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#ShuddhDesiRomance is going from strength to strength. Friday *early trends* seems like 7 cr+. SUPERB!
#ShuddhDesiRomance is going from strength to strength. Friday *early trends* seems like 7 cr+. SUPERB!
By Roshmila Bhattacharya Finally a film that dares to lock lips uninhibitedly, questions the tradition of the saat pheras in a land where marriage is sacrosanct and dares to says that when you love someone you keep the door open and not shut it to keep the person in. Plot: Hitch, take a hike! Raghu Ram Sitaram (Sushant Singh Rajput) is en route to tie the knot with a beautiful stranger, Tara, (Vaani Kapoor) when he locks eyes... and lips... with Gayatri (Parineeti Chopra) who's been hired' to pose as his sister. And ends up taking a loo break... He isn't single for long. Convincing Gayatri that the physics, chemistry, biology between them needs to be studied more, he moves in with the girl who during their first meeting had boldly confessed to three affairs and later admits to one abortion. Overcoming the initial bursts of jealousy, insecurity, possessiveness and the fear of being dumped, the two soon settle into compatible domesticity. Trouble brews in their chai cup when during a Diwali night of drunken revelry he proposes, she accepts, and Goel saab (Rishi Kapoor), the wedding planner they moonlight for, herds the commitment-shy lovers into a mandap. This time it's Gayatri who beats Raghu to the loo. It's over and out for this runaway bride and groom. Tara wanders back into Raghu's life determined to make him realize how it feels to be ditched at the altar. He is ready to make amends. Then... Aces: On the write path Shuddh Desi Romance works largely for its refreshingly different screenplay that mocks at the marriage ritual where everything from the paid-for-baraatis (wedding party) to the feelings of the often compromised bride-and-groom is fake, paying lip-service to society when the lips want someone else. The lines are snappy, particularly when it's the girls speaking. They are unabashed about their desires, unapologetic about failed romances and unfazed in a scenario that is definitely not stereotyped Bollywood. Full marks to them, in particular Parineeti Chopra for giving us a heroine who is bold but not brazen, winsome but not wanton. She is definitely one of the finds of the decade. She doesn't act, she reacts, and is unselfconsciously natural whether she is shaving her legs or puffing on a cigarette. Sushant Singh Rajput moves from macho to mellow. The angry young man of Kai Po Che! is lost and lovelorn here, playing the small-town Romeo with effortless charm. And then there's Rishi Kapoor who leaves Rauf Lala and the Dawood-like Don behind to play a fatherly figure with tongue-in-cheek humour. Maneesh Sharma who strayed with Ladies Vs Ricky Behl, is more in control here, playing out an unconventional love story in the Pink City that even today is associated with Sooraj Barjatya's marry-go-rounds, Hum Aapke Hain Koun!, Hum Saath Saath Hain and Vivah! The touristy ambience, the old-meets-new mix and the vibrant colours are eye-catching! Minuses: Pacing problems post interval After a fun-filled first half, the tempo slows down. Vaani and Sushant try to make up for Parineeti's absence, but when she returns you realize just what you were missing. There's a slight hangover of Julia Robert's Runaway Bride, and too many kisses may make the fuddy daddies sniff and scowl, but forget them, it's time Hindi cinema grew up! Last word: It will be interesting to see how India reacts to this desi romance. If it's seen as ashuddh, then, matches will continue to be made in heaven and make lives hell on earth. If it clicks, then we're in the 21st century and young people have a choice instead of leaving their destinies to chance, even in the movies! |
Director: Maneesh Sharma
Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Parineeti Chopra, Rishi Kapoor and Vaani Kapoor
So you see a girl and suddenly there's a flutter in your heart. Chances are the girl fancies you too. It seems pretty much like the template of falling in love. But the real picture can be more complex than the first burst of pheromones. No wonder they call love overrated, because it's just as easy to fall out of love as it is to fall in it. And then comes the mother of all complexities - marriage. That rush of blood in your young veins can dry up faster than your first mushy tweet. Shuddh Desi Romance (SDR) adds a spunky tadka to having cold feet before the wedding. Do you commit or do you not? Hamlet's dilemma pales in comparison. And that's exactly what makes SDR a super fun film.
