Movie Review: 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan'

Starring Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma, Katrina Kaif

Star rating: ****

No Bollywood has been more eagerly awaited than this one being Yash Chopra's last hurrah as he passed away late last month. Yashji, the man who could make his audience fall in love in a heartbeat had always said that this would be the last of his Bollywood films and he was determined to make his mark on the industry. Shah Rukh Khan was someone who Yashji saw as his eldest son and it is quite befitting that he was cast the  lead in this film. The song trailers for this films caused chaos in the world of social media with 'Saans' and 'Ishq Shava' being songs which have enjoyed constant play since their release. As all trailers for Mr Chopra's films, they did not give much away about the storyline making the audience even more eager to watch this film on the big screen.Would this film live up to the hype of being the love story to end all love stories?

Major Samar Khan (Shah Rukh Khan) rescues fiesty, sexy and fun filled Akira (Anushka Sharma) from drowning in a lake. Inadvertently Akira gets Samar's journal and begins reading about how he joined the army and got the reputation as 'the man who cannot die'. The story begins with Samar being a struggling Indian in London who is getting by doing small time jobs and trying to make his name in the world. Enter Meera (Katrina Kaif) who has a habit of making deals with God to get what she needs. She meets Samar who is busking for money and hires him to give her singing lessons in Punjabi. In return, she promises to teach him English. The pair fall in love and it is all going to plan until Samar gets into a car accident. Meera makes a pact with God to never see Samar again if he lives. Will Meera ever break her pact with God? Why did Samar get known as 'the man who cannot die'?

Honestly i have not been blown away by a Bollywood romance film in a long while but then again this is what Yashji always did best. At the start of the film, Yashji gives a voice over where he says that he puts his life and energy into his film and that is clear to see. His understanding of love, no matter what age the audience or characters on screen, he knew just how to convey it and bring everyone closer to his idea of love. Shah Rukh Khan is at his best as Samar and shows just how amazing he is as an actor. His eyes give away his pain or his love without him reciting a single piece of dialogue. Katrina Kaif redeems herself in this film in my eyes and plays the aloof and scared to love Meera extremely well. In stark contrast, Anushka Sharma plays the fiesty Akira to a tee and brings every scene she is in, to life. 

The musical numbers in this film are brilliant and A. R. Rahman has done a great number on every track. Raghav's 'Ishq Shava' is much better on the big screen and the choreography makes the most of Shah Rukh Khan and Katrina Kaif's dancing abilities. Being a Londoner at heart, the landscape of the UK is shown beautifully in this film and the shots during the song 'Challa' show the life of London extremely well. Cameos from Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh are lovely to see in the film too.

Yash Chopra, wherever you are, hats off to you. The credits where it shows Yashji in action just proves what a great film maker he was and how much of his heart he put into his films. This film is in one word, brilliant and a befitting tribute who always invited us to fall in love at the start of each of his films.