Starring –
Ayesha Takia, Abhay Deol, Apoorva Jha, Suresh Oberoi, Ayesha Jhulka, Rati Agnihotri, Sandhya Mridul, Rajendranath Zutshi, Manish Chaudhary, Vijay Maurya | IMDb rating – 7.4
This movie marked the debut for both the leading actors, Ayesha Takia and Abhay Deol. It also marked the directorial debut of the beloved Imtiaz Ali.
The movie holds prominence even after 15 years of its release because of the simple portrayal of the characters. The plot is easy, known and predictable yet made engrossing by the acting and the scenes.
Film through my lens ~
Again, it is important to emphasis on the fact that the basic storyline of the script is ordinary. An already committed guy falls in love with an unexpected girl and ends up getting married to her.
For instance, in the film Hasee toh Phasee, the protagonist is an already engaged guy who ends up marrying his girlfriend’s sister.
Even though the two films have a similar storyline, the approach taken by the two are completely different.
My first time watching Socha Na Tha, I was in awe of the film. Though I was young when this film released, and I did not understand the complexities of filmmaking (I still do not), it was a refreshing experience for me.
Abhay Deol as Viren can be described as a guy who did not understand the difference between love and infatuation until he met Ayesha Takia, a.k.a., Aditi. His inability to communicate with his girlfriend Karin was shown as a contrast to his comfort with Aditi.
The above scene is the first time Viren and Aditi speak to each other in an uncomfortable setting. They are set up by their respective families for an arranged marriage and five minutes into talking, they share their most personal things which they admit not to have said anyone before.
Imtiaz Ali subtly tries to convey the rigid mentality of the Indian society. Aditi, having lost her parents, lives with her uncle whose sole motive is to get her married. In one scene, the cousin brother of Aditi openly says about how their family is an open-minded one. Though they say so, it is evidently seen how the family tries not to bring Aditi’s other divorced cousin (Sandhya Mridul) to the meeting so as to avoid the discussion.
The stills from the movie seem normal but they convey the plot in numerous ways. For example, the scene above is just after Viren refuses to marry Aditi which creates a considerable amount of tension between the two families. Later, Aditi and Viren meet accidently in a store and end up deciding to share thoughts about Viren’s relationship with Karin. Their curiosity and attraction is evident in this scene as they are planning excuses to provide to the families.
Another important point to note about Aditi’s character is the swiftness of her lies. One might argue that she is a liar. But in several instances she lies because of the stringent family she lives in. Her personality is completely different when she is with Viren because he does not judge her.
The scene above is my favourite part in the film. This scene is a song where Viren tries to understand his attraction towards Aditi and how she is just another stranger in his life. The song Mera Tumhara Kya Rishta Hai by Irshad Kamil is a poignant example of his brilliance.
"Ek ajnabee se, itni na ki thi, baatein kabhi..
Jo chaahaa dil ne, kehta gaya main, tumse kabhi bhi doori mujhe lagi na kabhi.."
The crucial distinction between Socha Na Tha and Hasee toh Phasee is the portrayal of the girlfriend. Karin, played by a beautiful Apoorva Jha, is not shown as toxic. She has no flaws therefore Viren’s attraction to Aditi is simply his action and not based on his relationship with Karin. In the above scene, she has come to Aditi to explain how unstable Viren is without Aditi.
Though audience loved the movie, it is not well-known to the movie audience. This review is just an attempt to bring out the excellence in simplicity.
Imtiaz Ali deserves a special appreciation for the film as this was his first movie and he proved how intrinsically well he knows his art. I am a fan.
If you have any other views about the film, please let me know in the comments!
Yours Truly
Yours Truly 