After two decades, Mani Ratnam’s multi-starrer ‘Yuva’ is back in theaters, reigniting nostalgia for one of Hindi cinema’s boldest political tales. Released in 2004 alongside its Tamil counterpart ‘Ayutha Ezhuthu’, the film wove parallel stories of three Kolkata youths whose paths cross dramatically, exposing the underbelly of student politics.
Ajay Devgn shines as the principled Michael Mukherjee, a student leader fighting corruption. Joined by Rani Mukerji, Kareena Kapoor, Vivek Oberoi, Abhishek Bachchan in a pivotal antagonistic role, and Esha Deol, the ensemble cast turned heads. Produced on an 11 crore budget, it raked in 23 crores globally, proving its commercial pull.
Anurag Kashyap’s sharp dialogues elevated the remake, while Mani Ratnam’s vision shone through unique casts for each language version. Abhishek’s performance was a game-changer; interestingly, Hrithik Roshan had turned down the role. The movie’s accolades include top honors at the 50th Filmfares.
With Ajay Devgn hyping the re-release online, fans are flocking back. ‘Yuva’ isn’t just a film; it’s a mirror to society’s political youth struggles, as relevant now as ever. Catch it now and relive the intensity.