Lakshya (2004)

Lakshya (aim) is the exemplary story of a carefree as well as careless youth, Karan Shergill (Hrithik Roshan) who is in love with Romila Dutta (Preity Zinta) but she finds it difficult to spend her life with a person like Karan who does not have any aim (LAKSHYA) in his life and happy to spend a lazy life on the strength of the money earned by his father. On the contrary, Romila has an aim for herself - to become a successful news-channel correspondent. Karan does not take the things seriously and joins the army casually only to run away from the Indian Military Academy within a few days due to the hard training and strict discipline there. This lack of an aim or LAKSHYA in his life distances Romila from him. But once he realizes that an aimless life is not worthwhile and his way of life needs to be changed for the better, he rejoins the army and gets an aim during the Kargil war of 1999. He successfully accomplishes his aim and being an Indian hero, gets the love of his life, i.e., Romila too.The message of Lakshya is pretty clear and exemplary for one and all. Though it's established now that our lives are without aims from the side of Nature (or Almighty), it's in our own interest to have some aim for us. The aim should be a positive one (and not something unlawful) which will provide a direction to our life and activities. There has to a vision for our life sans which the life may be like a rudderless vessel drifting on the waters at the mercy of the waves and tides. Setting a goal makes the life of the concerned person meaningful. Thereafter the life is lived and not spent. And setting a goal does not mean just earning a living (as most of the Indians understand and follow). It's much more. It helps us in growing-up and understanding ourselves. Finally, each one of us has to die some day. At that moment, there should be a satisfaction that a life has been well-lived and something worthwhile has been done. Then the death will also be peaceful and meaningful.A country like ours which is studded with youth power, requires youths moving ahead with one or the other productive aim in their sight, one or the other pleasant dream in their eyes. That dream fills colour in the sketch of the individual's life. And that's what makes his life beautiful, meaningful and satisfactory. And of course ! Productive for the society and the nation. This is what Lakshya underscores and that's the biggest strength of the movie.After his maiden venture - Dil Chaahta Hai (2001), Lakshya came as the second venture of Farhaan Akhtar who is the son of the legendary script-writer and Shaayar, Jaaved Akhtar. Since Dil Chaahta Hai was a box office hit and critically acclaimed too, comparisons were natural with that. And Lakshya, despite being a good movie made on a good theme, could not live up to the expectations. The subject has been handled dryly and despite the hero's final triumph in the war (capturing point no. 5179), the director could not convince the audience at large. The big question remains in the end whether winning one strategic point in the war fulfilled the objective of the movie. Should there not be a larger aim in life ? Further, I don't think anybody can join, leave and then rejoin the military academy so easily as shown in the movie.The on-screen chemistry of the hero and the heroine as well as their relationship in the story could not be exasperated to the optimum. Despite casting stalwarts like Amitabh Bachchan, Om Puri, Amrish Puri and Boman Irani; the director could not tap their potential and they were reduced to supporting actors in insignificant roles. The movie is good in patches. All the same, it has the flavour of an idealistic movie and deserves admiration. Unlike DCH, the entertainment value of Lakshya is low.Though the chemistry between Hrithik Roshan and Preity Zinta has not been developed properly on the screen, both of them have delivered power-packed performances individually. Hrithik has demonstrated once again that given a good role, he is unmatchable. And Preity who has been given the get-up of the ace journo Barkha Dutt, has also done her part pretty well. As said earlier, many talented actors have been wasted in supporting roles but nobody has disappointed through his acting.Technically the movie is good but considering the gravity of the Kargil war episode, the work should have been better. Action and thrills are just OK. Length is also not too much. Dialogs are neither great, nor bad. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy could not create the Dil Chaahta Hai magic in their musical score. However Main Aisa Kyon Hoon, Kandhon Se Milte Hain Kandhe, Agar Main Kahoon, Kitni Baatein Yaad Aati Hain etc. are according to the mood of the movie. Background score is also in order.All in all, Lakshya though not a great movie, is laudable due to its subject matter and certain plus points. Let's have some aim. Let's have some dream. Let's make our lives meaningful. Everyone may not be fortunate enough to have his cherished dream fulfilled but as Ajay Devgan (as the martyr Captain Manoj Pandey) says in LOC-Kargil (2003) to his superior officer - 'Some goals are so worthy that it's glorious even to fail'.So true ! Hit or miss, there should be a LAKSHYA worth aiming at.

