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HIGHWAY FILM REVIEW

                                   HIGHWAY REVIEW

Before you read this review I should forewarn you that this film is an acquired taste and definitely not a ‘masala entertainer’. It starts off with an unusual protagonist (Randeep Hooda playing a Gujjar criminal) kidnapping a young, rich girl (Alia Bhatt) at gunpoint. What follows is a road-trip-drama (as the title suggests) involving two antithetical characters against the backdrop of surreally beautiful locales and A.R.Rahman’s mellifluous score. How Alia Bhatt’s  character adjusts with the situation is subject to interpretation. Cinematography is undeniably the film’s strongest feature. Real fun begins when the actual road-ride starts. It makes you feel you are a co-traveller sharing bumpy (mis)adventures with the two characters. That’s the magic of terrific direction supported by some fine acting by the lead actors. This is certainly Randeep Hooda’s finest performance till date. Alia Bhatt too proves her mettle by delivering a controlled and natural act. The sub-plots involving their back-story helps us empathise with the characters. A post-interval 2-minutes rundown was smartly presented without breaking the flow of the film. However, the film’s sluggish screenplay and a virtually non-existent story might deter mainstream cine-viewers. ‘Highway’ was supposed to be Imtiaz Ali’s debut film. I am mighty glad that he finally took the plunge and created a wonderful piece of cinema. This is his best work according to this reviewer. My Verdict: 7/10

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