Sushant Singh Rajput is about to tie the knot. He's speeding towards his bride-to-be in a bus full of baraatis but his mind is uneasy. He tries to find solace by flirting with Parineeti Chopra only to realise he has serious hots for her. Nonetheless he controls his urge, fights the chemistry and decides to take the plunge with his bride in waiting. But then the doubt kicks in and Sushant flies the coop leaving the beautiful Vaani Kapoor settling for a cold drink instead. Characters in SDR behave in the least expected manner. You'd think a stranded bride with garland in hand would break into a bawling fit but she sits down and asks, "Koi thanda pilao!" Ninety nine per cent men will vouch that they secretly wanted to run away from their nuptials but didn't for better sense. But Sushant Singh does just the opposite. Same goes for Parineeti Chopra who lets the smug Sushant into her heart and home, over a cup of coffee and a bowl of gulab jamun. Preposterous but interesting. People on the rebound tend to do that.
The characters' quirky behaviour works because it's outrageous. As if in a Woody Allen movie, they sit across the camera and explain to the audience why they behaved so. And that completes the whole set of innovative writing and direction that makes SDR so good. Jaideep Sahni is easily one of the best writing talents in our country. He needs to be employed more often. Some of the dialogue in SDR is just poetic. The one right at the end, where Sushant uses the allegory of a room and its door to explain the claustrophobic effect of commitment is just beautiful.
Maneesh Sharma is in his element when he's weaving a story around great Indian weddings and like he did in Band Baaja Baaraat, he exhibits masterful control on the proceedings. The Jaipur setting, the outlandish characterisations and Sachin-Jigar's rustic Indian music complements his storytelling efforts.
Part of what makes a successful movie is the cast. This is Sushant Singh Rajput's movie. His character Raghu is the bundle of confusion, the young Indian man working purely on impulse. And Sushant is a rage in his role. He handles comedy and romance with consummate ease. And he looks orgasmic in slow motion romantic songs. Parineeti has already proved her talent. And in a perfectly nuanced performance she adds more power to her promise. If you thought she was just the bubbly types you need to see her indulge in some tasteful erotica. And then there's the man in a professional purple patch like never before. Rishi Kapoor as a middle-aged wedding planner cum father figure is a text book of acting. He deserves a few awards and fat cheques. Vaani Kapoor who's the lightweight in the movie, occasionally punches out even the leading man. Definitely one to watch out for.
In case you didn't know it, there about two dozen or more kisses in SDR. Like always they titillate but here they are also a part of the neo progressive attitude of the characters. There's an exchange between Rishi Kapoor and Sushant where the young man tells the older one to look for a new business. Because the business of weddings will soon run its course. It's a hint at alternate couple partnerships like live-ins. Of how the youth just doesn't want to conform to wedding, settling down etc. And that's why SDR works. It plays out part fantasy and part reality. And it does so with the right amount of repartee.
and i love the part in bold
#ShuddhDesiRomance is going from strength to strength. Friday *early trends* seems like 7 cr+. SUPERB!
Watch @MaddyMatters chatting with the star-cast of 'Shuddh Desi Romance' tonight at 10 on B-Tonite pic.twitter.com/qEXNYOlsBH
Originally posted by: Armu4eva
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Sushi boy rules..</font>
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">taran adarsh@taran_adarsh</font><small><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">8m</font></small><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">#ShuddhDesiRomance is going from strength to strength. Friday *early trends* seems like 7 cr+. SUPERB!</font>
By IBTimes Staff Reporter: Subscribe to IBTimes's RSS feed | September 6, 2013 6:29 PM IST
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Bollywood's latest youth-oriented film "Shuddh Desi Romance" has received positive reviews from some critics. The film is helmed by Maneesh Sharma and is produced under the Yash Raj films banner.
