Tanu Weds Manu Returns

Movie Review (Hindi)

First there was Tanu Weds Manu which regaled the audience with a fresh story and great actors. Then, because of its success, came the sequel, Tanu Weds Manu Returns... Wonder who named it this way??? 

Whatever the reason for the name, the movie had the same characters as in the first one, thankfully. So here's a marriage which was conducted with a lot of filmi drama and now hibernates in the cold, both literally and metaphorically. It's the London winter where Manu (R Mahadevan) and Tanu (Kangana Ranaut) live. So bored is Tanu with Manu that she does not turn a hair when her hubby is put into a mental asylum, apparently for torturing his wife. I love the unconventionality of the entire episode. 

While Manu is among the mad brethren, Tanu returns home and behaves like a traditional vamp in Hindi films would!! Taking bike rides with a neighbour, meeting up with her ex-fiance, Raja Awasthi, (Jimmy Shergill) !! 

So once divorce proceedings are underway, Manu, out of the asylum and back in India, falls in love again, but wait, the girl studies in college and is a spitting image of Tanu. So, does he fall in love with Tanu again? Our new Tanu is named Datto who speaks impeccable Haryanvi. Next the audience moves to Haryana and marriage. The last phera of the marriage is about to make them man and wife, when Datto asks one last time if Manu is ready to go through with this. No, our hero isn't. Much better to be sent to the asylum than marry someone who is a better version of his ex-wife, I guess. 

What a filmy ending! But a great watch. Anand L. Rai, you do have courage, being the director. Take a bow, Kangana, for the twin roles so different from each other and Madhavan for being a whiny, weepy and mopey film hero and winning the audience over. 

Dil Dhadakne Do

Movie Review (Hindi)

When I saw the Zoya Akhtar movie, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, I was elated. I really enjoyed it. I was a part of the journey that the three friends embarked upon. This, for me,was the winning point of the movie. 

And this precisely, according to me, is the losing point of Dil Dhadakne Do. 

I just could not be a part of the ultra rich class. I was dissociated for the entire length of the movie, expecting every moment to be pulled into that world, but alas! That made the film a loooong and tedious one.

I loved Pluto. Thank you Zoya and Reema for that master stroke. Little nuggets of interesting info on the main characters and on human beings in general coming from a dog-- full of humour.  The other redeeming factor of the movie - the sizzling cast. This at least made sure that the audience would not return disappointed.

Yes, the movie dealt with gender bias, patriarchy, social snobbery, sibling love, finding oneself, etc, etc. All of these would have worked wonderfully if the cast wasn't in the middle of the ocean in a cruise liner in a temporary setting. Too many people, too much confusion and nothing worthwhile happening.

Already looking forward to another good movie from you, Zoya...