Club 60

No wonder why the film's not a hit among cinema-goers. It doesn't have cheap item songs, flesh show or silly romance or even ridiculous dialog delivery. A critic's love, Club 60 is a very fine drama about life, old age & the search for happiness.

It is a real treat to watch yesteryear actors to come back, and play so genuinely, especially Farooque Sheikh. The whole cast is splendid, but I felt Raghuvir Yadav crossed the line with his antics. The plot is very calm focusing on the lives of 60 something people who meet each other at a club. Raghuvir Yadab brings them together & helps them find happiness in small things of life. Never have I seen in months in Bollywood such beautiful, deep dialogs about the mystery of life and never have I watched characters mourning death so authentically. Sarika is still so svelte!

With calm music and minuscule obscene dialogs here & there, Club 60 can only be lauded using superlatives. The editing & direction could've been better, cinematography is fine.

BOTTOM LINE: This is for everyone, teenagers to adults for it focuses on few values & virtues & explains it in a beautiful manner. Recommended!

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES

Profanity: No | Vulgarity: Mediocre | Violence/Gore/Sex/Porn: No | Smoking/Alcohol: Strong | Drugs: No

"Club 60" deals with the stories of aged pals who become part of the club named Club 60, where they share their joys and sorrows they have gone through their lives. The film centers around Farooq Shiekh who has immersed himself into depression after the loss of his only son. He relives his life once he becomes part of the Club 60 and realizes he is not the only one who has had a loss in life. The way the film narrates the loss almost every character have undergone by their 60s makes this film true to life.

On the whole the film is pretty slow but through its occasional wit the film succeeds to fully bring its theme and encourages the old people to live their life to the fullest. Though the pace of the film I've mentioned before is slow, there are also surprises with which each character's past agony is shown. Besides, the performances from the lead are also to be watched out for. Especially, Raghuvir Yadav's role besides Farooq Shiekh and Sarika's performances are what you would remember the film for. For the theme, the film is quite remarkable, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to watch a good film.

Rating: 3 stars out of 4

To begin with, certain films are not meant to be reviewed with the usual set pattern since they have not been made with that routine mindset and have something precious to share in their thoughtful narrative about we the people, our relationships and the life lived in our final years (of old age) under some tough conditions. Hence where you might find many reputed reviewers giving it a very average star ratings, I would strongly like to differ and rate CLUB 60 as a must watch since it does have a lot to teach about life, its profound contradictions and has a positive attitude which needs to be followed in our last phase of life i.e. old age.

Opening with a soulful narration by Farooque Sheikh about his own tragedy of life faced along with wife Sarika, the film clearly indicates that there is surely something extremely thoughtful and out of the routine coming in its next reels supported by a talented cast. Admittedly it does take a little time to sink in and even the introduction of Raghuvir Yadav at first feels like a bit over the top and loud. But once it all settles down after the initial introductions and a highly emotional scene comes in led by an amazing portrayal by Sarika, CLUB 60 starts influencing the viewer strongly and then seldom gives you a dull moment right till its well-conceived realistic climax following an impressive progression. Further the film has many insightful, well written sequences to be cherished with tears and smiles together, wherein many renowned veterans make a very impactful comeback after a long hiatus.

For instance, post a decent performance in "Listen…Amaya" (2013), CLUB 60 gives you back the Farooque Sheikh of the 80s (as in "Katha", "Chashme Buddoor" & more) effortlessly playing the skillful surgeon who has given up the spirit of living life after the death of his young son. It makes you meet the good old Raghuvir Yadavtransporting you back in the times of his great TV serials like "Mungeri Lal Ke Haseen Sapney". The film pleasantly discovers a very fine actress in Sarika, who was more known for her bold choices of roles only back in the 80s. And the lady truly scores the maximum, playing the strong, caring and suffering characters of a mother and wife together in a splendid way. Along with these key names, CLUB 60 has Satish Shah, Tinnu Anand, Sharat Saxena & Vineet Kumar lovingly playing the group of old friends, plus Zareena Wahab, Suhasini Mulay, Himani Shivpuri, Harsh Chhaya and Viju Khote quietly leaving an impression in their short roles.

Directed by the debutant Sanjay Tripathy, the film grows on you as it progresses and delivers some extremely thoughtful 'Precious Gems like dialogues', forcing you to think over them with empathy. Yes it could have easily been more impactful with a shorter length and less songs, but actually one doesn't notices these drawbacks after getting engrossed in the lives of its various characters and enjoys the songs too especially the well written ghazal "Rooh Mein Faasle Nahin Hotey", "Pal Pal Khelti Hai Zindagi" and "Kho Kar Maine Aaj Tumhe Paaya Hai" sung soulfully. Moreover with a fairly enjoyable script giving a highly refreshing, rare and meaningful message to the audience, CLUB 60 certainly rises much above these minor hiccups and deserves to be seen even by the youngsters who are eventually going to reach that age too in the coming decades. The film made me smile, laugh & cry in its various sequences depicting the last phase of our life differently and then forced me think about the same from a new perspective, as shared below in some straight words.

