Like Rock On, this one is also about the male bonding, on and off the stage. Shraddha Kapoor’s presence adds a different dimension to it.

The script is a major downer. It is way too contrived, directionless and morose to hold your interest. With no strong conflict point to hold it all together, the story goes haywire. The narration tries too hard to manipulate your feelings and spoon-feed emotions by explaining the unsaid thoughts of the characters, depriving you the joy of discovering it for yourself. The music is shockingly weak. Barring the Usha Uthup track, it is not a patch on the former’s iconic tracks.

‘Rock On’ showcases some good performances, but it doesn’t recreate the youthful simplicity of the first part. And, most vitally, where is all the ‘rock’?

Rock On 2 does drag at certain points but the film has all the right ideas. Better still are the performances. Farhan Akhtar and Shraddha Kapoor sing reasonably well but they act to perfection. Farhan’s underplayed performance rocks you, there are moments when the tremble in his hands can give you gooseflesh. Shraddha gets the pitch of her fragile character right as well. She looks beautiful and has given one of her best performances ever. Arjun Rampal is impressive in his moments as well. The performances save it from the limitations of its writing and execution. Rock On 2 is nevertheless a bittersweet symphony.

Rock On 2 is pretty much the most engaging and authentic sequel I’ve seen coming out  of Bollywood in recent times. If as Shakespeare volunteered, music is actually the food of love, then this film is a feast.

‘Rock On 2’ is a musical journey with hits and misses. The nostalgia factor here takes it a notch up on our entertainment scale. If you were impressed with the spirit of ‘Magik’ in ‘Rock On!!’ then ‘Rock On 2’ will prove to be an effective outing for you this weekend.

There are a few, little surprises of this kind in the film. Also, it feels so good to see so many North-Eastern actors (even if some of them are non-actors) in a mainstream film. If only, Rock On 2 had better music and a little more effort in the parts of the puzzle that bring the film together.