Writer: Janak

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Watch this if you liked: “Kabhi Haa Kabhi Naa”, “Dil Chahta Hai”, “The School of Rock”

"Rock On" comes in with a most surprising package for a Bollywood cinema - with all the right ingredients a Hindi movie should have. Just like the extra something director-producer Farhan Akhtar did in his directorial debut "Dil Chahta Hai" back in 2001 that turned it into an instant phenomenon, "Rock On" goes but many steps ahead of its predecessor. Directed by Abhishek Kapoor and produced by Akhtar himself, the movie was written to nearly perfecting what a movie really needs - to be something different yet special. Safest bet, I would say "Rock On" would be one of the most refreshing Bollywood movies ever produced and will last for years to come.

The real backbone of the movie is the cast themselves. Every single actor performed naturally and each character is so well explained that audiences would actually believe the band really does exist! Director Abhisek Kapoor really did a splendid job in narrating the story as well. Even though the plot seems to be predictable at times, it will still surprise the audience as it moves along. The story is very nicely narrated that it won't keep the audience bored by any means.

The movie didn't really focus much on the effects but fantastic camera movements will give the audience a real feeling of recording studios, gigs and even mini concerts. Never before has Bollywood produced such a beautiful camera movements for retro-feel movies till now. Cinematography by Jason West will make audiences fall in love with the picturesque Goa. The marvelous backdrop provides the exact feeling of what the movie really needs and it goes better and better with every scene.

The songs and music were so well composed by Shankar-Ehsan-Loy that will you will find yourself singing along with it and amazing lyrics written by Javed Akhtar will take your breath away. The soundtrack is so refreshing and vibrant that one would listen to it time and again. Overall, there are no words to describe the movie except that it is definitely one of the most inspirational, fresh and rocking Hindi movies of 2008. An awesome movie not to be missed, it will definitely rock you for sure...

Cinema Online, 23 September 2008