Imtiaz Ali criticizes his own film 'Rockstar'; 'What the hell is this?'

Recently, while talking of his movie 'Rockstar', director Imtiaz Ali confessed to how his own writing proved problematic and not entirely up to his wish after getting a second viewing of his film. Although the film was a box office winner and gained critical acclaim, too when it was made in 2011. 'Rockstar' was apparently unable to stand the time, said Imtiaz.

Imtiaz in discussion with film critic and journalist Rajeev Masand commented on this film at the 15th edition of the Indian Film Festival Of Melbourne. He said, "While one may not really predict which one would click and which one won't be a hit," this is where filmmaking can turn as unpredictable as one expects. Some films, notwithstanding not working at first instance, gain cult popularity after sometime. While another set of films may garner a good appreciation from the word go for one or many reasons, subsequently fail to pick up substantial following later on. At last he reiterated that one cannot reach the milestone level of hitting people's minds with an impact that does not see many movies.

Discussing AR Rahman's role as an Oscar-winning composer, Imtiaz says that the composer's audio vision has influenced him. "He brings a dimension that didn't exist in my mind before," he added. "It's not just about music; it's about realizing that he interprets my ideas from a viewpoint I hadn't considered." This often led Imtiaz to make changes within the film to align to Rahman's soundscapes.

However, upon the second viewing of 'Rockstar', Imtiaz couldn't help but ponder the film's structure. "What the hell is this film?! Where is the screenplay?" he mused aloud. He called the musical transitions in the film, saying that it seems each song is separate from the other, with awkward changes in the middle of nowhere. "It feels like some visuals strung together without a cohesive narrative," he said, specifically talking about the chaotic nature of songs like "Kun Faya Kun.".

Even while panning the film, Imtiaz admitted that it is a story of a young boy who achieves stardom through heartbreak. The story is simple, he said, but it's the music that carries the emotional weight of the movie. He appreciated scenes in which music elevates key moments, such as the rendition of "Nadaan Parinde.".

'Rockstar', starring Nargis Fakhri, Aditi Rao Hydari, Kumud Mishra, and Piyush Mishra, was the first collaboration between Imtiaz Ali and AR Rahman. The director and composer collaborated again on three other films: 'Highway' (2014), 'Tamasha' (2015), and the recent release 'Amar Singh Chamkila'' (2024).