REVIEW: Aaja Nachle is for everyone

What is the film is about:

Dia (Madhuri Dixit) is a small town girl who grows up in Shamli. But she is one of those people who refuse to be tied down. And she has one great passion, dance. Her parents don't seem to understand her at all. Luckily for her, she has a mentor, a guru, who gives wings to her dreams and gives her the courage to soar. Acting on a whim she breaks all ties with her parents and takes off for New York. Despite a failed relationship, she rebuilds her life and is happily settled in New York. But one fine day Dia's peaceful existence is shattered and she gets a call which necessitates her return to Shamli.

And she returns to a town where the very mention of her name is taboo. The town itself is undergoing a metamorphosis. Land grabbers plan to demolish the dance school with the intention of building a mall. And Dia has to bring together the entire town, overcoming prejudice, ridicule and hostility so that she can save her beloved institution and keep her guru's dream intact.

What we liked

Just about everything. After Chak De! India and Bheja Fry this film is the third surprise of 2007. For a change, this is a film which has not been made strictly for multiplex audiences. It will appeal to many especially people in small towns.

All the characters have been well fleshed out. There is Kunal kapoor, the low life who only uses his muscle power, Vinay Pathak the intrepid government official, his wife Sushmita Mukherji who thankfully has not been made to over-act. The pace of the film is excellent especially in the first half. Konkona Sen Sharma is her usual ebullient self. After Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, she and Kunal have been cast together again and they are quite a lethal combination.

Madhuri Dixit still rocks. The casting is perfect because there is nobody else who could have carried off this role with the grace and aplomb that she has. It's her film through and through.

After seeing the film you realise that rumours about Madhuri not liking the film are just that, rumours. No actress could have asked for a better comeback vehicle than Aaja Nachle.

The songs have been well picturised and will steadily climb the charts in the next few weeks. The music is the kind that gradually grows on you.

Excellent compositions especially in the dance sequences, but that was only to be expected as this first- time director is a cinematographer of some repute.

Dia's daughter Radha who looks and acts as a real child and not like plastic cut-outs which you have seen in Ta Ra Rum Pum.

Akshaye Khanna makes quite an impact despite the minuscule size of his role.

And over and above everything else, the dialogues and the humour is what takes the cake. Jaideep Sahni manages to evoke laughter from the audience every few minutes despite the basic storyline of the film being very grim.

What we didn't like:

The second half of the film could have been shortened slightly. It does tend to drag a little bit.

Konkona's costumes through the final dance drama. Most of her outfits look like she was wearing embellished nighties.

The choreography could have been better. It tends to get a bit repetitive at times.

We recommend: Watch this film if you like Madhuri Dixit. And we recommend it even more in case you haven't liked her work so far. This is one film where it's practically impossible not to like her.

Rating: 4/5

READ: Madhuri: The biggest story of 2007