Coming-of-age films have become the current craze in Bollywood. So after the recently released Ek Main Aur Ek Tu, Anu Menon makes his directorial debut with London Paris New York. For this genre, certain ingredients are must-haves. The angst which stems from a break-up, the confidence of leaving your mark on the world, the lashing out when expectations fail and finally (say approximately ten minutes before the end credits) making peace with yourself and hopefully the others around you.

This scenario has now been played out several times over the last decade with films such as Wake Up Sid [ Images ], and Love Aaj Kal [ Images ]. When working with familiar plot points, a competent director must work hard to flesh out fresh, charming characters, where the audience loses track of time and is busy rooting for them.