Rock On!!
| Rock On!! | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster for Rock On!! | |
| Directed by | Abhishek Kapoor |
| Written by | Abhishek Kapoor |
| Produced by | Farhan Akhtar Ritesh Sidhwani |
| Starring | Farhan Akhtar Arjun Rampal Prachi Desai Luke Kenny Purab Kohli Koel Purie Shahana Goswami Nicolette Bird |
| Cinematography | Jason West |
| Edited by | Deepa Bhatia |
| Music by | Shankar Ehsaan Loy |
| Distributed by | Excel Entertainment |
Release date | August 29 2008 |
| Country |  India |
| Language | Hindi |
Rock On!! is a Hindi film starring Arjun Rampal and debutantes Farhan Akhtar and Prachi Desai in the lead roles. It released on August 29, 2008. It has been directed by Abhishek Kapoor[1]
Synopsis
Rock On!! is the story of 4 friends who put together a rock band called Magik, but never make it. Years later fate conspires to bring them together again and set them on a journey back to where they left off... a soul-searching pilgrimage into their past.[1] sue.... so sweet am i.....
Plot
The Story begins with a rock concert, where 'Magik' is seen performing, the story then jumps 10 years forward. Now Aditya Shroff (Farhan Akhtar), who was the lead singer of the band is an Investment Banker and is married to Sakshi (Prachi Desai). Although he knows that something is missing in his life, he devotes himself to work all the time to forget all his blues. Rob Nancy (Luke Kenny), the Keyboard artist of Magik is still composing music, but for commercials and jingles. Kedar Zaveri aka Killer Drummer aka K.D (Purab Kohli), who was the drummer of the band is dealing in diamonds and is making a fortune now. Joe Mascarenhas (Arjun Rampal), the lead guitarist of the band is now facing financial issues as he doesn't have any work to do and he feels that playing his guitar in wedding parties and clubs is not what he was made for. Joe's wife Debbie (Shahana Goswami), who wanted to be a fashion designer is now handling Joe's family business of trading/selling fish to make ends meet. The only thing common with these 4 friends now, is that they still have the same feeling towards music.
One day Sakshi and her friend Devika (Koel Purie) meet KD, while they were buying some diamonds at KD's store. KD comes to know that Sakshi's husband's shares the same birthday as Aditya's (the lead singer of Magik), he asks Sakshi and Devika if it was just a coincidence. Sakshi comes home and asks Aditya if he knows someone named KD aka the 'KILLER DRUMMER' and Aditya refuses. One day while cleaning the closet, Sakshi finds a box full of pictures of Magik members together along with a few photographs and a DV Tape named the 'Rehearsal Pad'. Sakshi watches the tape and comes to know that Aditya used to have an affair with a girl named Tanya (Nicolette Bird) when he was in the band. She plans a surprise party for Aditya's upcoming birthday along with a reunion of his band members, and to tell him about her pregnancy. Sakshi meets KD and tells him about her plan and that she wants all of Magik's members to be present for Aditya's surprise party. KD takes it as an opportunity for the reunion of the band and finds Rob to invite him for Aditya's birthday party. Rob accepts the invitation, and KD together with Rob goes to find Joe at his Guitar Store. Joe, though initially happy to see them, keeps mum as Debbie comes into the store around the same time. She confronts KD and Rob and tells them not to ask Joe to join the band again, because of what had transpired earlier with the band. KD and Rob leave Joe's place still insisting that Joe should come. Joe talks to Debbie about this, Debbie eventually doesn't permit him.
Aditya's birthday comes and he meets only KD and Rob from his band. While Sakshi tries to make him feel comfortable with KD and Rob, she notices that Aditya is ignoring his friends. KD and Rob invite Aditya to come for a reunion the next day at their usual place, in a Coffee Shop, where they used to hangout and then later proceed to their jam room. Aditya initially declines, sounding pessimistic and giving the impression that life has changed and that he has moved on. Rob later invites Joe for the same reunion. Later in the night, Sakshi has an argument with Aditya about his secretive nature, telling him that she just knows him because he exists and doesn't seem to know him completely. Aditya also loses his cool, and in the heat of the moment, Sakshi tells Aditya that she's pregnant, and that she wants Aditya's happiness and peace more than anything else. She also tells him that to get Aditya reunited with his band, would help him gain both peace and happiness. Aditya wakes up the next day and finds that Sakshi has gone to her mother's house.
