How does one review a movie so absurdly polished, so phenomenally original and nifty? A mere thousand-word article does no justice to this staggering achievement.
There's no way around it - 'Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year' is a stunningly assured piece of moviemaking from Shimit Amin.
If it had lived up to its golden first five minutes, 'Rocket Singh' would have been the movie of the decade. But the film is lighthearted and enjoyable, with just enough undercurrents of human frailty to keep the story interesting.
The film glides through its well-structured script, letting the audience coast along with it and allowing the performers to create the magic. And the best thing about 'Rocket Singh' is that its the first Yash Raj film that respects its own characters wholeheartedly, without a wink.
Rocket Singh's tone is perfectly pitched, its dialogue is absolutely right and is delivered with performances that will remain in your hearts and minds for a very long time. And it's not just the character of Rocket (Harpreet) Singh, but also the supporting cast and characters who bring this story to life. Take for example the character Puri, who plays Harpreet's boss, is astonishingly, lovably villainous. Or for that matter the Hyderabadi Santosh, the perpetually befuddled porn-addict computer assembler. Or the sales shark Nitin, with his venomous demeanor, razor sharp brain and hilarious sideburns. Or Chhotelal Misra, the frustrated peon, or the striving receptionist Koena. Heck, even Harpreet's office mates in their bit roles make a big impression. The casting was just impeccable. Shazahn Padamsee was the one weak link of the film, a better actress would have been a jackpot, but that's just moaning. You can find things to complain about what it is. But nothing really compares to what it is.
Ranbir Kapoor's charming turn in 'Rocket Singh' is the greatest of his short career. Expect a Force 10 gale of a performance from Ranbir, charismatic, spirited, exasperated and restrained all at once if you can imagine that. His devotion to the character is itself extraordinary - there are genuine glints in his eyes. No doubt about it, he is the most talented lead actor of this generation.
Director Amin has managed an impressive achievement that qualifies as a great Bollywood film. He knows a thing or two about pacing, and it's relentless here. Even in its near 3-hour runtime, there is not a scene that bores or seems unnecessary. Miraculously, Amin does away with songs, and with the sleight of hand handles the love angle with refreshing nonchalance. The final confrontation scene between Harpreet and his boss is itself worth the price of admission. Screenwriter Jaideep Sahni deftly explores (mostly the humorous side of) sticky subjects like office politics, bribery, corruption, work ethics, non-exploitative profits, but never stoops to shoving stereotypes in your face. The dialogue is crisp, and each scene is terse, which makes you beg for more.
All in all, this is an absolute gem of a movie and the perfect antidote to all the trashy big budget vehicles that keep releasing. 'Rocket Singh' is a delectable film indeed, I implore you to watch it.
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