Rock On!! 2008

Magik, a tight-knit Mumbai rock band, kicks off in 1998 with Aditya Shroff [Farhan Akhtar], the rebellious lead singer from a privileged background; Joe Mascarenhas [Arjun Rampal], the eager guitarist determined to prove his worth; Rob Mehta [Luke Kenny], the laid-back keyboardist; and KD Zaveri [Purab Kohli], the powerhouse drummer nicknamed “Killer Drummer.” They’re drawn to Channel V’s contest because the prize promises an album contract and at least one music video, a dream that could lift them from late-night jams to the glare of the spotlight. The group’s chemistry hums as they write and rehearse, sharing a carefree, almost reckless camaraderie that feels like a secret world all their own. Debbie [Shahana Goswami], Joe’s girlfriend, is part of this orbit, a person who understands the band’s heart but also bears a quiet ache about the costs of their growing ambition.

Magik wins the competition, but the victory comes with sharp, unwelcome compromises. Joe’s slow ballad, the song he wrote for his girlfriend Debbie, is dropped from the album to make room for a remix, and Debbie herself is let go as the band’s stylist, never even called in for a demonstration. During the music video shoot, the band is forced to wear outfits they dislike, and the camera fixates on Aditya rather than the group as a whole. The tension explodes when Joe confronts Aditya and the director, and he leaves with Debbie. Aditya, oblivious to the brewing discontent, is stunned as the contract slips away, and his world begins to crack: he abandons not only the music but also his girlfriend Tanya [Nicolette Bird], who had been part of their orbit. The band’s disintegration seems sealed, and the rift between old friends hardens into something nearly unbridgeable.

A decade passes. Aditya is now a wealthy, high-powered investment banker living in luxury with his wife Sakshi [Prachi Desai], yet happiness remains out of reach. To break the monotony of a gilded life, Sakshi decides to gift him a thoughtful birthday surprise—a symbol of the past she hopes will be rekindled. She crosses paths with Devika [Koel Purie], a friend who often observes Aditya’s quiet dissatisfaction, and Devika’s presence hints at something more than nostalgia. Sakshi then uncovers old photos and videos of Magik, reigniting curiosity about the band’s fate. She invites the others to a birthday gathering for Aditya, coaxing KD [Purab Kohli], Rob [Luke Kenny], and Joe [Arjun Rampal] to join, while Debbie continues her own path—now a single mother with an eight-year-old son and a small fishing business that speaks of resilience more than fame. Joe, newly married to Debbie, wrestles with a sense of unfinished business as he watches his former life tug at his current one.

As relationships reassemble, Channel V announces a second contest. Rob urges a reunion, and Ajay [Suraj Jagan], the frontman of a rival group who has since faded from the scene, steps in to lend his support, signaling a possible path back to the stage. Debbie work-threads her way into a different life by arranging a gig for Joe aboard a cruise ship that sails on the very day the band plans to compete. Aditya, meanwhile, confronts the truth of his past when he encounters Tanya again and apologizes for how things ended, only to learn that she has moved on. The turn of events deepens the emotional stakes: Rob is diagnosed with a brain tumor, and his final wish is to perform with Magik one last time. The contest is broadcast on the radio, and as Joe heads toward the airport, he hears Magik revive the song he wrote for Debbie—now a tribute meant for a lost dream. He makes a decisive return to the stage, joining Aditya for a duet that becomes a poignant, defiant rallying cry in the face of time’s inexorable pull.

In the months that follow, Rob’s illness takes its toll, and he passes away two months after the triumphant performance. The epilogue reveals a cascade of new beginnings grounded in the old magic: Sakshi gives birth to a baby boy, whom they name Rob in memory of their friend; Devika starts dating KD, and the two even begin a record company together, a fresh canvas for future artists; Debbie leaves the fishing trade to become a successful stylist; and Joe, now part of a revived musical life, contributes to a lasting collaboration with KD. The band members and their families continue to meet every weekend, keeping Magik alive in memory, music, and the stubborn, stubborn hope that some bonds endure beyond time.