Starring Sushant Singh Rajput, Parineeti Chopra and Vaani Kapoor in the lead, "SDR" is a romantic comedy that is based on a bold theme of live-in relationships.
The film has been hailed by critics and most of them have rated it with more than three stars.
The film's script is written by Jaideep Sahni of "Chak De! India" fame. The film's songs and trailer have received good response from the audience and have created a lot of buzz in the industry.
Check out the critics' reviews here:
Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama said: "True to its title, SHUDDH DESI ROMANCE is indeed a shuddh [pure] take at live-in relationships involving desi characters and looks at the highs and lows that come with it. Although the spectator has, over the decades, witnessed innumerable interpretations of love and romance, Maneesh and writer Jaideep Sahni make sure they don't take a leaf out of been-there-seen-that kind of situations. Instead, they ensure that the three characters in SHUDDH DESI ROMANCE follow their hearts and don't succumb to the diktats of the society. Also, they speak an uninhibited lingo, which hasn't been spoken in Hindi films earlier. They are not rebellious, but straightforward. And that, in all honesty, is the prime reason that gives this film an edge.
"SHUDDH DESI ROMANCE is the journey of three restless young people who junk the society's syllabus for finding love and decide to follow their heart.
"Additionally, everything that Maneesh and Jaideep attempt to convey through their characters in SHUDDH DESI ROMANCE looks credible and relevant. The only glitch in the otherwise smooth narrative is that the pacing slows down considerably in the second hour.
"On the whole, SHUDDH DESI ROMANCE caters to the youth and reflects the mindset of a chunk of the youth these days. The film, which speaks a different lingo, is a gutsy attempt that defies the stereotype. Told in an entertaining format, it is sure to strike a chord with not just the youngsters, but also with those who love shudh [unchartered, in this case] storylines. Refreshingly different, give this one a chance. Recommended!"
Mohar Basu of Koimoi.com said: "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.
"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.
"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. 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!"
Mihir Fadnavis of Firstpost said: "Shuddh Desi Romance appeals not only to college kids or married couples or the 'arty' crowd, but to anyone and everyone. It's competent, challenging, bright, delectably-relatable and heartfelt and hopefully, it signals the beginning of a major shift in the industry and the audiences' taste in mainstream feel-good Hindi cinema.
"Director Maneesh Sharma and writer Sahni have crafted an entertainer that defies every beat of a traditional desi rom-com, and they've done it with such expertise and sincerity. By ignoring the Bollywood rulebook and not bothering about any particular audience demographic, the duo has created a light-footed and sassy film that remains true to its characters.
"We have all been in his situation, newly out of adolescence, eager to be adults and utterly bungling when it comes to love and it's damn good to see ourselves portrayed so vividly on the big screen. Kudos, Messrs Sahni and Sharma. More please."
To contact the editor, e-mail: [email protected]
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| Public Rating Average: 7 / 10 (rated by 1 viewers) | Give your Rating: |
India's premier powerhouse of production and distribution, Yash Raj Films, is also well-known for the romance films that the production house has churned out over the years they've been active. With the kickstart of YRF's (as the prooduction house is now called) experimentation phase in the early 2000's, the viewer was able to witness a sudden insurgence of collaborations with new-age romance filmmakers like Shaad Ali, Kunal Kolhi, and - by decade's end - Maneesh Sharma. His striking debut with Band Baaja Baaraat followed up with an unoriginal and highly predictable Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl. Sharma now teams up with writer Jaideep Sahni (ofChak De! India fame) for yet another romantic comedy. Whilst Sahni struck gold with his collaborations with Shimit Amin, the more discerning film buff will also remember the lightweight Aaja Nachle, which unfortunately couldn't do much for Dixit's career at the box-office. This team-up, thus turns out to be a mixed-bag of expectations, howsoever promising the outer shell looks like. The expectant viewer walks in with only the hope that what has been strongly marketed will be palatably provided on screen.
