Movie Review: 'Youngistaan'

While the film has a very interesting premise, it is totally diluted by lazy scriptwriting and sketchy direction 

'Youngistaan'
U/A: Drama/ Romance
Director: Syed Ahmad Afzal
Cast: Jackky Bhagnani, Neha Sharma, Farooq Sheikh, and Kayoze Irani
Rating: 

To have politics as the backdrop of your script and make the film interesting is not an easy job. And that's perhaps why most Hindi filmmakers have not ventured out to make such movies. However, 'Youngistaan' attempts to take on the challenge. Twenty eight-year-old Abhimanyu Kaul (Jackky Bhagnani) is happy with his life, working for a Japanese gaming company during the day and romancing his live-in girlfriend, Anvaita (Neha Sharma), in the after-hours. But his life is set for an overhaul as his father, the Prime Minister of India (Boman Irani), is on his deathbed and has made plans to get Abhimanyu to take his place.

Jackky Bhagnani and Neha Sharma in 'Youngistaan'

Absolutely clueless, Abhi is thrown into the vortex of politics and life takes a 360-degree turn. His girlfriend is finding it difficult to adapt to the situation, and Abhi is under tremendous stress. But after a point, Abhi decides to turn things in his favour, without compromising on his personality or lifestyle. A very interesting premise, but it is totally diluted by lazy scriptwriting and sketchy direction. The first half meanders unnecessarily as it harps on Anwaita's character and her misgivings, and after a point you just want to get done with her problems and move on. The second half picks up as it has some action when Abhi takes on some treacherous politicians within his party who are planning to bring him down. But even then it seems too hurriedly put together, just to make for a grand ending for Abhimanyu's character.

Jackyy Bhagnani's character is said to be inspired by Rahul Gandhi. That aside, one must say Jackyy has handled the role with quite a bit of earnestness and maturity. Neha Sharma is not bad, but she is given a one-dimensional character, and after a point she starts getting irritating. Farooq Sheikh (as the PM's aide, Akbar) is given a carticaturish role, where all he does is nod in approval. Wish the late actor had a better role in his last big screen appearance.

This script must have looked great on paper and it had huge potential too. But it's the shallow treatment that seems to have killed the spirit of the script. Watch it once if politics turns you on, and with election fever in the air, this seems like just the right time too.

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