Plot
Siddharth “Sid” Mehra a gifted yet lethargic and aimless young man, is in his final year of college, indifferent toward academics despite his prodigious intellect. The son of a wealthy businessman, Ram Mehra, Sid enjoys an indulgent lifestyle, enabled by his mother, Sarita, who, despite her frustrations, continues to coddle him. His approach to academics is abysmally negligent—barely studying the night before his final exams. As he struggles through his test, tormented by imagined mockery from classmates, he clings to the hope of scraping a pass. After the exams, he indulges in extravagant shopping and dining with friends, blissfully oblivious to the ramifications of his lackadaisical attitude.
Sid’s father attempts to instill responsibility in him by offering to gift him a Porsche if he works at the family business for a month. Initially enticed, Sid reluctantly agrees but quickly finds himself disenchanted with the monotonous corporate environment. He quits in frustration, relinquishing his claim to the coveted car.
At his college’s farewell party, Sid meets Aisha Banerjee, an ambitious writer newly arrived from Kolkata, determined to carve a career at Mumbai Beat, a prestigious magazine. Intrigued by her independence and clarity of purpose, Sid takes her to a beach, questioning her resolve in facing the challenges of Mumbai alone. Undeterred, Aisha affirms her unwavering commitment to her aspirations.
Soon after, Aisha seeks accommodation, struggling with deplorable hostel conditions. Sid assists her in house-hunting, leading them to an apartment owned by the flirtatious Sonia. While Sid is appalled by the dilapidated state of the room, Aisha sees potential and embraces the challenge of revitalizing the space. With Sid and his friends’ help, she transforms the apartment, cementing a bond of friendship. When Sid tentatively broaches the idea of a romantic relationship, Aisha dismisses the notion, stating that he lacks ambition and does not align with her ideals.
Aisha secures her position at Mumbai Beat under the urbane Kabir Chaudhary, while Sid, upon receiving his exam results, is devastated to learn that he has failed. Unable to cope with his disappointment, he lashes out at his friends and returns home in frustration. Matters escalate into a heated argument with his parents, culminating in Sid storming out of the house. With no financial support or shelter, he turns to Aisha, who, despite her initial reservations, allows him to stay temporarily.
Their cohabitation is rife with challenges—Sid, unfamiliar with domestic responsibilities, struggles with cooking and maintaining order, while Aisha, immersed in her demanding job, finds his presence increasingly exasperating. A particularly stressful day leads to an altercation where Aisha chastises Sid for his incompetence, prompting him to reevaluate his approach to life. He gradually takes on household chores and rekindles his passion for photography, capturing candid moments of the world around him. Recognizing his potential, Aisha introduces him to Amit, a photography director at Mumbai Beat, who, impressed by Sid’s work, offers him an internship.
Sid’s transformation is profound. He embraces discipline, proactively contributes to household management, and immerses himself in his newfound career. During a photography assignment, he encounters a mother and child, evoking nostalgia for his own maternal bond. This compels him to reconcile with his mother, offering a heartfelt apology. His growth is further underscored by mending ties with his estranged friends.
Encouraged by his progress, Sid aspires to prove his worth by securing his own feature in Mumbai Beat. Meanwhile, Aisha’s article gains approval for publication, marking a milestone in her career. Though she initially dates Kabir, she soon realizes their incompatibility and, more poignantly, recognizes her deepening affection for Sid.
Sid’s perseverance culminates in professional validation—he is promoted to assistant photographer and receives his first paycheck. Overjoyed, he visits his father’s office, acknowledging his past defiance and expressing gratitude. His father, moved by Sid’s newfound sense of purpose, embraces him with pride. Determined to rebuild familial ties, Sid decides to return home, leaving Aisha’s apartment. Unbeknownst to him, Aisha is heartbroken by his departure but refrains from confessing her feelings.
Back home, Sid stumbles upon Aisha’s shirt among his belongings, an inadvertent keepsake of their time together. As he reads the latest issue of Mumbai Beat, he discovers Aisha’s article—a poignant narrative of her experiences in Mumbai and her affection for an unnamed individual. Realizing that the article is about him, Sid is struck by the depth of her emotions.
