2 long, 2 predictable

This is a straight Chetan Bhagat-meet Dharma Production product. In fact when you are reading the novel (?)- read screenplay, you know it is designed for Bollywood. From Sarat Chandra to Chetan Bhagat, it is not just the travel of our literature but also the travail of our cinema. So, no Gaban, Godan- Two states in its place. Comedy ya tragedy.. like the protagonist asks in his campus. Calling the question is about how successful the filmmaker is in taking Chetan Bhagat (the new Gulshan Nanda) forward. Abhishek Varman sure succeeds in capturing the energy and spirit. If the fizz is something that lasts only a while, it is not the fault of the filmmaker.

Thematically it is a revisit of the hackneyed script stacked on the rack: two youngsters from the opposite sides of the Vindhyas fall in love. It sounds a tad archaic that a huge issue is made out of this. In terms of the targeted audience it looks timed. The boy meet girl is at the IIM campus. The Tambram meets Punjab lad love story has a broad line dividing the Delhi-Chennai divide. Mom and dad down South are unwilling to have a Punjabi dhamad. The estranged Punjabi couple also do not enjoy a Madrasi bahu. The respective parents refuse to cross the cultural divide. Love does not see, it exists. ‘DDLJ’ came up with the changed paradigm – cajole before you revolt. Focused Youngistan is not about Rajendra Kumar and tears. It is also not about love triangles. A part bio narration from the life of the author, the film is about how the North South divide makes for a challenge in matrimony – leave alone national politics! However, the gloss in the content is for the Nacho consuming multiplex urban audience (who also read Chetan Bhagat!) and is a far (non) cry from ‘Ek Duje Ke Liye’. The thought also proceeds on the premise that matrimony requires its players to be emotionally manipulative.

The protagonists : Ananya Swaminathan (Alia Bhatt) and Krish Malhotra (Arjun Kapoor) fall in love and spend 149 minutes of screen time to smooch, make love and convince their parents that they are made for each other and that both families must be present for the keepsake large family pic. They both love their respective families, love each other and behave like adolescent kids rather than IIM grads. Who said they are any different when it comes to love. With the feuding families’ nit picking on trivial matters and the popcorn over, you hope the two just elope as suggested a couple of times in the script. Tucked into this is also an anti dowry message and how self respecting guys should put their foot down.

What the film lacks is a seeming sense of purpose. Come even the four-year-old kid knows by now that the couple are doomed to marry. They would tell you that all the seeming drama notwithstanding the head couple are sure to make it. You simply don’t need 150 minutes of today’s generation to talk about Punjab Vs Chennai. We all know about Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings. We all know that the Punjabi household likes paranthas and paneer, while the Madrasi loves his sambar and carnatic music.

What, however, goes well for the movie is that the campus scenes are not hurting on you! For once the prime players are not everything that is happening at the campus. The cast is serious and add a high level of credibility to the script. Amrita Singh and Revathi playing the moms from Punjab and Chennai are good. Never over stating yet convincing. Ronit Roy is the dad with angst and he performs his role very well.

Alia Bhatt is sure getting noticed. One thought that after ‘Highway’ her acting career has registered an upward movement. Unfortunately no. While in the lighter moments she is good, she fails to add punch in the more dramatic moments of the film. More of Soni Razdan than Pooja Bhatt. The film, however, truly belongs to Arjun Kapoor. There can be no further debate on whether the lad has talent. Seemingly very popular with the young generation of gals, the guy as the Punjabi lad with a heart in the right place is amazing. He leads you through moments of fun that guys have, through the challenges they face to the emotional trauma they can handle. Nearly picture perfect. His dead pan expressions has the young ones drooling. Arjun Kapoor clearly signals that he is the next lad to be taken seriously. Watch the film for his performance. Otherwise the film is Karan Johar financed Kings XI Punjab Vs Chennai Super Kings without any allegations of match fixing- it is about how to fix the match.