Rarely have I been in such a committed one sided love affair with an actress as I have been with Pari. Last was Sonali Bendre, but then that was just a kiddy crush. Pari was the only good thing about Ladies vs Ricky Bahl. And she was the best thing about the likeable but flawed Ishaqzaade. And then there are her interviews, in which she comes across as this immensely friendly, frank and spontaneous. And then there are her huge eyes and Googli Woogli Wuksh cheeks. I can seriously write a whole book just about her charm. In gist, I was waiting for Shuddh Desi Romance just like Kundan waited for Zoya to return to Banaras. And you know what happened then.
SDR is about Raghu (Sushant Singh Rajput), who works as a tourist guide in Jaipur. But his secret identity is that of a professional baaraat attender for weddings which are catered and arranged by the full-blooded Marwari Tauji (Rishi Kapoor). Now Raghu decides to get married. And his could-have-been bride is Tara (newcomer Vaani Kapoor). On way to the wedding he meets and flirts with Gayatri(Parineeti Agrawal Chopra). Now Raghu is a spontaneous and charming person. And he is shitting bricks as the moment of his marriage nears. So he decides to improvise and runs away. Soon he and Gayatri start a relationship. But things go wrong. And Tara returns to fill the void left by Gayatri. And things get complicated and even stupid after it.
Just yesterday I was reading an interviewof the writer Jaideep Sahni, who has churned out some of my favorite films. His last film was Rocket Singh, which was an awesome film but was released just when Ranbir Kapoor was on the first rung of the ladder to stardom. Hence it failed to take an opening and the film was a commercial disaster. It has achieved a cult following since then, but the failure just broke Jaideep Sahni heart. And his shortage of confidence is visible. The screenplay turns muddy and repetitive in the 2nd half. There are at least 4 weddings in the film which ends with someone eloping. And 3 of them are Raghu's itself. There are miserable monologues throughout the film in which the main characters individually break the fourth wall which are really, really tiring. Plus some dialogues are repeated, which feel funny at first but only comes off lazy and not witty enough to be expected from a Jaideep Sahni film. But that doesn't mean all writing is bad. The first half is sparkling. The underlying commentary about the name tag a person is given by the society just based on a small vice is really well done. And the progressiveness with which the relationship between the leads is put to screen is praiseworthy.
Maneesh Sharma is the director. His previous successful movie was Band Baaja Baaraat, which I feel is the easiest watch in the last 5 years. And this movie is like the anti-BBB. No wonder he brings a real freshness to it. He extracts real performances from his actors, at least much more than what we are used to see in a Yash Raj movie, and that itself is commendable.
Newcomer Vaani Kapoor is decent in her acting and good to look at (except her eye brows which look like two earthworms engaged in a game of one-upmanship). RIshi Kapoor is lovable, but it's nothing we have not seen him do before. His role is too similar to what he did in Love Aaj Kal, only that the romantic is replaced by the conservative and he is a Marwari rather than a Sardar. Sushant Singh Rajput is completely lovable and owns the films. And Parineeti is just awesome. But the magic really happens when they both are together in the same frame. Watch them when they smoke together, or revel under alcohol, or even have a fight. They really make it all work. When she leaves the premise for half an hour, rather than missing her we miss them. Rarely has such fine chemistry been displayed in a Bollywood movie.
Remove all the monologues, make it tighter and improve the sound (the dialogues are almost indecipherable, could have been a problem with Inox Poonam Mall or with the print itself), and you get the best rom-com in years. But with all its flaws, it is still an enjoyable film. I will suggest one thing - leave the theater 20 minutes before the end for a bathroom break, take a really long piss, and come back for the final scene. You will come with a much wider smile.
My Rating - 3/5
Shuddh Desi Romance Movie Poster
Rating: 3.5/5 stars (Three and Half Stars)
Star cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Parineeti Chopra,Vaani Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor.
Director: Maneesh Sharma
What's Good: A heartfelt true take of real contemporary relationships.
What's Bad: The loose pace in the second half and the repetitive instances are tiresome!
Loo break: May be!
Watch or Not?: Shuddh Desi Romance is not a marvelous film but its earnestness ensures that it has its heart in the right place. There is novelty in the film's unique take on relationships, that can vouch for delightful passable amusing watch. It isn't exactly mind blowing or fantastic but offers a relatable portrait of how relationships are.
