Lakshya (2004)

Touches You

Sadly Over-hyped

Memorable, crazy movie

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

Re watched Lakshya after many years, calling it Hrithik most underrated film/Performance would be stating the obvious. No one else could have done justice to the character of Karan ,showcasing different facets of his personality as his character goes on this journey of self discovery, bringing forth smallest nuances in such understated way and not resorting to flashy troupes.Javed Akhtar creates engaging screenplay balancing each phase of Karan life and many dialogues in film deserve applause(Scenes talking of War from Soldier POV).Farhan has done Fantastic job balancing entertainment aspect without compromising on authenticity of Army background of film. It is indeed one of best films made on Indian Army.The Film BGM excellent too.Production design,Cinematography Art department,costumes all deserve praise. Only minor criticism of hair design remains(Preity both hairstyle & Hrithik in flashback portions)

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.

I would not comment on things and stuff. 4 powerful scenes define the movie for me: 1. The scene where Preity is across the road and Hrithik gets out of the jeep and runs to her. She says that she will wait, Hrithik comes closer and does nothing, says nothing. But it is so understood he wanted to kiss her and could not.2. The scene when Preity discovers Hrithik alone, staring at the peak. Hrithik points to the peak, his eyes told it all for me.3. When Hrithik calls his dad the night before leaving, and tells him that he made the call to him and not his mom. And, when he says I love you. It just touches you 4. Obviously, the scene where Hrithik puts the Indian flag on the peak and looks up Brilliant Movie!!

This is a different type of Bollywood movie and isn't full of great musical numbers; it has one or two. The film is about a man who has no passion and no drive until the girl he loves tells him, he has no purpose and so he enrols in the army and learns to become a soldier. A very good soldier.The film has inspirational moments, like what it means to be part of a team..to have a desire, to make something of yourself...Its not very exciting but it shows that Hrithik is more then a body builder and dancer, this is coming from someone who stays away from Hrithik films...A very good try to do something different.