On the day of the jam, Rob reaches the Coffee Shop first, Joe arrives second, joined by KD later. Hope seems to disappear as Aditya still hadn't arrived at the Coffee Shop. They leave to the jam room. They try jamming a little and had given up all hopes about Aditya, when Aditya suddenly arrives and they start jamming, realizing in the process that they are still as good as they used to be. They remember their moments of how they played in a Dandiya Raas as they needed money to buy new equipment to enter a Battle of the Bands competition organized by Channel V.
The story runs in a flashback when Magik is about to perform and how they win the competition, acquiring a contract for a music album from a music company and a music video. But after winning the competition Joe gets into a brawl with the lead singer of the opponent band 'Chakravyuh'.
They are all prepared for the album and Joe comes up with a soulful song 'Tum Ho To', which he composed for his love Debbie. The band likes the song and decided that this would be in the album. The music company later tells them to put a Remixed Item number in their album as it would be hot in the market and for that they had to kick 'Tum Ho To' out of the album as it sounds too romantic. The band's dilemma is put to rest when Aditya signs on the contract, following which all the other members also sign the contract. The band was called to shoot the music video of one of their songs and all the other members of the band were disappointed when only Aditya was getting the whole exposure and they were treated badly. Joe tries to tell Aditya about the same but Aditya dismisses his point by saying that they are strugglers as of now and so they have to compromise on a few things. But the situation goes out of control when the music company executive misbehaves with the Joe and Joe headbutts him followed by punching Aditya in the face when he tried to stop Joe. [2] The story comes to the present time and we see all of the friends sitting in the basement remembering the old days. All of them realize that the band is still a part of their lives and that how much ever they try, they can never run away from it. Aditya realizes the same too and invites the band to his place to jam. Magik starts jamming again like the old days using Aditya's apartment and Sakshi also comes back after knowing this.
Joe keeps this from Debbie but lets his son Andrew know about his jamming sessions. When Debbie finds out about Joe's band reunion, she gets furious and tells Joe that he has to drop the band and perform on a cruise ship for his new job, to make things financially much better for his family. Joe unwillingly agrees to follow Debbie's words. Debbie then goes to meet Aditya and asks him to leave Joe alone as what he did in the past has devastated Joe's future and she doesn't want anything to happen to Joe now. Debbie leaves and Aditya remembers the moment after Joe hit the music company executive and punched Aditya in the face. He remembers that he left the studio furiously, packing his stuff along with a few pictures of the band together and leaves a note for Tanya saying that he'll never see her again.
The story comes back to the present and Aditya and Sakshi along with KD and Joe attend a party hosted by Channel V for the contestants of an upcoming contest. There Aditya meets Tanya and comes to know that she has married Ajay, the lead singer of the band Chakravyuh. They both come to an understanding and Aditya also introduces Tanya to Sakshi. Later that night when Aditya, Joe and KD go to see Rob, they find Rob unconscious and take him to the hospital where they were told that Rob is in the last stage of his Brain Tumor. Knowing this Aditya decided to back off the contest but Rob argues with him saying that this is his last chance to prove that he is not here to compose just jingles. The band decides that they have to participate in the contest for Rob's wish. Aditya doesn't tell KD and Rob about Debbie and Joe's situation.
