MOVIES THAT DEFINED OUR GENERATION

When we say a movie “defines” a generation, we are not talking about timeless works but rather movies that resonated with us. Our culture was defined by the characters, songs, and scenes of those films. We all connected with them in some way, and they continue to be our favourite go-to movies. They become so special to us that we can’t stop but watch them over and over again all our lives. City First brings to you some of the iconic movies that perfectly define our generation and the friendships we build along.

YEH JAWANI HAI DEEWANI
Our generation was graced nine years ago with a film that will live on in our memories. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani is without a doubt the movie I’ve seen the most times and can now recite the dialogues in sync. The film, directed by Ayan Mukherji, examines a number of issues that young people deal with, including relationships, romance, aspirations and most importantly friendship. When my dad proudly cites Jai and Veeru as an example of the most selfless friendship, I swoop in with Avi, Aditi, and Bunny showing us the most uplifting friendship. And how could I possibly forget t h e lovely relationship that Aditi and Naina grew to have as the film went on—it totally set the bar for friendship in real life!

ZINDAGI NA MILEGI DOBARA
On July 15, eleven years ago, the film delineated new standards for friendship and revived the bromance subgenre after ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ had revolutionised it in 2001. Without a question, Zoya Akhtar’s best work, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, had a fantastic response from both the public and the critics. Many predicted that “ZNMD” would be a trip, a charming excursion that would be quickly forgotten, but it actually turned out to be a trip with friends that we treasure even today. It gives us a great deal of motivation to live and eagerly anticipates experiencing life with our friends, travelling, and discovering love somewhere far away.
 

3 IDIOTS
Rajkumar Hirani’s 3 Idiots is without a doubt a movie so precious to our generation, one that made us laugh, cry, and sing our hearts out. A fantastic movie showing Raju, Rancho, and Farhan’s strong bond as they become friends in college. This kind of friendship is something we all love, value, and aspire to have. The movie demonstrated what it means to have your friend’s back and how friendship transcends prejudice and class. It is so heartwarming, relevant, and yet so, so humorous. Whether it is gatecrashing a wedding, studying together the night before the exam, or addressing family-related concerns, the movie was relatable to an extent we couldn’t imagine.

JAANE TU... YA JAANE NA
We all learn through relationships and maturation that friendship is a crucial component of love. Even though I had heard Shah Rukh Khan say, “Pyaar dosti hai,” in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, I didn’t fully understand what it meant until I saw it happen in Abbas Tyrewala’s Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na. The movie not only perfectly portrayed youthful relationships, but it also described how friendships functioned. Despite its many clichés and melodramatic elements, I always enjoy this movie. I’d call it a contemporary classic because of the songs, the humour, the heartache, and of course the collegiate friendships.