OF YOUTM IN POLITICS

STARRING: Jackky Bhagnani, Neha Sharma, Farooque Sheikh

DIR ECTOR: Syed Ahmed Afzal ou have to hand it to this film for making an effort to be'headlineish' without toppling over with the temperament of topicality. This is a genre never really cracked in Hindi cinema. A political drama about a young foreign-educated NRI who is forced to take over his country's reigns after his prime minister father's sudden death.

Unlike Prakash Jha's Raajneeti, Youngistaan doesn't take itself too seriously. There is no attempt here to mythicise or demonise the politicians.

Think Rajiv Gandhi. Think Rahul.. Jackky Bhagnani plays an amalgamation of many political dreams. Never mind if some of them turn into nightmares in real life (think Arvind Kejriwal). Cinema is about hope and redemption In a nation hurtling towards damnation, the thought of some political wisdom, clarity and far-sightedness in this season of the election, is eminentl y welcomed. Young Bhagnani brings a temperance and sensitivity to his character. Wisely, the narrative never takes itself so seriously as to careen over under the weight of its conscientiousness

There is a sense of mischief underlining the very powerful message about the young shouldering the governance of the country without resorting to the stereotypical moral ity and dress code of neta-giri in Hindustan.

Jackky's Abhimanyu Kaul is the need of the hour. He is young, enterprising and modern in thought and ready to take on the political humbug headlong. He is also a considerate, generous boyfriend trying to make his somewhatoverbearing sometime-annoying lifemate understand the complexities ofthe responsibility suddenly thrust upon him.

In this season of the Lok Sabha election, Younglstaan raises pertinent questions on the quality of leadership in our country. While it gets its