Starring –

Alia Bhatt, Arjun Kapoor, Revathi, Amrita Singh, Ronit Roy, Shivkumar Subramaniam, Sharang Natarajan | IMDb rating – 6.9

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The film is based on a novel by Chetan Bhagat with minor changes in the script. The story is not extraordinary. It is a common love story and family drama caused by clash between two distinct cultures in India.

Acting performances by Arjun Kapoor, Amrita Singh, Revathi and Ronit Roy are commendable. Alia Bhatt, still new to the business, has an average performance in comparison to her other stellar films.

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Film through my lens ~

Though the script is ordinary and the characters sketches are familiar, like in the movie Ek Duje Ke liye, this movie stands out to me for several reasons.

Arjun Kapoor’s character in the film is close to me. I connect with the character throughout the film. Though in the beginning, Krish is seen as a reserved guy crushing on a beautiful Ananya, his character is given a beautiful arc in the rest of the movie.

His childhood and adolescense in a broken family, the tense relationship with his father resulting in his increased affection towards his mother and vice versa. The first time I watched this film in the theatre, I could not take my eyes of Krish’s character.

Throughout the film, he is trying to make everyone happy. He wants his mother to be happy with Ananya and vice versa. The anger towards his abusive father, the concern for his mother, his love for Ananya, all the emotions are just the right amount.

The hauntingly beautiful scene in the above picture sums up his family. His father, played by the amazing Ronit Roy, is a failed human being whose sole purpose is to lash out his frustrations on his wife and child. His mother, played by the immensely talented Amrita Singh, is a protective figure whose sole refuge is her son. And then there is Krish, trying to pick up the pieces of the shattered family because he believes he will not be like his father.

There are countless number of times I have imagined writing about this particular scene as I have really not come across a better broken family depiction. I might be wrong, let me know in the comments or on the contact page.

The use of therapy in the movie seems relevant to the premise and the mental health condition of this country. It is vital and not showing the actual therapist in the movie symbolises the audience being his therapist.

The brief yet important break up scene between the leading actors in the film is again, an underrated scene according to me. The song Chaandaniya is beautifully written by Amitabh Bhattacharya. One particular dialogue which should be acknowledged ~

Pyaar se shaadi tak ka raasta, aasaan nahin hota.

The journey from falling in love to being married is not easy.

The movie is typical bollywood flick with mediocrity oozing out. That is what the critics say.

As for me, I can watch this movie any number of times without being exhausted as I personally connect to this film.

Do you feel the same? Or do you disagree? Whatever the answer might be, let me know in the comments or via e-mail. I would be really happy to know. Also, you can suggest movies you would want me to see and write about!

Yours Truly.