Film Review - Dil Dhadakne Do

Cruise Control

Film: Dil Dhadakne Do

Cast: Anil Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh, Shefali Shah

Directed by: Zoya Akhtar

Duration:  2 hrs 47 mins

Rating:  *  * 1 / 2

Dil Dhadakne Do is about a bunch of people who think they are going places but actually they are going nowhere and they all have some serious problems to boot. Of all places, the resolution incidentally happens on cruise ship during a holiday in the Mediterranean. That’s Zoya Akhtar’s ultra long Dil Dhadakne Do, a film that has a decent beginning and a redeeming end with a whole lot of nothing to fill up the spaces in between. 

We are introduced to the Mehra family with a voice over, that’s turns out to be of the family dog (Aamir Khan’s distinct voice). The patriarch Kamal Mehra (Anil Kapoor) is a rich self made tycoon and never misses a chance to remind everyone about that.  His wife Neelam (Shefali Shah) is not exactly suffering in silence, she makes her presence felt from time to time, but she is suffering all the same. Their son Kabir (Ranveer Singh) is still learning the ropes as far as managing their business is concerned, he has no knack for it, instead, he is interested in flying he family plane. At that point you very well know how his career is going to unfold. 

Their daughter Ayesha (Priyanka Chopra), now a successful businesswoman, was married off to Manav (Rahul Bose) who treats her marginally better than a doormat. Her erstwhile heartthrob Sunny (Farhan Akhtar) also lands on the scene and at that point, you know very well how this love story is going to unfold.  

Now the dysfunctional Mehra family is under huge debt and yet they plan this big celebration aboard a cruise liner because it is their 30^th wedding anniversary. They are also hoping to rope in some investors; their plan is to marry off their son to one of the rich businessman’s    daughter so that their company can be salvaged. If you think this “dosti ko rishtedari mein badalte hain” happened only in the 60’s and 70’s, then think again. 

It doesn’t take too long for the setting to be established but from there on, it doesn’t go anywhere. Well, physically it does, to many fancy places, including Istanbul targeting an audience that has aspirations. A serious amount of time is spent showing off all the locales while you wait patiently for the story to change gears. It doesn’t. 

It is only in the climax that it gets going, even if the proceedings are a bit illogical.

There are too many characters and you barely understand any of them. We get a glimpse of Ayesha and her mother, though the former is woman of resolve, the latter looks a bit confused. Kabir is more of a fun person who shares a chemistry with Farha (Anushka Sharma) but since other characters have to be accommodated, there isn’t enough screen time for him. 

Co-written by Reema Kagti (of Honeymoon Travels fame, another road movie about dysfunctional families, except that was in a bus this is a luxury ship) the screenplay not-so-cleverly makes way for what is coming up next. For instance, when Sunny’s name is mentioned you know Ayesha shares a past with him but yet that matter is delved upon till the cows come home.

The film touches upon patriarchy and women’s issues in a not so subtle manner - but at least it might make a point to a segment of the audience.  

On the acting front, Anil Kapoor and Shefali Shah play their parts with conviction; the latter in fact stands out among all the ladies in the film. Ranveer Singh has his moments and Priyanka Chopra is apt. 

Dil Dhadakne Do has the makings of a Bollywood blockbuster, big stars, exotic locales, romance, bit of humor - never mind if the story is a bit tedious and about an hour too long. 

When it comes to Zoya Akhtar, give me Luck By Chance, any day.  

Published in The Navhind Times, Goa on 7th June 2015

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Film Review - Shaadi Ke Side / Effects

 

The Adjustment Bureau

Film: Shaadi Ke Side / Effects

Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Vidya Balan, Ram Kapoor

Directed by: Saket Chaudhary

Duration: 2 hrs 25 mins

Rating: * * 1 / 2

After Pyaar Ke Side Effects, director Saket Chaudhary ventures into post marital blues with Shaadi Ke Side Effects. The film offers a mixed bag, there is a little bit of fun but the problem is that more often than not, it is either predictable or contrived. The issue of what happens between husband and wife after marriage and especially after having a child has been dealt with before, more so in Hollywood films.

This one tells the story from only the male point of view, it would have become a better film had they juxtaposed both sides of the story. The names of the two lead characters remain the same – Sid (Farhan Akhtar) and Trisha (Vidya Balan) are a couple, who manage to keep the spark alive in their marriage, but not for long. Soon she is pregnant and he thinks that her world is centered around the baby. Their lives turn topsy turvy when the baby comes, she quits her job to look after the baby while he is still struggling for that big break as a music composer.

Their relationship also takes a toll but there is nothing novel in the proceedings. The second half is very contrived as the plot introduces unnecessary complexities to make a point and the final stretch that involves a ‘twist’ drags its feet for too long.

When the film maintains a light tone, it is fun, there are a few smart lines (including one that refers to Virendra Sehwag) and there is the odd poignant point made about marriage but you wish the whole film would have been crisper, especially when it changes colors after interval. 

The songs are not particularly remarkable and I hope that our film makers would get over that obsession of shooting songs abroad, this time in Australia.

Vidya Balan is sincere in her act but it is Farhan Akhtar who carries the film through. His comic timing and his portrayal of emotions elevates the film considerably. Shaadi Ke Side Effects is like a meal which has a promising appetizer, bland main course with the odd tasty chutney.

Published in The Navhind Times on 2nd Mar 2014  
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