Released theatrically on 2 October 2009, Wake Up Sid received widespread critical acclaim for its direction, screenplay, music, and performances, particularly that of Kapoor. The film emerged as a commercial success, grossing over ₹47 crore (US$9.9 million) worldwide against a production budget of ₹18 crore (US$3.8 million).
Siddharth “Sid” Mehra, a gifted but aimless young man, is in his final year of college, indifferent to academics despite his intelligence. The son of wealthy businessman Ram Mehra, Sid leads an indulgent lifestyle, enabled by his caring mother, Sarita. His academic effort is negligent—barely studying before exams. Afterward, he celebrates with friends, oblivious to the consequences. His father offers him a Porsche car if he works at the family company for a month. Though initially enticed, Sid soon tires of the corporate environment and quits, giving up the promised car.
At his college farewell party, Sid meets Aisha Banerjee, an ambitious writer from Kolkata who dreams of succeeding at Mumbai Beat magazine. Intrigued by her independence, Sid questions her resolve, but Aisha confidently affirms her aspirations. When Aisha struggles with terrible hostel conditions, Sid helps her find an apartment. Though the place is shabby, Aisha sees potential. With Sid and his friends’ help, she transforms it, forming a close friendship with him. When Sid suggests romance, Aisha gently rejects him, citing his lack of ambition.
Aisha soon secures her job under the urbane Kabir Chaudhary at Mumbai Beat. Meanwhile, Sid receives devastating news: he has failed his final exams. Overwhelmed, he fights with his friends and storms out after a heated argument with his parents. With nowhere to go, he turns to Aisha, who reluctantly lets him stay. Living together proves difficult. Sid struggles with basic chores, while Aisha, absorbed in her work, grows increasingly frustrated due to his clumsiness and incompetence.
After a tense argument, Aisha advises Sid to return to his parents' house, pointing out that while his father runs a successful company, he himself is only useful for cooking and helping around the house. Sid, however, reveals that working at his father's firm made him feel out of place. He expresses a desire to find something that truly interests him and pleads for another chance. She agrees, and Sid begins to change—taking responsibility for housework and rekindling his love for photography. Aisha introduces him to Amit, a photography director at Mumbai Beat, who offers him an internship after seeing Sid’s work.
Sid embraces discipline and builds a new life. A photo assignment triggers memories of his mother, prompting him to reconcile with her. He also repairs his friendships. As Sid pursues a feature opportunity at Mumbai Beat, Aisha achieves a milestone—her article gets accepted for publication. Although she briefly dates Kabir, she realizes they are incompatible and becomes aware of her growing feelings for Sid. Sid’s hard work pays off when he is promoted to assistant photographer and receives his first paycheck. Proud, he visits his father’s office, thanks him sincerely, and earns his father's embrace. Sid decides to move back home, leaving Aisha’s apartment. Though saddened, Aisha lets him go.
At home, Sid discovers Aisha’s forgotten shirt and reads her article in Mumbai Beat—a touching piece about her journey in Mumbai and her love for an unnamed person. Realizing the article is about him, Sid is overcome with emotion. Determined, he rushes through the rain to their favourite beach spot. Finding Aisha there, he confesses his love, and she reciprocates. They embrace, marking Sid’s transformation from a carefree slacker into a man of purpose and substance.
The DVD was released by UTV Home Video. A mobile video game based on the film was also released by UTV Indiagames.[6]
Reception
Box office
Wake Up Sid opened to strong box office performance both in India and overseas. The film grossed ₹215 million (US$2.5 million) worldwide during its opening weekend, including ₹170 million (US$2.0 million) from India. It ranked first at the Indian box office in its first and second weeks, fourth in its third week, and third in its fourth week. In international markets, the film collected US$717,977 in the United States and US$165,934 in the United Kingdom. By the end of its fourth week, it had grossed a combined total of US$348,351 in the UK and New Zealand. Released concurrently with Do Knot Disturb, Wake Up Sid captured a significantly larger share of the audience.
Critical reception
Wake Up Sid received widespread critical acclaim. Reviewers praised its themes, screenplay, performances, direction, and contemporary narrative.
Subhash K. Jha from Bollywood Hungama called it "a triumph on many levels" and commended Ayan Mukerji's understated direction.[7]Taran Adarsh, also writing for Bollywood Hungama, rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, describing it as "strongly recommended."[8]Rajeev Masand of CNN-IBN gave it 3.5 out of 5, calling it a film that "has its heart in the right place" and praised Ranbir Kapoor's performance.[9]
Mayank Shekhar of the Hindustan Times gave it 3.5 out of 4, calling it a "sweet genre" film and drawing comparisons to Dil Chahta Hai (2001).[10] Avijit Ghosh of The Times of India also rated it 3.5 out of 4, noting its relatable themes and emotional resonance.[11] Noyon Jyoti Parasara of AOLIndia gave a similar rating, complimenting Mukerji for making a personal directorial mark despite producer Karan Johar's strong brand presence.[12]
Joginder Tuteja of Indo-Asian News Service rated the film 3.5 out of 5 and praised its originality and emotional restraint.[13] Rachel Saltz of The New York Times described it as "Bollywood in an indie mood," noting its "quiet style and credible characters."[14]
Some critics offered more tempered responses. Sudhish Kamath of The Hindu noted that the ending felt like a "stock-ending" despite the film’s overall effectiveness.[15]Variety's Joe Leydon called the film "instantly forgettable," but acknowledged the appeal of its leads and the film’s easy charm throughout its runtime.[16]
Controversy
On 2 October 2009, members of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) protested against the screening of Wake Up Sid in Mumbai and Pune. The party objected to the film's use of the term "Bombay" instead of the officially adopted name "Mumbai". The protests temporarily disrupted screenings until the producers agreed to issue an apology and make necessary modifications. Screenings resumed shortly after the resolution.[17]
The music for Wake Up Sid was composed by the trio Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, with lyrics by Javed Akhtar. The soundtrack album was released on 21 August 2009 and received positive reviews from critics.[26][27]
Amit Trivedi composed the film's background score and contributed the song "Iktara," along with its reprise and extended versions. The track marked a collaboration with lyricist Amitabh Bhattacharya, a frequent contributor to Trivedi's work. An additional variation titled "Boondon Ke Moti," an extension of "Iktara" and performed by Salim Merchant, was recorded but remains unreleased.
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