Mainstream cinema often lampoons
social issues at the altar of commerce. Given that it is star crossed,
everything revolves around the cultivated weak fulcrum. Kudos to Shashank
Khaitan for balancing the content with the entertainment quotient. An important
message making the rounds cautions against the high decibel Women’s Day and
advocates that if we must celebrate a day for women, let us celebrate freedom
from stereotypes —- It suggests to salute women for being successful, not for
being behind successful not praise her for her supportive role but encourage
her to be an independent. Stop justifying her necessity to multi-task…. Give
her a chance not to.”
It is this paradigm that the film maker seeks to push. It conveys without
pomposity the rightful place for women and their aspirations
In back town Jhansi is Badri (Varun Dhawan) who is in love with Vaidehi (Aliya
Bhatt). Badri has photographer friend Somdev (Sahil Vadh) supporting him in his
endeavour to win over ambitious Vaidehi. Vaidehi promises to marry Badri if he
finds a suitable match for her sister. The patriarchs of both families (Ritu
Raj Singh and Swanand Kirkire) use their seeming weak heart condition to
blackmail their family members into submission. Badri’s brother Alok (Yash
Sinha) has been a victim and the unwilling groom married to Urmila (Swetha
Basu). Vaidehi however is made of sterner stuff.
She makes the choice between love and dignity. She echoes with vitality a role
where she is told “tum beta kyun banna chahate ho, bete kamal ki ho”. She
decides chase her dreams. Badri’s dream is Vaidehi. He too choses to chase his
dream. Given main stream physics the dreams meet to a fine item songs as the
credits role.
Shashank Khaitan completes the major part of his task by getting Aliya and
Varun in the main roles. Aliya: Her dressing, costume, screen presence, timing
emotions, weep and whispers, screams and smile all merge in perfect hues. She
converts a stereotype role into a compelling performance. She ensures to convey
the conflict without losing the fizz. Varun Dhawan: yet another actor with a
perfect sense of timing for comedy. He could give Dad’s favourite Govinda the
run for his money. There is in the course of the film a nice piece of advice to
him asking not to lose his killer smile for anything. This lad has it all.
Hopefully stardom will not corrupt it and the future will give him fine, even
if light roles like the one on hand.
The lead pair not only share fine screen chemistry but an intensity that is
commercially viable and artistically authentic and viewer-friendly. Go for it.
Importantly it places women in proper perspective and who but Aliya Bhatt
(after Tabu) to give the liberated women her rightful space! Well done Sishank.
Over to the audience.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
+: Performances
L. Ravichander.