Let’s all agree at once: It is Bunny from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (YJHD) who really inspired an entire generation to step out of our comfort zone and escape into this free world. As he fondly expresses his desire to explore through the lines, “Mai uddna chahta hu, daudna chahta hu..”, we can’t help but get inspired from his dreams. As a travel writer and someone who’s grown up in the age of social media, I feel many times we forget to live in the experience by getting overwhelmed with the feeling of capturing everything first. But when I watch YJHD, the movie subtly reminds me to stop, relax, and live in the moment first.
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani: Plot, Technical Brilliance, And Why I Love It
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani: Plot Overview
Three friends – Bunny (Ranbir Kapoor), Aditi (Kalki Koechlin), and Avinash (Aditya Roy Kapoor) are planning a trip to Manali. At the very last moment Naina (Deepika Padukone), bored of her routine life, decides to join them on the trip. What follows is a fun saga where the friends bond with each other even more deeply and realize that life is growing on them faster than they imagined.
Years later when they reunite at Aditi’s wedding, their old bonds are rekindled again. However, with a few ups and downs in their relationships, the second half delves deep into the dynamics they develop as they enter adulthood.
YJHD’s Technical Brilliance
The movie stayed with us for the acting performances of each of its characters. Be it the free-spirited Bunny and the unapologetic and fun-loving Aditi or the endearing Avi and the reserved girl-next-door Naina. Each of these characters remind us of our college days. The days when we made elaborate trip itineraries but never actually worked on making them a reality. The film beautifully captures the coming-of-age essence with its dialogues, screenplay, and the tiniest little details.
What stood out for me was the cinematography. You can tell that the filmmaker, in this case Ayan Mukerji, certainly loves traveling. The way each frame has been captured when you see them traveling makes you feel like you are with them. Be it Manali’s pristine snow landscape or the magnificent old-world charm of Udaipur, the movie feels like you’re watching a travel documentary with your comfort people inside it! Ayan Mukerji effortlessly succeeds in making each of these destinations subtle protagonists in their own right.
We cannot talk about YJHD’s brilliance without mentioning the beautiful music album. Composed by Pritam, the film’s songs were certainly a hit back then and still resonate with the audience. Listen to the album in one go and you’ll find yourself shaking a leg at one moment and then shedding a tear the very next one. Despite a decade gone by, the songs still feel fresh and make you nostalgic of the good old 9XM days. Now that’s what you call a blockbuster soundtrack!
Why I Think You Should Watch Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
You Love Traveling Above Everything Else
If you’re someone who loves traveling, I’m sure Bunny must be your spirit animal. The way he is passionate about exploring the world makes us aware of the little life we have and that we should spend it understanding the world. He is free-spirited, carefree, and always inquisitive about things. I’m sure almost everyone who travels, professionally or personally, has related to his ambitions and aspired for a life like his. The movie shows you some of the most gorgeous locations in and outside India. Be it Udaipur’s vibrant ghats and palaces, Manali’s exhilarating snowscapes or the blingy streets of Paris. Also, sorry to break your bubble, but the scenes showing Manali were actually shot in Pahalgam, Kashmir! Read about the Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani shooting locations here!
You Wish To Travel With Your Friends
All of us, at some point in our lives, have planned an imaginary trip with our closest friends. In fact, many of us even took inspiration from the movie and planned our ‘Manali trip’ with friends. While some of us did manage to make it a reality, many others might still be planning it. As the film revolves around these 4 friends, you can’t help but dream about the fun you can have if you too travel with your friends. Bunny, Aditi, Naina, and Avi are seen having the time of their lives as they explore Manali. They’re seen enjoying not only because of the location they’re at, but the bonds they’ve made during the course of their trip.
You Wish To Step Out Of The Comfort Zone
Not all of us are fun-loving, free-spirited, and extroverted beings like Bunny who can just whirl up a train ticket and set out on an adventure. Some of us are also like Naina – shy, introverted, and a little too conscious of our underconfidence. Naina, who is bored of her routine life, finds the Manali trip as the only way to escape the monotony and step out of her comfort zone. Her journey of self discovery is what really inspires me the most. This is because she’s the one who not only travels with them, but also discovers herself on the way.
You Can’t Decide Between Being In The Moment Or Enjoying It All At Once
When Bunny and Naina set out to explore Udaipur, they have a really interesting conversation on a cliff that has become my life philosophy of sorts. As Naina explores the world through her trip and eventually embraces her identity, she also realizes that being in the moment is what really matters. This is when both of them stop by to watch the sunset. Naina reminds us that the fear of missing out (FOMO) is fine sometimes, because if you chase that FOMO, you might miss out on something much more precious happening right in front of you.
Summing Up
With stunning performances, gorgeous cinematography, and the beautiful portrayal of friendships, YJHD is not just a film – its a feeling. It is an experience that you can not get anywhere else. So the next time it re-releases in theaters, you can flock to watch it with your friends or simply stream it on Netflix!