On the contest's day KD, Rob and Aditya are wait for Joe to come, without success. Aditya tells the band that Joe wouldn't come and he thinks that it's meaningless to perform without him. But KD and then Rob decide that Magik will perform again. They go on the stage and start performing. Meanwhile Joe is on his way to the airport along with Debbie and his son Andrew, their cab is stuck in a jam and when Joe hears the concert on the radio he realizes that he should be there as the rest of the members were performing. The song that Magik chose to perform in the contest was Joe's song 'Tum Ho To' and then Joe decides not to leave his band and gets back with his band on the stage. Aditya and Joe complete the song together and then Joe dedicates the song to Debbie who comes to the backstage later to watch Magik performing. The concert ends with Magik's victory.
In the end Rob dies of his tumor. KD finds love in Devika and starts a music company along with Joe as a partner. Debbie leaves the family fish business and becomes a successful stylist and designer. Aditya and Sakshi are blessed with a son who they name "Rob". Every weekend they meet to "keep their Magik alive". [3]
Members of Magik
Farhan Akhtar as Aditya Shroff (Lead Vocalist), a bohemian boy from Delhi who left the comforts of his parents' home to chase his dream of becoming a singer in a rock band. He has flare for unconventional poetry but at the same time with a message for today's youth makes him an instant hit with Generation X.
Arjun Rampal is Joe Mascarenhas (Lead Guitarist), an idealist. A man of few words who lets his guitar do the talking. His loyalty towards his girlfriend and his band makes him the hero. It seems like God filled him with all the talent in the world but forgot to give him an opening to share it.
Purab Kohli is Kedar Zaveri (Drummer), who prefers to be known as K.D. i.e. Killer Drummer is the scion of a successful family of jewelers. His father and he don't see eye to eye on most issues. If one had to see K D in his work environment, one would think that he would suffocate and die. On stage it may look like he is slamming those drums with a vengeance but actually, he's only breathing. He is the heart of Magik.
Luke Kenny as Rob Nancy (Keyboardist), the quiet, laidback, fence-sitter of the band. If ever a disagreement arises trust Rob to step in and resolve the issue. He was part of the band because he loved what it was really all about, the friendship and the bond. His keyboard is an extension of his mind.
Cast
- Farhan Akhtar - Aditya Shroff
- Prachi Desai - Sakshi
- Arjun Rampal - Joe Mascarenhas
- Purab Kohli - Kedar Zaveri aka Killer Drummer aka K.D
- Luke Kenny - Rob Nancy
- Koel Purie - Devika
- Shahana Goswami - Debbie
- Nicolette Bird - Tanya
Soundtrack
The music is composed by the composer-trio Shankar Ehsaan Loy in the style of 70's/80's-rock. It was recorded in five days from start to finish [4] and features the actor Farhan Akhtar as vocalist on six out of the nine tracks.
Critical Reception
The film has been critically acclaimed across India and around the world, with several of the nation's leading newspapers rating the storyline and the performances by the actors very highly indeed.[5] The Rock On Band members have recently appeared on the cover pages of the 'Rolling Stone' magazine. They are the only Indians who have appeared on the covers of the prestigious magazine apart from the Indian musical genius A.R. Rahman.[6]
Music review
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
| Song | Singer(s) | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Socha Hai | Farhan Akhtar | 04:11 | |
| Pichle Saat Dinon Mein | Farhan Akhtar | 03:12 | |
| Rock On!! | Farhan Akhtar | 03:55 | |
| Ye Tumhari Meri baatein | Dominique Cerejo | 05:29 | |
| Zehreelay | Suraj Jaggan | 03:42 | |
| Tum Ho Toh | Farhan Akhtar | 04:15 | |
| Sinbad The Sailor | Farhan Akhtar & Raman Mahadevan | 06:32 | |
| Pichle Saat Dinon Mein (Live Version) | Farhan Akhtar | 06:35 | |
| Phir Dekhiye | Caralisa Monteiro | 03:27 |
The Concerts
In order to promote the film, the cast of Rock on!! is appearing in a series of live concerts. The concerts will primarily have Farhan Akhtar performing along with Shankar Ehsaan Loy. The rest of the cast will also make appearances.[7] The venues of the concerts are so far Mumbai, Delhi, Banglore and Calcutta.