What makes this movie special is really the fact that it is a Saif Ali Khan movie. Yes, it is his first home production. But more importantly, it marks an unbelievable evolution from that gawky embarrassment we saw in "Aashik Aawara (1993)". Although he has proved himself in Dil Chahta Hai and Hum Tum earlier, for someone who grew up watching his initial movies it is difficult not to be awed by his resurgence. Like Abhay Deol, his choice of stories recently has been more commendable than his performance (which too, now, would do his mom proud).

Love Aaj Kal is made in the Imtiaz Ali genre, picking up where his first movie Socha Na Thha ended. It feels like a sequel of sorts to both SNT and Hum Tum, with bits of inspiration from "When Harry met Sally" and another Chinese film I saw referred to on IMDb. Yet it manages to weave a beautiful story across two eras, interspersed with songs you simply have to hear again and again.

As always, Imtiaz treats the locations as another character. The foggy Delhi of 1960s, the historical Delhi of 2009, the melting pot of London and the undulating streets of San Francisco--- they all form an indelible part of the story. While some of the non-Indian characters are reduced to caricatures, don't Hollywood films do the same to non-American characters? :-) Performances are good, especially from the Saif in 1965 and his girl Harleen. With very few dialogs in that part of the film, the actors must act with their eyes and this is where they do a great job. Rahul Khanna is wasted (yet again) and Rishi Kapoor lights up the screen the way he always does.

I recommend you go see this in the theater and relive your first 'break up party'. Then, if you like it, I seriously recommend checking out 'Socha Na Tha (2005)' to see Imtiaz work before big-bucks box office beckoned.