The movie starts with Raghuram's (Sushant Singh Rajput; Kai Po Che) earnest breaking-the-third-wall monologue, explaining his plight of getting between the ardor of love and need for sex, and society's undying requirement of commitment, which kickstart's the story of his marriage with Tara (debutante Vaani Kapoor). During the hours that lead on to his marriage ceremony, he crosses paths with baaraati-on-hire Gayatri (Parineeti Chopra; Ishaqzaade), and runs away, questioning his path to commitment. Two weeks in, Raghu and Gayatri meet up. Sparks fly and they begin to live-in. One year in, and the spontaneous decision to marry leads to a surprising repurcussion, a lot of confusion, and a lot more running.
With the film's titles playing on screen, there's a certain atmospheric deja vu that surfaces. Most of it, however, ends fifteen minutes into the film. Sharma and writer Sahni's dextrous adaptation of the narrative technique that made many a Woody Allen film a surefire classic treads a dangerous road, yet succeeds. The film has raw, yet sharp-witted dialogues. Character arcs of the protagonists mirror the reality of today, never looking out of place for a single moment. What wouldn't work for a few sections of the audience is the filmmakers' act of taking their own sweet time to build upon important psychological ticks of all the characters. One important example is Vaani's character Tara and her dependance on aerated drinks to keep her calm and curb her disappointment with life and people. While this act will generate polarized reactions from audience expecting heavy-handed, pacy drama, it otherwise works beautifully well for the film, thereby reducing any possible risk of predictability.
Technically, the film is both eye and ear candy. The film boasts of some absolutely delicious cinematography (Manu Anand). The usage of high-speed recording in the camerawork of Gulabi visually enhances the chemistry of Rajput and Kapoor through and through. Editing by Namrata Rao (Kahaani) is quite clever. Loose ends are tightened, and situations are effectively milked. Production design is also something that deserves applause. Like Sharma's Band Baaja Baaraat, one gets to revel in the raw splendor of Jaipur and it's people. Special mention goes to the art direction of the film, that decides to add to the authenticity of the atmospheric proceedings. Talented musical duo Sachin and Jigar come up with quite a few chartbusting romance numbers, consisting primarily of Tere Mere Beech Mein andGulabi. Let this writer state that the inclusion of just two songs throughout the whole body of a film of this genre is an impressive feat in itself.
The film would be incomplete without it's array of performers, and so would this review without their deserved appraisals. Sushant Singh Rajput is one of the best newcomers we've got this year. Bowling the viewers over with his performance in Kai Po Che earlier this year, Rajput comes back and delivers with equal passion. He successfully embodies his character's weird mixture of awkwardness and confidence without looking out of place. Although in the same mould as her previous films, the kitschy Parineeti Chopra gives out a bold, yet effortless performance. She delivers quite a few complicated, understated emotions with absolute ease. Debutant Vaani Kapoor is bound to strike each and every viewer as an extremely confident performer. Doing something of her character's type is like walking a tightrope, and yet she handles her delicately restrained role with absolute gusto. Rishi Kapoor (Agneepath, Do Dooni Chaar) is a must-watch-out-for performer here. The veteran is bound to make the audience laugh with each and every gem off a dialogue he's been told to enact. Because it's written with the sole aim of concentrating on just four characters, the movie fortunately leaves no space for over-crowding, save for some appreciable supporting performances. An impressing feat, this one.
Romantic comedies pass by quite frequently in Hindi cinema. Some make waves at the box-office, and some pass by without a sound. Shuddh Desi Romance is one of those rare ones that makes an impact. Chopra, Sharma and Sahni together bring the viewers a breath of fresh air with this smart relationship dramedy focussing well on the issues of the current generation, whilst boldly questioning the staunch principles of commitment society forces people to abide by. And if that's not enough enough, watch out for the winning climax. Recommended.
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