Determined to seize his moment, he rushes through the rain-soaked streets of Mumbai, certain that Aisha would be at their cherished beach spot. As he finds her, he professes his love, and she reciprocates with equal fervor. They embrace, marking the beginning of their love story, symbolizing Sid’s evolution from an aimless slacker into a man of substance and purpose.
Reception
Box office
Wake Up Sid opened well in India and overseas markets. Its opening weekend gross was ₹215 million (US$2.5 million) of which the domestic gross was ₹170 million (US$2.0 million). It was number one in the box office during its first and second weeks, number four during its third week, and number three during its fourth week.
In the United Kingdom, the film collected US$165,934, while in the US, the collections were US$717,977. By its fourth week, it grossed $348,351 in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Do Knot Disturb also released during the same time, but Wake Up Sid got a larger portion of the audience.
Critical reception
Wake Up Sid received widespread critical acclaim upon release, with high praise for its novel concept, themes, direction, story, screenplay, soundtrack and performances of the cast.
Subhash K. Jha from Bollywood Hungama gave Wake Up Sid a rave review stating that it is, "a triumph on many levels [...] Ayan Mukerji takes the age-old dramatic conflicts of our commercial cinema into understated corridors. [4] Similarly, Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama gave the film 4 out of 5 stars as well as a "thumbs up" stating that it is "strongly recommended." [5] Rajeev Masand of CNN-IBN gave the film 3.5 out of 5 stars, stating that Wake Up Sid "has its heart in the right place and marks the breakout of a bright, shining star who has come into his own so early in his acting career. Watch it, and be awestruck by Ranbir." [6]
Mayank Shekhar of Hindustan Times gave it 3.5 out of 4 stars and states, "Wake Up Sid belongs to a sweet genre that, without doubt, flows on from Farhan Akhtar's Dil Chahta Hai (2001): part-Hollywood; part-Bollywood; mostly coming-of-age; subtly romantic; largely original; authentic in feel; light in weight; English in expression; Hindi in language." [7] Avijit Ghosh of The Times of India gave it 3.5 out of 4 stars and suggests that, "Wake Up Sid becomes a sort of template of how GenNow navigate their lives: deal with their own little rebellions, find meaning to their own definitions of independence and handle their own set of mistakes. It feels good when the two friends finally meet in driving rain under the grey skies by the sea. Refreshing and heart-warming, Wake Up Sid really puts you in the mood for love." [8] Noyon Jyoti Parasara of AOL India gave it 3.5 out of 5 stars and praised the director saying, "Ayan Mukerji arrives in style and manages to leave his own mark on the film despite having a producer like Karan Johar whose other productions always tend to have his stamp. Wake Up Sid really puts you in the mood for love." [9]
Joginder Tuteja of the Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) calls the film "flawless" and gave it 3.5 stars out of 5. He states: "There are 5 things that make Wake Up Sid a delightful affair. It has a constant flow throughout; no over-the-top or understated drama; no ultra-emotional strangulation of audiences; absolutely no yuppie cool dude act; and last but not the least, this is an original and refreshing story." [10] Rachel Saltz of The New York Times argues that: "With no big production numbers (songs play over montage sequences), a quiet style and credible characters, Wake Up Sid is Bollywood in an indie mood, a film for people like Aisha and Sid: young and educated. It may not be as hip as Bombay Beat, the magazine where the two work, but it shows that Mr. Mukerji is a director to watch." [11]
In one point of criticism, Sudhish Kamath of Chennai's The Hindu labeled the closing moments as a "stock-ending" and noted that, despite the film's overall effectiveness, the ending "leaves you a little disappointed." [12] Variety's Joe Leydon found the film "instantly forgettable", but praised the performances of Sharma and Kapoor, as well noting how "effortlessly appealing" the film is, stating: "...this atypically low-key Bollywood romantic comedy somehow manages to remain pleasantly diverting throughout its 138-minute running time." [13]
Controversy
On 2 October, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena supporters protested to halt the screening of Wake Up Sid in Mumbai and Pune. The MNS objected the use of the word "Bombay" instead of "Mumbai" in the film. [14]
