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It can be said that Imtiaz Ali is an auteur who has created defining moments in Indian cinema that resonate with generations. The filmmaker’s works are embedded in our collective consciousness between his most memorable characters and music choices. You know the instant urge to travel (in hopes of unwittingly stumbling upon your soulmate), to channel the wild optimism of his wide-eyed main characters (read: Geet) or to reflect on heartache in all its shades. Over the years, it’s easy to see the theme that runs through all his movies. Jab We Met, Love Aaj Kal, Rockstar and Tamasha, among other beloved titles from his filmography released in a time frame ranging from 2000 to 2015. And yet, they share themes that at once feel personal and universal.
On the prolific director’s birthday, we’re casting an appreciative glance at his visual language and storytelling style. Here’s what goes into the making of an Imtiaz Ali film, as witnessed in his most popular titles:
Imtiaz Ali’s Characters Yearn For Love
If there’s one overarching feeling that sits with you after an Imtiaz Ali film it’s perhaps yearning. The heart-aching longing for a loved one is present in all his films just as it’s present in real life. Imtiaz Ali knows pining in all its nuances and it shows. In quintessential Bollywood fashion, his film’s characters spend time apart. It is in these moments that they unravel the extent of their romantic feelings. This theme is most apparent in his 2015 film Tamasha. We see Ved (Ranbir Kapoor) longing for Tara (Deepika Padukone), especially when he’s at his lowest. Her absence is so painful for him that he cannot help but scream her name into the vastness of the sky. As he screams “Tara,” he looks to the stars, the literal translation of her name. It’s simple yet poetic. In Rockstar, another Ranbir Kapoor-led film, Janardan Jhakar who goes by Jordan is devastated following his separation from Heer Kaul. He emulates Ranjha in his longing for the love of his life which also flows through his music.
Imtiaz Ali’s Films Use Travel As A Form Of Escapism
Imtiaz Ali’s characters live in the real world and have some very real problems. Geet (Kareena Kapoor) from Jab We Met wants to break free from her family’s expectations of arranged marriage. So she hops onto a train and leaves for Manali. Ved (Ranbir Kapoor) from Tamasha wants to get away from a mind-numbingly boring job and he finds the perfect getaway in the stunning landscapes of Corsica. Highway’s Veera (Alia Bhatt) feels trapped by the city and her traumatic past and wants to run away from it all. She finds her escape on winding highway roads after she gets abducted. It’s safe to say that these characters aren’t running away from responsibilities or travelling for leisure – they’re looking for places where they can truly be themselves. Their stories and fates might be different but the intent is similar.
Imtiaz Ali’s Films Have Mountains, Mirrors And Neckties As Recurring Motifs
Travel sequences in Imtiaz Ali’s films are incomplete without mountains. His characters often find their ultimate getaway amidst mountains be it joyous song sequences or a moment of relief as they revel in nature. In Jab We Met, Geet wants to run away specifically to the mountains. In Rockstar, Heer (Nargis Fakri) asks Jordan to take her to the Himalayas. Jordan travels to Kashmir and we get stunning montages of the mountains set to the song Phir Se Ud Chala. Meanwhile, in Highway, Veera feels a pull toward the mountains. She feels lighter and freer in the mountains. Even in Laila Majnu, we see Kashmir’s beauty, especially when Qais asks Laila to go to the mountains with him and shares his fascination with journeying to the other side. While mountains are often freeing for the characters, mirrors are all about the inescapable reflections, quite literally. We all give into existential dread and so do Imtiaz Ali’s heroes and heroines. Tamasha sees Ved grapple with his dilemma as she looks into mirrors and even talks to his own reflection. Meanwhile, in Love Aaj Kal, Meera looks at herself in the mirror and tries to conjure up a smile after getting a disappointing text from Jai. Mirrors are a recurring motif that offers a moment to pause not just for the film’s characters but also for audiences.
Apart from mountains and mirrors, neckties are often used to show when a male lead is literally feeling tied down. Imtiaz Ali’s movies often associate the mundane with a trap – take, for example, a boring 9-5 job that requires one to put on a suit and a tie. To bring out the theme of entrapment, he has characters feeling caught up in the mundanity till they finally break free and unfasten their ties. Jab We Met’s Aditya looks rather sad before he takes off his tie and walks with no specific destination. In Tamasha, Ved links having to wear the tie every day and going to work as a form of slavery, highlighting the effects of capitalism. In Jab Harry Met Sejal, Harry (Shah Rukh Khan) is happiest when he’s not wearing a tie as opposed to when he’s wearing one at his day job.
Imtiaz Ali’s Films Use Some Great Music As A Narrative Device
Try listening to Ajj Din Chadheya (sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan) without being instantly transported to a flashback scene from Love Aaj Kal where Saif Ali Khan’s Veer waits by his lover’s window. The whole song is about a man urging and even challenging God to unite him with his heart’s dearest desire (Giselli Monteiro’s Harleen Kaur). The song Tum Se Hi (sung by Mohit Chauhan) from Jab We Met put Aditya’s (Shahid Kapoor) feelings for Geet on full display. Rockstar’s music, composed by music maestro A.R. Rahman is undeniably great and so is the soundtrack album which is filled with rousing hits. Among these, Sadda Haq and Jo Bhi Mein stand out. The two rock songs that became instant hits with audiences are reportedly influenced by The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd. What makes them great is that the lyrics don’t just assert Jordan’s individuality but stand for everyone who has something to say. It’s a stellar example of weaving a story into music. And that isn’t the only film with bangers on its soundtrack list.
Over the years Imtiaz Ali has shared some insights on his methods. In a Forbes interview, he revealed that he doesn’t exactly identify as a “cinema buff” and doesn’t watch that many movies. Instead, his films quite evidently draw from real-life situations. He claimed he doesn’t have any other inspirations. That being said, he has also cited the influence of many films that a cinephile would swear by – like Sholay, Chungking Express, Pather Panchali, Seven Samurai, Cinema Paradiso and more on his filmography. Of course, as one of Bollywood’s most successful filmmakers, he has great taste and it only shows through his own works. In spite of Imtiaz Ali’s films facing a common criticism of repeating themes in his movies, their universality remains and it’s a testament to his relatable art.
Here’s wishing director Imtiaz Ali a very happy birthday.
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