“As a mere exercise to find a story, a friend of mine and me sat down and thought of a story. He said- a man who wants to kill himself and I said- a girl on a train. Nothing really happened then, but the idea stuck in my mind, coming together of these two characters. One day I started writing and found the script for Jab We Met”
This is what Imtiaz Ali remembers as the inspiration behind this movie. Little did he know that he was about to put out a classic of sorts, adding to the Bollywood madness by preparing an absolute treat for viewers of all ages and leaving a mark of his type of romance on Bollywood cinema.
Here are some special things this film left behind jab it met the audiences globally:
Real Characters And Their Reel Performances:
All of us were enamored by the characters in the film and their journeys. Where Geet (Kareena Kapoor Khan) goes from the talkative energetic girl to the heartbroken lonely teacher, Aditya (Shahid Kapoor) starts with no hope from life and goes on to live the perfect happy life. Their contrasting traits, especially the Geet in the first half has been an audience favourite ever since. Not just the wonderfully performed leads, all the nicely-etched supporting cast including the cheeky manager at Hotel Decent, the clueless boyfriend Anshuman, the grandfather played by Dara Singh or Geet’s crazy family add a lot of delight for the viewers. A crowd favourite has been the station master who advices Geet when she misses her train and luggage- he had one scene but those few dialogues were enough! Real-life characters and stellar performances were definitely an asset for Jab We Met.
Great Story And Feel-Good Writing:
A story of this kind, with two strangers, missing trains, running away from homes, travel, separation and everything in between was unique and one of its kind for 2007.
Moreover, it was not the usual story but it was a completely different journey that was shown. Adding to the great story, it had beautiful writing which was perhaps, the movie’s third lead star. Imtiaz Ali, who also wrote the screenplay, filled the running time with outstanding stuff. The feelings were relatable and the writing, fresh. It struck a chord with all types of audiences. Right from the swear words Geet throws at Anshuman, to the applause-worthy one-liners ‘Mein apni favourite hu’, ‘Doubt mat rakhna dil me’ and ‘Sikhni hu mein Bhatinda ki’ and so many of those, Imtiaz really won our hearts with his screenplay.
The Sheer Joy Of Viewing:
For a typical audience, who do not understand meta logic or screenplay or layers of characters, he will tell you one thing for sure- the film gave him joy. The environment created around the film, the landscapes of Manali and the sets of Punjab, the absolutely pleasing songs, the background score and the cinematic experience as a whole was nothing less than a blissful joyride.
The Sufism Of Imtiaz Ali:
If there has to be one reason why Jab We Met looks like the way it does, it is the captain of the ship, Imtiaz Ali. Stepping in as the director and writer, every frame resonates Imtiaz Ali’s directorial magic. A director at heart, he has very ably defined his movie and characters and all the things that appear in the viewer’s sight. Today, his films are known for their characters and the journey they go through. Well, Jab We Met was quite the commencement of this identity. The man rules millions of hearts and how!
Jab We Met was a box office hit, went on to achieve multiple awards but more than this and it will always remain as one of the most pleasing memories of Indian cinema! Happy 11th Birthday to this masterpiece!
