of studying. From thereon, Wake Up Sid maintains an almost sleepy, deliberate pace, unhurried in these rushed times and a refreshing change. Siddharth Mehra (Ranbir Kapoor) is a rich, spoilt boy, who thinks life is one big holiday. He parties relentlessly with his college buddies, a well cast lot and sleeps in late regularly. Sid refuses to grow up and become mature and thinks his chief purpose in life is to spend papa's money, via the credit card. One day he meets Aisha (Konkona Sen Sharma), a struggling writer from Kolkata, who is the polar opposite of Sid. From an ordinary background, Aisha has dreams and ambitions, and is willing to work towards them. • Their bonding together sequences are very well handled, though the story tends to follow a predictable pattern The duo become unlikely friends. First, Sid helps Konkona move into an old dirty flat, which they then do up together. Following a fight with his father (Anupam Kher) over his aimless ways, Sid moves in with Aisha, though the two are still not going around. Aisha finds a job with a magazine edited by a dishy looking Rahul Khanna, while Sid just hangs around, messing up her flat. Slowly the wiser and older Aisha rubs off on silly Sid, until the point where he is ready to find himself a job. Their bonding together sequences are very well handled, though the story tends to follow a predictable pattern. Yet the fresh acting and realistic production design make it worth the watch. It's great to see Anupam in a real role, while Supriya Pathak is a bit forced with her pidgin English act. The cast of friends in Wake Up Sid is fresh, even though most are stock college-friend characters. Both Namit Das and Shikha Talsania are good in their roles, while Kainaz Motiwala has an exuberant quality to her. Alarmingly, the film has some strange lines. One such beauty is when sexy neighbour Kashmera Shah abruptly tells Konkona "Chal gossip karte hai. How's your sex life?" Ranbir puts in a masterly performance as the goofy, charming boy-man, who is struggling to find his way in the world. Ranbir has a charming vulnerability coupled with a cheeky insouciance that makes him superstar material, the kind of boy who is adored both by the dadi and her granddaughter. And thank the cinema gods for Konkona Sen Sharma. The talented actress once again puts in a nuanced performance, as we have come to expect from her. Well done, Sid.

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/30/2009100320091003021541343a9bce92c/Well-done-SID.html

WHAT'S IT ABOUT: Wake Up Sid is a coming-of-age film for three reasons other than its content: firstly, it marks producer Karan Johar's transistion into a new territory (less glamour, more real); the debut of young director Ayan Mukherjee and most importantly, proves once again the volcanic talent of Ranbir Kapoor.

Aimed mainly at the urban, bubble-gum generation, WUS tells the story of the happy-go-lucky and lazy Sid (Ranbir) who loves living life his way no studies, no responsibilities and no pressures.

Even when his father (Anupam Kher) forces Sid to work with him, he can't take it for more than a week. His only solace is his new friend Aisha (Konkona Sen Sharma) who's just arrived in the city.

She's also the one who gives him shelter after he walks out of his house over differences with parents. This is the turning point in Sid's life.



As he learns to shoulder the burdens of life, it also draws him closer to his responsibilities, his parents and the woman he loves.

WHAT'S HOT: In any film that caters to the Gen Next and their issues, the tone is of essence. And WUS gets it right. Sid's problems are real; his handling of them is real, as is his approach in overcoming them. Ayan's story has a leisurely feel, and has plenty of sensitive moments.

There are a number of highs in the film scenes laden with innocence and intensity: Sid blaming his best friend for his own failure; his subsequent fight with his parents and breakdown in Aisha's house; the entire Sid-Aisha living-together track; Sid's helplessness when he's not financially supported by his parents and the angst that follows; Sid's meeting with his mother (Supriya Pathak); his emotional reunion with his father; the parting with Aisha and the eventual realisation of love.

Ayan shows remarkable maturity in handling what begins as a fun film and slowly translates into an uplifting story of a boy growing into a man.

The songs are well interspersed adding to the film's mood (Iktara being the pick of the lot); Mumbai city has been captured beautifully in full glory (don't miss the fleeting shot of the Hanging Gardens). Among the actors, Anupam Kher is simply outstanding he steals almost every scene he's a part of. Supriya Pathak has the motherly charm.

Konkona Sen Sharma is a delight the entire process of her discovering her love for Sid, keeping her feelings guarded, the frustrations thereafter and the final admission she is first rate. But WUS is totally a Ranbir Kapoor film.

As hopeless Sid, he makes you laugh. As helpless Sid, he makes you feel protective. As focused Sid, he makes you want to believe in him. And as romantic Sid, he makes you fall in love again. Ranbir makes Sid come alive. Watch him in the scene where he wears Koko's kurta and his reactions in the mirror as he understands his feelings for her.

WHAT'S NOT: If only the loose ends in the script were corrected, WUS would've been the film it deserved to be. Ayan needed to add some surprise elements in his script after one point, you know what the next scene is going to be like.

Also, we're waiting for Sid to reform and become a good boy but Ayan takes far too long to make that happen. The Sid-Aisha love story has its moments but the chemistry between them is not established. Except their introductory where she tells him, "I'm not going to sleep with you."

Certain characters aren't explained and neither developed Kashmera Shah as the sultry neighbour; the trainee girl who likes Sid and Aisha's boss for instance there is something amiss in each of them. The by-now 'special appearance' specialist Rahul Khanna continues his awkward act with his expressions.

WHAT TO DO: Don't miss it for its special moments and the brilliance of Ranbir Kapoor. He makes you want to be a Sid and go back to college.

Wake Up Sid
U; Comedy/drama
Dir: Ayan Mukherjee
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Konkona Sen Sharma, Anupam Kher, Supriya Pathak
***

http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/2009/oct/031009-Wake-Up-Sid-Movie-Review.htm

Ranbir is a rockstar!! I am so glad he's being appreciated in WUS

i got to see it i liked it. it was a nice one time watch. i really enjoyed the chem b/w Kokana and Ranbir. Ranbir was a surprise i liked him alot in the movie. i cried to lol, sid reminded me alot of my brother i give it 3.5/5

Originally posted by: ana1

i got to see it i liked it. it was a nice one time watch. i really enjoyed the chem b/w Kokana and Ranbir. Ranbir was a surprise i liked him alot in the movie. i cried to lol, sid reminded me alot of my brother i give it 3.5/5

did u?😳??yay...i am not the only one then😳😆
😆

Originally posted by: friends_rock

did u?😳??yay...i am not the only one then😳😆
😆

lol yeahh im a mushy gushy person cant handle sad scences to well😳

Originally posted by: friends_rock

so am i the crazy one who cried?LMAOO...now i feel stupid adn embarrased LOL

😆😆 Areyy u dont have to feel embarrased. It's just that we've seen a lot 'coming of age' movies that are a lot more emotional. But Ranbir-koko deserve a hit with this one. Like Imran said- consistency is awesome.

Nice review mannu 😆

ana ji ko tho aya na....yehi kafi hai LOL..atleast i have 1 partner!

Hahha Hiru! I didn't know ke tum itno emotional ho😆