Story

Twenty eight-year-old Abhimanyu Kaul (Jackky Bhagnani) is a young, enterprising and modern guy employed with a Japanese gaming company. He is also a considerate, generous boyfriend in a live-in relationship with his somewhat-overbearing sometime-annoying girlfriend Anvaita (Neha Sharma). However, little does he know that down the line he will have to take on the political humbug headlong after the sudden passing away of his father, the Prime Minister of India (Boman Irani).

And then his life takes a 60-degree turn. Absolutely clueless about politics and its ways, Abhi finds himself in a vortex. He grapples hard to understand the complexities of the responsibility suddenly thrust upon him as well as hold on to his fun-loving girlfriend who freaks out when she realizes that she has to stay inside the house as her lover has a rather important role to perform.

After struggling initially, Abhi figures out his own way to deal with treacherous politicians as well as his girlfriend. And that form the crux of the tale.

Analysis :

Youngistaan is a smartly scripted political parable of a young guy who is shoved to take up the thankless job of a prime minister. 'Youngistaan' is as much a political drama as a romantic comedy, which is what saves the movie from coming down to heavily or preachy.

Writer-director Syed Ahmad Afzal sketches our disembodied democracy to perfection. In this season of the Lok Sabha election, 'Youngistaan' raises a wad of pertinent questions on the quality of leadership in the country. Every character, big or small, is effectively cast.

The film relays an important message that it's okay to have dynastic rule as long as the jobs are done. It also cut through the taboo of a prime minister being in a live-in relationship. It might be 'apocalyptic' for a prime minister to get his girlfriend pregnant at a time when he has a responsibility towards the nation, but if it happens, there is little need to pretend to be holier-than-thou.

The flick is judiciously edited. The camerawork is delightfully plush.

Performance :

Jackky evolution from an amateur politician to a prime ministerial candidate brings out a lot of sincerity in his performance. His scenes with his dead father (Boman Irani) are emotionally resplendent.

Neha Sharma as his untameable girlfriend plays her character with intelligence and grace. This girl deserves more than what Hindi cinema has so far offered her. But it is the Farooque Sheikh as Bhagnani's quietly efficient personal assistant who brings a twinkle-eyed wisdom to the table.

Final Word:
Deserves a watch!