Despite its visible shortcomings, as I see it, CLUB 60 can easily be called a revolutionary kind of project, since it simply breaks all those rotten patterns of showing 'the old age' in a depressing mode in our films since decades. In fact it brings forward an extremely important message to be passed on to every old and middle aged person around, that LIFE doesn't end when you retire after the age of 60, but it actually begins with more spirit, freedom & fun if re-considered from a new cheerful angle full of positivity.

Hence with a hope that this message reaches all adults passing through any phase of their lives be it youth, middle age or old, I strongly recommend CLUB 60 to all like-minded friends here boldly, since we don't get to see such honest and sincere attempts made in our Hindi Cinema often. Yes, the film is not perfect but still is a far better product and much above than even a hundred visionless big budget films supported by all the renowned stars. Hence do give it a chance at the earliest and then spend some time thinking upon its positive message too, in order to experience an encouraging, joyful and winning end of a journey well lived.

These kind of movies that are rarely made. A film where the audience does not get disconnected for a moment. The actors were effortless, as if, it was their own story and someone had just shot it. Raghuvir Yadav has always been a phenomenon. His character really irritates you at the beginning, such is the depth in acting. Sarika and Late Farouqe Sheikh are the elderly next door couple whom you might see everyday and they go unnoticed. The pain and loneliness has been portrayed with such an ease that you are left with little bit of moist eyes. The casting has been top notch and each one of the lot took out their best. The screenplay and direction is awesome. The dialog writer has penned it in a easy day today language.

This is a movie for all age groups.

Many may not have heard of a Hindi film called Club 60, but it is an entertaining & thoughtful film that teaches you an important "lifestyle skill" – Life a fulfilling life even if you are on the wrong side of 60.

But for this you've to come out of your "lifestyle well" in which you've been living like a "frog" for years and decades. Sounds familiar, isn't? I am sure you will agree that most of us live like this "frog" in the "well" of our own miseries, despair, routine habits, and limited recreational activities.

This is precisely the kind of life that neurosurgeon, Dr Tariq Sheikh (Farooq Sheikh) and his wife Dr Saira (Sarika) were living after the death of their only son. Things started changing when they came in contact with a funny, colourful and melodramatic character, Manubhai (Raghubir Yadav).

It is he who introduced them to Club 60 consisting of retired – but jovial – members (Satish Shah, Tinnu Anand, Sharat Saxena & Vineet Kumar).

HAPPY POINTS about CLUB 60

1 - Club 60 is a simple film - but one which acts as a Mirror to anyone over 60 or someone living a boring/depressive life. It is not only entertaining (it has nice comedy in it) but also gives you an important lesson in life that will touch your mind and heart.

The film is emotional, thought-provoking and will surely make you rethink about your own (routine) life. It will make you wonder if at all there is any enjoyments and fulfilment in your own life.

By the way, I saw this film on Star Gold Select. And it is the only TV channel in which you are most likely to see the film again in future.

2 – It has dialogues which are very touching, thoughtful and also real. It is as if it's YOU who is being talked to. It is as if it's YOUR life which is getting "exposed".

The MOST touching dialogue was the one between Sarika and Farooq Sheikh (who has sadly passed away) in the balcony of their flat. The way Sarika emotionally implored Farooq to get out of the rut he is in…to escape from the depression he is in, will bring tears to your eyes. It may even make you feel "self-conscious" depending on the situation in your life.

Manubhai will teach you - "Zindagi se ehsaan mat le, Zindagi pe ehsaan kar". This from Manubhai who himself had a very, very sad past.

Tell you what, it is only in rare Indian films that you will get to see such "real" dialogues – and without any melodrama surrounding it.

3 – There are many hilarious moments presented in a normal manner – without any melodrama.

The best one for me is when semi-naked Sharat Saxena calls Raghubir Yadav (the most hyperactive all characters) from a hotel and tells him what a prostitute did to him after he slept with her. After listening, Raghubir burst into a kind of intense "suppressed laughter"…it looks so real and infectious that you too will react in exactly the same way!

4 – It was refreshing to see Sarika after so many years. In fact, I'd never seen her in a film after she became aged. Long, long time back (when in school) I'd seen a film in which she was just – believe it or not! - a Kid. Just see how time passes by.

And how can I forget Farooq Sheikh, the great actor he is? Sadly he passed away in the same month in which the film was released (Dec. 2013). We will all remember him by his Tumhari Amrita, Katha, Garam Hawa, Chashme Buddoor – and Club 60 too.

5 – You will get to hear melodious Ghazals - "Rooh Mein Faasle Nahin Hotey", "Pal Pal Khelti Hai Zindagi" and "Kho Kar Maine Aaj Tumhe Paaya Hai".

SAD POINTS about CLUB 60

1 - Raghubir Yadav's character is occasionally melodramatic and over-the-top which could easily have been avoided.

2 – After the "MOST touching dialogue" I'd just mentioned…and when you are in tears while listening to it…suddenly the scene changes to bursts of laughter amongst the members of Club 60.

This is a horrible anti-climax, I must say! It is as if the emotional build-up created by that heart-rending dialogue was suddenly "killed"!

Finally, such "thoughtful, eye-opening" entertaining films should be made more often. Although Club 60 is by no means a great film, but it is a film I'd love to watch MORE THAN ONCE.