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The film opens with Raghu(Sushant Singh Rajput) suffering from pre-marital jitters. On his way to his wedding venue, Raghu meets Gayatri(Parineeti Chopra), an open minded, free willed, independent woman who lives life on her own terms. An already confused Raghu heavily impressed by her freedom acquires the guts to run away from his own wedding.
A fortnight Later, the two meet and begin dating. Entering into a live-in-relationship, the two decide to get married. On the day of the wedding Gayatri runs out on him, and Raghu is left inconsolable-y confused.
Soon after in a wedding Raghu meets Tara (Vaani Kapoor), the woman he was going to tie the knot with he met Gayatri. She asks him out initially on a revenge trip but slowly their relationships turns serious. When on the verge of asking her to marry him, Gayatri makes a re-entry in his life! Where does this confusion head for is the fun that the film has in store for us!
Sushant Singh Rajput And Vaani Kapoor in Shuddh Desi Romance Movie Stills
The film begins with Shaadi Nahi Hui Glucose Ho Gaya. There are a myriad reasons why the script itself merits applause from you. Jaideep Sahni dishes out a refreshingly intelligent plot that keeps intact its steam for most part. Reminding me obstinately of Julia Roberts' Runaway Bride in phases, this is undeniably a rare vision in Bollywood. Charmingly vibrant, the beauty of the plot is in its ability of mirror real dilemmas with such simplicity.
I wouldn't quite call this a romantic comedy but more an amusing take on contemporary romance. The film invests heavily in earnestness which works in its favor, making it unique given Bollywood mainstream stenches of formulaic ideas. Sahni's prowess glistens in the fact that the film balances fun and warmth in equal measures, conveying a strong message covertly.
There is sweetness in the chemistry between its lead actors which is one of the film's most emphatic strong points. Luckily Sahani's character Raghu, Gayatri and Tara are well etched with nice touches to them. All of them are given solid outline unlike the usual caricatures that we find in films.
The comic tinges somehow fit smartly the spirited talks that defy narrow minded thinking which infests mainstream films! The momentum drops in the latter segment as the skittish people at the altar begin to exasperate you finally and the repetitiveness of the plot begins to tire out its vibrance. Nevertheless in the script department, the film is both charming and endearing.
Sushant Singh Rajput as Raghu plays the baffled and confused young man weary of marriage with great command. Nothing near the brilliance of his stint in Kai Po Che!, but the actor is truly a good find for the industry.
Parineeti Chopra is gloriously brilliant with a stellar and confident demeanor. She is perhaps the film's foremost hilt who translates the gusto of the concept.
Vaani Kapoor is a pleasant debutant though she isn't an overtly powerful actress. The good looks work in her favor but there isn't too much for her!
Rishi Kapoor, as the agony uncles, exudes humor with grace. His impeccable comic timing and soothing presence helps to heighten the fun quotient.
Capturing the energy of the young and the restless isn't an easy job, but director Maneesh Sharma does his job with near infallibility. It's liberating to watch this film for the mere treatment of its basic concept. Bred on the ideas of happy endings and the regal fanfare of red roses, the director does a good job at hammering on the fact that day-to-day relationships are more about moments of insecurity, fear and lot little about love' these days.
Swift hitching and swifter breakups are a part of love' these days and the director's vision works well in this film. Using good imagery like when Parineeti says Jab dil teesri chauthi baar tootta hai tab dard nahi hota sab sunn ho jaata hai!', surely rings a bell with the people of this generation. As corny as it may sound, we've been there, done that! The director also takes credit for showing lust with credible neatness that it doesn't seem vulgar or obscene!
However, there is a lot of adorability in the film and that's enough to ignore a few disparities and breaks in the execution. The editing could have been more taut. And Sachin-Jigar's music is soulful and vivacious!
Shuddh Desi Romance is a welcome change for the cynics amongst us who find typical romances like DDLJfilmy and unreal. The blossoming chemistry of its lead actors is a swell, but mostly this is a film that encapsulates the lives of ordinary people who perennially live in the fear of commitment and yet dare to take the leap for love every time! Call us confused, but atleast we are honest and don't foster any sham! I am going with a 3.5/5 for this imaginative and luscious feat.
Last day of promotions #SushantSinghRajput @shuddhdesiromnc pic.twitter.com/VGB94V1Uk2
Disppontd that writer of Chak De India & Khosla Ka Ghosla is behind Shuddh Desi Romance & one of the least likable heroes in a luv triangle.
Oh no. There is a section of people who are hating the film and saying Parineeti is best thing about the film. Dunno what the mass verdict will be. Hope all is in favour of Sushant.
