Movie Review : Highway (2014)

Rating : Above Average (3.5/5)
Genre : Drama
Year : 2013
Running time : 1 hour 35 minutes
Director : Alia Bhatt, Randeep Hooda
Kidwise : R

Highway is about Veera Tripathi (Bhatt), coddled rich girl, who is almost accidentally kidnapped while out on a joyride with her fiancé. Unceremoniously bound and gagged, she is transported by masked gangsters to a safe-house. When that is deemed unsafe, they move her onto a truck where she lies bound and tied in the back as the uncouth gang-leader Mahavir Bhatti (Hooda) takes the wheel. Angry and rebellious, Veera tries to escape, but finds herself stranded in the middle of the desert. As the journey progresses, Veera’s perspective changes – she finds some measure of freedom in her captivity.

From the trailer I had surmised that the film is based on Stockholm Syndrome, a condition afflicting kidnapped victims where they begin to view their captors kindly, even falling in love with them. Ali promises us hatke love stories with each film, but I found it hard to imagine how he would squeeze one here given the rather dire circumstances. Well, expectedly, Veera and Mahavir grow closer into what appears to be love. Ali spins it as two kindred souls finding each other – special emphasis on the “kindred”. Although I felt for both of them – Ali portrays their stories and circumstances movingly, I couldn’t get behind the whole romance angle.

Generally with Imtiaz Ali’s films, I have never found believability a problem. The romance portrayed in his films might be the kinds that upsets the gharwalas/society/what have you – but it is believable. It happens. And you feel for the poor distraught lovers. In Highway’s lovestory, the Stockholm Syndrome in the background muddies the waters. Plus I kind of agreed with Mahavir when he admonishes Veera “Will you carry my children?” He was right – there’s a lot more to love than just make-believe house-keeping in beautiful countrysides. I didn’t see how she, cosseted heiress, and he, uncouth kidnapper, would fit together. I didn’t see how she could transform from mutinous captive to sweetly, laughing-joking abettor to the point where she cannot see her life without him. Yes, Ali does offer us a reason, but it isn’t reason enough.

The film’s message is problematic because it offers up Mahavir’s forced companionship as some sort of viable alternative to Veera’s repressive family – suddenly the camera is much more forgiving when angled towards the kidnapper as he waxes nostalgically about his mother. However Veera seems fettered in both situations and not in a position to know any better. I would have gotten behind the film had it offered a third path – of independence – for Veera, away from both.

Alia Bhatt’s acting gets better with each film. We recently saw her in 2 States, where she played Tamiliam Ananya very believably. Here she is a daughter of influential industrialist N.K.Tripathi and does reasonably well. She did falter in places because I never truly felt in her the raw terror of her situation, although some of it could have been the lack of background music/buildup in those scenes. Randeep Hooda comes across far more believably as the grouchy kidnapper with a hard life.

Highway has beautiful cinematography. As expected, there is great attention to detail. Veera’s social situation is beautifully built up with the super-rich environment of casual wealth, graceful drawing rooms with well-clad, coiffed folk speaking in hushed voices. A lot has been made of the music, but I honestly found it just OK.

This is a decent film, but disappointing given it’s accomplished director. I had expected better. I carry away with me the touching plight of the two protagonists, but not of the romance they apparently shared. As a love story, it doesn’t quite work.

Kidwise : The film contains some scenes of physical violence and talk of abuse and might frighten young kids. Probably all right for 13+.