My love for this movie started as most love stories ought to: love at first sight. The very second I laid my much-starved-for-good-hindi-movies eyes on the trailer, I was smitten. Now this was months and months ago, when the trailer first came out. So why am I writing about it now?
Simply, I never really got the chance to watch it. I did watch some of it a month ago, but that was while doing other things. I've watched it again without subtitles (and I need subtitles). I've watched it with no sound, with subtitles (surprisingly, that works really well for me). Anyways, last week, one certain grandeur-deluded friend shares my fascination with this movie, and he challenged me to watch the movie within 48 hours or else. Obviously, I cannot let a challenge go like that (like duh!).
So I watched it twice since the challenge was set. I'm obsessed. The songs, the story, the friendship. The je ne sais quoi. I haven't felt so happily in love with a movie since, umm, maybe Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na. Well, there has been Rockstar, and... what was the movie that now eludes my memory? I don't know.
Apparently, I was so infatuated during the first trailer days, that when I started hearing people muttering about what a waste it was, two things went on in my head. One, I didn't want to face the stark possibility of disappointment, and so denied myself the possibility, by not watching it. On the other hand, I rejoice in falling for what others don't appreciate, and making it mine. So I wanted to see it. As things panned out, I didn't find the time.
Until now. There are probably 23984029348314832 things I love about this movie. There are just as much things I can pick out, that might have not been loveable, to think about. And I love that about movies. Movies that I can relate to right down to my bones.
If you look through the list of movies I've had deep passionate affairs with, you will see a pattern. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Hum Tum, Kal Ho Na Ho, Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahani, Jab We Met, I Hate Love Stories, Break Ke Baad, Saawariya, Rockstar, (ok, maybe Band Baja Baraat and Ishaqzaade)...and now Cocktail. I'm not going to point it out to you. Maybe I'll go in-depth about what it is that brings these movies close to my heart in another post.
Focus.
This post is about Cocktail, and I'm so glad I watched it properly. This time around, despite somewhat seeing it before, I actually cried, I actually laughed out loud, I glared, I grinned like the crazy kid I am, and I rolled my eyes. If a movie (or book) can make me cry and laugh, that's it. Another thing, I usually blot out the fact of who the actors are, and just steep myself with the characters themselves. That's how I relate. And I like happy endings. (Not all the time - take a look at Rockstar, she died.) Life is always so uncertain and it's hard to see around corners when you're living the journey yourself, and so it's always nice to feel that there is hope around the corner. Even if it's for a few days, somehow it's being able to think and dream positively that makes today itself worth it, no?
