tribulations of youth

New Delhi, Apr 15 (UNI) What is it that constitutes happiness for the youth in modern India? Is it the pursuit of political power; or the amassing of huge wealth; or acheiving fame or, being the best in one's field of work? Exploring this fundamental question, confronting today's "upwardly mobile" and "fiercely ambitious" generation next, is 'Life Mein Kabhie Kabhie', a new film reflecting the hopes, aspirations and inclinations of the youth.

Directed by Vikram Bhatt, 'Life Mein Kabhie Kabhie', which was released across the country on April 13, takes the cinegoer through the diverse journey of five friends - Manish, Rajeev, Jai, Monica and Ishita - over five years of their life, in quest of a common goal - happiness.

During a college farewell party, the friends, in an insanely drunken state, lay a bet as to who would be the happiest person in life amongst them. They give five years to themselves, at the end of which Manish would decide who was the happiest. The film shows how each one of them have a different idea of happiness.'' While Manish (Aftab Shivdasani) is a simpleton who respects life and enjoys goodies that come along with it, Rajeev (Dino Morea) is the opposite of Manish and one for whom happiness means being successful in anything and everything he does.

For Jai (Sameer Dattani), a middle class boy, happiness means having power, while for Monica (Nauheed Cyrusi) who desires to be an actress it is fame that means happiness.

For the fifth of them, Ishita (Anjori), it is money that drives the world and is the measure of happiness.

The film is a roller coaster ride of the five protagonists in pursuit of what they believe to be the ultimate yardstick for happiness in life.

What emerges, however, in the ultimate analysis is that it is the 'lack of sadness' in a person's life, more than anything else, that constitutes real happiness.

Continuing the trend of films like 'Salaam-e-Ishq', 'Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd' and 'Just Married'with a multiple characters having their different perspectives towards life, 'Life Mein Kabhie Kabhie' features a host of actors like Dino Morea, Aftab Shivdasani, Sameer Dattani, Nauheed Cyrusi, Anuj Sawhney along with newcomers Anjori Alagh and former Miss India Nikita Anand.

What is commendable, however, is the fact that'Life Mein..' is among the few films that tackles the issues, problems and dilemmas confronting the youth of the country, the last being 'Rang De Basanti', India's entry to the prestigious Oscars awards, that was released almost an year ago.

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