Not many movies have been made in India about someone growing up as a person, although every other film is being promoted so. The film, according to the director Farhan Akhtar depicts his own life before he ventured out into film making. This is also his second film as a director, following the cult-hit "Dil Chahta Hain".The film depicts the story of a person, Karan Shergill and how he transitions from being an aimless youth to a mature and confident person. Karan Shergill is a college-going guy who has no aim in life. But when he inadvertently takes up an exam and gets selected for IMA (Indian Military Academy), his life is about to change. He is not aware of the military discipline and ultimately one fine day he runs away from the academy. His parents mock him and his girlfriend scolds him for this decision. What follows is how he corrects his mistake and his ultimate challenge, the Kargil war.The movie does not just depict Karan's change, but also runs a parallel story of his girlfriend Romi, who is a successful and confident woman, but who also has to deal with issues of her own. Ultimately both the stories collide on the war-front. The story moves at a relatively slower pace and the both of halves of the movie are completely opposite. It is extremely tough to tell by looking at the other half that this is the other half of the same movie. But that is what the movie is all about!!!!! Direction-wise, this is the best effort from Farhan Akhtar yet. Many people felt that if it is possible to himself to surpass his directorial debut, Dil Chahta Hain. But Farhan Akhtar does a brilliant job does a brilliant job of it. It is really surprising to note that the movie got extremely favourable reviews at the time of its release, but was still not a box-office hit.Acting-wise, Hrithik Roshan excels in his portrayal of Karan Shergill. He has brought out the transition of irresponsible, aimless youth to a determined and focused person extremely effectively. This should definitely be marked as one of the highlights of his career. Preity Zinta carries on her strong character from DCH and is as important to the story as Hrithik Roshan's character is. Boman Irani and Amitabh Bachchan do splendid jobs of their short on screen time. The rest of the supporting cast (specially Sushant Singh) are also fabulous.The technical department has done a wonderful job in bringing out the beautiful but deserted locales of Ladakh and Kargil. The war sequences are brilliantly shot. It is the first time in Indian cinema that a war movie looks like a war movie and not like an action movie. But finally the heroes of the movie are Hrithik Roshan and Farhan Akhtar.

Lakshya fulfills its Lakshya (the target) in every aspect of film making. Be it the script(yet a little slow), direction, acting and cinematography. Unlike other bollywood movies it is a rare combination when masala(spice) mixes with essence. I don't like unnecessary and lip songs in bollywood flicks but this is not the case with it. Nice tunes are composed by shankar ehsaan loy on Javed Akhtar's lyrics. Hrithik's acting is so laudable that it should be praised specially. his body language changes perpetually according to his character. The scenes when he is performing rock climbing are awesome and fascinating. They make us think how could he perform such risky scenes at such as great height. In short, he reflects the innocent bravado of a true Indian soldier. Preity really looks like a journalist. The movie grasps very firmly when the actual war action starts as they are really impressive. Also, this movie has the highest crane shot ever taken in any film. From very beginning of the film the cinematography is enchanting and fascinating. Camera shots are steady and powerful. The look of the film is also very positive unlike other gaudy and out of focus bollywood flicks. A must see for every bollywood lovers and foreigners too, will like it.

I saw Lakshya two years after its release. I just loved this war film. It was technically brilliant like the camera-work, audiography, etc. I think Lakshya is one of the best war films made in India.India should be proud of Lakshya and Farhan Akhtar. Lakshya is set in the 1999 Kargil war between India and its neighbor Pakistan. This war is very important in Indian history. This was a war where hundreds of soldiers died for their motherland and Lakshya was a befitting tale on the war as its backdrop.Farhan has directed the film very realistically without making it too jingoistic like LOC Kargil. This film gives complete respect to the Indian Military Academy and the Indian army. The film shows that if a human being wants to achieve something in life, he can do it, come what may if he puts his heart and soul into it and that is what Karan Shergil did in the film.The performances are top notch. I have always liked Hrithik Roshan and he is marvelous in this film. He is the best dancer in India. Amitji is also very good. Very strong acting from AB. Om Puri, another great actor should have been given more footage but he was also excellent. Preity was good. Overall, amazing experience.