I know I know there are better Imtiaz Ali films out there including the likes of Tamasha and most notably Highway, but you see, what I'm talking about here is not his best film, but it's certainly his magnum opus. To let you know the difference, magnum opus is something that is a large and important work of art, music or literature which is regarded as the artist's most important. Not necessarily the best, but most important. So, sure Highway might be Imtiaz Ali's best film, but Jab We Met just speaks to me in a different way.

Right from the start, this film drags you in. The opening montage of Aditya Kashyap just leaving everything behind and giving up on life is something I relate to on a huge, personal level. I too sometimes feel like just disappearing from everyone's life out of the blue and wanting to be left alone. It gives off a vibe that this might be a depressing, slow-moving film about Aditya's journey of self-discovery and coming to terms with various stages of his past life. Although that does happen, it doesn't quite happen in a way you'd expect things to happen. Right after the opening montage, we are introduced to Geet Kaur Dhillon. A character which is the polar opposite of Aditya and that's when you think that it is through Geet, that Aditya will finally learn about the value of life. Although, that also does happen, it does not just end there, it's actually only the first half of the film. The film transitions into something much more beautiful and emotional in the second half which shows what an amazing writer-director Imtiaz Ali truly is. After the first half, the situations are reversed and the tables are turned. It is now Geet that is facing what Aditya was facing in the first half and now it's Aditya's duty to help Geet learn about the value of life. This unique dynamic along with exceptional work from the leads is what makes this film work. The energy of the leads is so beautiful that they don't miss a beat in connecting with the audience and land a gut-wrenching powerful punch when the time comes. I was crying through most of the middle section of the film to witness all the situations reversed and seeing Aditya encouraging Geet to live again melts my heart.

The performances from the leads are absolutely fantastic. There is not a single loose thread in the acting and considering Shahid and Kareena were an actual couple back then, it really shows. Their chemistry is off the charts and you desperately want them to end up being together. Tarun Arora as Anshuman is also something that works really well. You'd think of him as that regular trope-filled character of a rom-com which is there just to act as an obstacle before the two leads end up together but he is so much more. His character has an actual stake in the film and his actions have some serious plot-thickening consequences. Which is what makes him different and unique. Although, whatever fate his character met, he deserved it. The rest of the cast is also good and provide ample support to the leads.

The music and background score oof. This is where the film excels again. Each and every track is soulful and eargasmic. Be it the romantic Tum Se Hi by Mohit Chauhan, heartbreaking Aaoge Jab Tum by Ustad Rashid Khan, the absolute banger party songs Nagada Nagada by Javed Ali/Mauja Hi Mauja by Mika Singh or the go-to vibe filled Yeh Ishq Haaye by Shreya Ghoshal; each and every song is great and contributes to the film in high values.

In the end, I'd like to say again what I said in the beginning. This film is indeed, Imtiaz Ali's Magnum Opus.