After a promising debut with Dil Chahta Hai in 2001, Farhan Akhtar’s next film Lakshya was one of the most anticipated films of 2004. The audience wasn’t just excited to see what Farhan has to offer in his next film but was also confident about his craft. I guess the universe had already planned the disheartening fate of Lakshya where it certainly didn’t make the expected noise at the box office but was also wholeheartedly loved only by a few, at the time of its release. It thankfully received more love gradually but for me, Lakshya will always be that Farkah Akhtar film with the least recall value.
Much like Dil Chahta Hai, Farhan Akhtar had a crystal clear vision for Lakshya too but considering the nature of the story, it maybe required different treatment for that universal appeal. His clarity about the subject of the film can be witnessed even in the font of the title where ‘L’ is almost blurred and slowly the letters become clear with the final ‘A’ looking bold and clear. Farhan Akhtar never came across as a confused filmmaker while we watch the film but just trying to do something so big and combining two stories that could have been made in two different films is where he fumbled.
Throughout Lakshya, Farhan Akhtar is in his unique element but his distinct style of filmmaking/storytelling works just in the first hour. His intent of showing the importance of having a concrete aim in life deserves a huge applaud. The way he expresses it in the film deserves even a bigger applaud. Hrithik Roshan as a spoiled, carefree and ambitionless man who also easily gets influenced by his friend’s career choices connects instantly with the viewers. Presenting the nagging parents (especially the father) with a rather sensitive gaze make the scenario look real along with being typical.
For the next two hours, Lakshya enters the war film zone. Farhan Akhtar’s style of keeping things as real as possible in his films backfires in these portions. War films are conceptually dry so some melodrama in it becomes crucial to please the Indian audience. Hrithik Roshan is rarely depicted as the hero of the film mostly he is just like every other member in the frame who is training or part of the team on some mission. In the crowd portions seen during the orientation and graduation ceremony, the focus on Hrithik Roshan is only for those many seconds as the focus is on his other batch mates. Though, it is Hrithik Roshan who hoists the Indian flag in the climax we never see him taking the spotlight in the scenes where Amitabh Bachchan is briefing the team. This was highly refreshing to see in a Hindi film but the song and dance format loving Indian audience may have found it difficult to appreciate the beauty of such a raw portrayal of these portions.
Farhan Akhtar urges us to view something unwanted like a war in an emotional way which again backfires considering the general perception about it. Lakshya wants us to believe ‘why war when peace can sort out everything’ which was never considered by the common man. The soldiers take on war is authentically presented in the film. Om Puri telling Hrithik Roshan that who would know it better than the soldiers how bad wars are and also how strongly the soldiers deal with grief as they are left with no other option but to immune themselves to this emotion. The phone call between Hrithik Roshan and Boman Irani before the former is about to go on that big mission beautifully captures the vibe of the film and its message.
Romance is like a prerequisite in Indian films and the kind of love story Farhan Akhtar presents in Lakshya was way too far from what the Indian audience has been used to watching in movies. More than interesting the graph of the love story was unimaginably real. Preity Zinta’s confidence in Hrithik Roshan makes her a weak person for a while but breaking up with him for not being serious about anything in his life makes her come across as a very strong personality. Her dominating approach towards their relationship never looks bad so every time she decides for both of them looks rational rather than showing her in a bad light. But when he calls to inform her that he has become a lieutenant it almost comforts the male egos. The post-break-up portion is captured with immense empathy. The looks they share when they see each other in Kargil, stubbornness depicted while talking and misunderstandings they have due to lack of communication forms for some emotionally overwhelming visuals.
If you choose mountains whenever asked to choose between beaches and mountains, then Lakshya is like that portrait for you that you don’t want to stop looking at. Every single frame showing the breathtakingly beautiful valley have our eyes popped out and jaws dropped. It is the single most aspect brightening the otherwise dull war environment. We simply can’t get enough of these gorgeous mountains. The visuals in the opening credits blended with the excellent music of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy transports you in an altogether different zone.
The original soundtrack of Lakshya sounds as good as any other album composed by the terrific trio of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. Farhan Akhtar experiments with the vision for his songs. Main Aisa Kyun Hu along with speaking the mind of millions of young and carefree youngsters shows us some crazy dance choreographed by the supremely talented Prabhu Deva. That interlude sounding like some background score for an intense action scene is another highlight of the song. Agar Main Kahoon is like expressing love in the old school style so the location at which it is shot looks very apt. Kitni Baatein remains to be the most underrated song from the album till date. This song appropriately shows the misunderstandings and the distance created because of them in relationships.
The title track of Lakshya is highly energetic but its visuals don’t really match with the same energy. The all-new serious Hrithik Roshan improving his focus towards becoming an army officer gets the vibe of the song right but it ends up serving as just a tool in speeding up the narrative of the film. Khando Se Milte Hai Khande prefers showcasing the passion of the soldiers towards their duty and their confidence in themselves. The one verse about them talking about missing their families seems insufficient. Due credit to the composers for the unique tune making it sound like a crazy ride with highs and lows just like any other story.
Hrithik Roshan had an excellent character in Lakshya from a performance perspective. He nailed it as the lazy, rich spoiled brat making us laugh unexpectedly at certain places and then showcasing maturity with utmost sensitivity won our hearts. Portraying a hard-hearted army official struggling to control the outburst of emotions after meeting his ex-lover during the most crucial time in his professional life with such ease made me praise the actor infinitely. Lakshya is definitely one of the most remarkable performances of Hrithik Roshan’s career.
Preity Zinta is smart, clever and super ambitious very contrary to what we see the hero of the film in the beginning. Since the Indian film viewers are dominated by men it could be hard for them to accept this reality of showcasing women superior than men. Also, her approach towards her relationship with Kushal Punjabi and showing women so independent must have not gone well with the audience. Preity Zinta’s overall portrayal as this fierce woman was bound to make men uncomfortable which they certainly would want to avoid. Also making her involvement throughout the film look organic is an excellent example of some genius writing. Like other war films, she isn’t just waiting for a man or praying for his well being, she is very much on the war field with them doing her job with equal passion.
Farhan Akhtar’s zeal for making Lakshya still remains commendable. His message strikes the right chord with every viewer certainly making them think about it even if not react instantly. The film remains memorable till date for this very reason. Lakshya may not top my list of films often revisited but it definitely holds a special place in everyone’s heart and mind for various reasons or simply because of the memories attached to it.
meri maaa, CINEMAAA 