Rock On – Raw Appeal

Rock On is the story of four friends who love music and have their own band Magik. Aditya (Farhan Akhtar) is the lead singer, Joe (Arjun Rampal) the lead guitarist, Rob (Luke Kenny) sorts out the keys and KD (Purab Kohli) is the mad drummer. All four of them dream of making it big with their rock band, they go through the grind of performing at small gigs to make money and survive. And finally a competition comes their way which if they win will give them a record deal and a music video.

Kicked with the opportunity, Magik gives it their all and goes onto win the competition. And so finally the opportunity to have their own album comes their way. Joe has written a song and he wants it to be a part of the album as a dedication to his girlfriend Debbie (Shahana Goswami) who has stuck with him through thick and thin. Plans are rapidly made within Magik about the album songs and that their friend Debbie who plans to be a designer will style them for the video.

However when the contract comes their way, it also brings numerous problems. The hard nosed label head gets them to drop Joe's composition and in turn replace it with a remix version that works in today's times. Not only that he dismisses the idea that Debbie will be their stylist. With no other choice and desperately in need of the first break, the band puts up with all this. Finally its time to shoot their video and with all the focus on the lead singer Aditya, the remaining three band members feel neglected. Joe voices his opinion and gets into an argument with Aditya. Not only that but he also gets into a fist fight with him as well as the label rep. Both Aditya and Joe walk out and that is the end of Magik.

However, ten years later Aditya (who is now an extremely successful investment banker) meets his past through his wife Sakshi (Prachi Desai). Initially not wanting to rake up a past that he has long forgotten and had even kept a secret from Sakshi, Aditya realizes that if he wants to actually move on and be happy in life he needs to come face to face and accept his past. And that brings Magik and its members together once again.

But like they say rock never dies and it hasn't died in these four blokes either. The four literally pick up from where they had left off. But there is just one problem. While the other three are managing financially, Debbie and Joe are scraping through. And so when Magik gets an opportunity to relive a dream of performing live, Debbie puts her foot down as she has secured a well paying job for Joe which requires him to be on a ship.

Certain moments in the film stand out like they did in Dil Chahta Hai. Farhan Akhtar has done a fantastic job as an actor. He should definitely take his acting seriously. Purab Kohli is another brilliant actor and his act is absolutely adorable. Arjun Rampal almost reminds you of Guns n Roses guitarist Slash during his performances in the film especially right at the end.

There are two particular scenes in the film that make you laugh – Purab's rendition of Gloria Gaynor's I will Survive and when they decide to perform Hindi filmi songs in their rock ishytle.

And a special mention must be made of director Abhishek Kapoor who has portrayed the lives of a rock band quite close to reality. The look and get up of the four band members hits home and sets the tone for the rest of the film. And the contrast in the present also helps.

All in all Rock On is a great film. It is for the young at heart and those who understand the feeling of having music in your bones.

Harshita Kohli, hill Road Media