Cast: Akshay Oberoi, Sandeepa Dhar, Salman Khan (Cameo), Mohnish Behl, Prachi Shah, Aditya Raj Kapoor
Director: Vidhi Kasliwal
Director: Vidhi Kasliwal
Bollywood is ending the year 2010 with a significant change; its movies even belonging to big banners have started casting new faces. After Ranveer Singh made a mark in ‘Band Baaja Baaraat’, it’s the turn of two newcomers beginning their innings in Bollywood before the end of 2010. Rajshri Productions hits theaters with its latest flick titled ‘Isi Life Mein’ on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2010. Incidentally, the movie is debut for its lead cast of Akshay Oberoi and Sandeepa Dhar and also its director Vidhi Kasliwal, the niece of Barjatyas. Vidhi has made a light-hearted entertainer spiced with wisdom.
The movie centers around the lives and beliefs of two teenagers - Vivaan played by Akshay Oberoi (Yes, Viveik Oberoi’s cousin) and Rajnandini played by Sanddeepa Dhar. The movie highlights their efforts and capabilities to make it big in their respective worlds. Rajnandini is a small town girl brought up in a traditional family inhibited with true family cultures and customs. Her parents wish to marry her early instead of letting her pursue her dreams. However, her mother helps her skip to Mumbai to fulfill her passion. On the other hand, Vivaan along with his gang of friends, leads a quirky and freaky life in Mumbai. Music is his passion and obsession. However, his father wants him to become a Chartered Accountant. As the luck would have it, Rajnandini’s mother’s sister (Mausi) gets her niece admitted in a Mumbai college.
Vivaan and Rajnandini cross each other’s path in the college and soon share similar understandings. However, their parents have their own mindsets. Thus, the movie reflects today’s social scenario faced by the new generation. Do the teenagers finally overcome the old traditions and fulfill their dreams and aspirations in this very life (‘Isi Life Mein’) is the moot question raised in the movie. Though Rajshri Productions is known for their hits in this particular genre , it faces tough competition from two other much hyped movies - ‘Tees Maar Khan’ starring Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif , and ‘Toonpur Ka Superhero’ starring Ajay Devgn and wife Kajol, releasing simultaneously .
‘Isi Life Mein’ is a good entertainer for the teenagers who would find it very close to their heart. At the same time, it imparts a good advice to the old generation too; they should learn to allow their children to live their own lives! If it succeeds in changing the old outlook, the producer and the director would heave a sigh of relief. Hence, the plot and the screenplay are well connected.Meet Bros, Anjan and Ankit have provided the music to the lyrics penned by Manoj Muntashir. As far as the debut director Vidhi Kasliwal is concerned, she is the daughter of Barjatyas and has taken filmmaking in her stride. She recalls her grandfather Tarachand Barjatya (who founded Rajshri Productions in 1947) asking her to write a love story for the new generation. "I not only wrote ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’ but also ended up directing it’, she adds. Besides, she is too proud that Salman Khan has blesses her movie with his presence, though briefly.
Acting-wise too, the movie succeeds as the two newcomers fare very well. In fact, the debutant director shows the way to her seniors that while portraying college life, only teenagers, maybe freshers, should be preferred.