10 years of Rockstar: 5 reasons why we still remember Rockstar

Whether it is Kun Faya Kun, or Jordan’s impulsiveness, his fated love for Heer, Prague, passion, wistfulness, darkness, loss, Rockstar made us feel many emotions. This Imtiaz Ali musical that released on 11th November touched many hearts. At its core, it is the story of an ordinary boy’s journey to becoming an artist.

For many viewers, 159 minutes of the film were an immersive experience. A star was born at the end, Jordan, and Ranbir Kapoor. The music album directed by AR Rahman, lyrics by Irshad Kamil and sung by Mohit Chauhan became a golden, timeless collection.

Let us explore a few reasons that made Rockstar a cult classic-

1. A music that levitates

Imtiaz Ali in an interview with Hindustan Times said when he first heard a small snippet of Phir Se Ud Chala, it felt like an experience. With each composition of the film, that experience only magnified. Rockstar as an album was special, as it combined various genres, with a Sadda Haq, Kun Faya Kun and Tum Ho placed together. Instruments such as the shehnai and guitar fused to create magic.

Moreover, each song played an important role in furthering the narrative of the film or providing a deep insight into the character’s mind. The memory is still fresh to lyrics such as "kaaga re kaaga re mori itni araj tujhse chun chun khaiyo maans khaiyo na tu naina more, khaiyo na tu naina mohe piya ke milan ki aas.."

2 Ranbir Kapoor

It would not be an exaggeration to say Rockstar would at all have been the same. It was no ordinary feat to portray the madness of Jordan's character without overdoing it. From Janardhan to Jordan, Ranbir shows a massive character transformation in this film.  In the movie, he almost becomes the character. He struggles, shouts, becomes aggressive yet we feel this character’s depth. From innocence, fame and then isolation, Ranbir’s eyes speak in the movie.

3 Last movie of Shammi Kapoor

Rockstar is also special as it was the last movie of Bollywood legend Shammi Kapoor. Shammi Kapoor plays Ustad Jameel Khan who introduces Jordan to the other side of fame.

Ustad Jameel Khan here can’t stop gushing over JJ – the musician in Rockstar, even though Janardhan Jakhar inside him is burning every second. In the powerful Dichotomy of fame, they both come together when JJ has reached the peak of his career and fame. Yet, seldom does he feel happy or inspired. That is the dichotomy of fame.

4 Romance

The romance of Imtiaz Ali is a genre in itself. It has lived in textures of passion, journeys and internal conflicts. Some people found Nargis Fakhri’s dubbing overwhelming. Yet, the chemistry of Heer and Jordan was in every way magnetic. Heer meets JJ after her wedding. She has lost the zeal of life and remains sick. Jordan is what brings life in her. When he returns back to his, they have a consumptive affair. They are bound within the society and Jordan’s fame. Towards the end, his fame becomes a parasite and she is his only respite.

When asked in an interview about the tragic ending of Rockstar, Ali says Rockstar is based on a myth that great music can only come from a broken heart. Thus, it was important that Jordan’s heart breaks at the end.

5 Sufism

There is a touch of Sufism in many Imtiaz Ali films. When it comes to Rockstar, there are many. The famous song Kun Faya Kun was shot at Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah. In an interview, Ali confessed that someone had randomly sent him the Nadaan Parindey poem by Rumi one day, and from there it became the refrain of the iconic song.

Held apart by several factors, a world where Jordan and Heer could be together feels like an alternate universe. Ali depicts this with a quote by famous Sufi saint Rumi, “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there..”