Rock-On movie review

Two hours of live rock concert was the impression foremost on my mind as I came out of the movie hall. Never much into anything but antique melodies, Rock-On has created a new follower for rock in me. Mind-blowing music, youthful lyrics and energetic singing characterize the music of the film. The drums and the guitar left me ecstatic and lost to the music. While music formed the soul of the movie, the cast added flesh and blood to it.

Aditya (Farhan Akhtar), Joe (Arjun Rampal), KD (Purab Kohli) and Rob (Luke Kenny) feel comfortable in their skins as rock artists. Farhan rendering voice to all the songs picturized on his character adds an authentic touch. Arjun Rampal is steadily maturing as an actor. If he looked convincing in Om Shanti Om, he looks made for the role in Rock-On. The way he uses his body language to portray transformation from a go-get-it confident youngster to a beaten by life, unsuccessful middle-aged man is amazing and deserves notice. He may not be a versatile actor owing to his chiseled looks but characters chosen with care to suit his personality can take him places. The cool-as-cucumber characters of Purab and Luke do well to complement the intense characters of the other two.


The movie gives equal importance to all the emotions that the characters could go through given a situation as in the movie. Passion for music, bonding with friends, love, ego, fragility of mind, all have their own place and treated well too. Aditya just walks out on a life that makes him taste failure giving up even on his girlfriend. Joe, never a man of the world, thrives on emotions and sentiments. KD is the happy-go-lucky kind who can never be bogged down by anything while Rob wages his own war against life.


The female leads have been used to the optimum extent. This is not their film, they know it and don’t try to squeeze out anything more even as they do complete justice to their roles.
The icing on the cake is the way the rock concerts have been captured. Re-iterating my first statement, they seemed nothing less than live.


Concluding, one would be wise to watch Rock-On in a good theater with good sound systems if inflation has not burnt a hole in your pockets.