~~Befikre Review & Boxoffice Thread~~ - DT N P 92 - Page 36

Bf dared me to dance so had to.thats me being Befikre #Befikre @RanveerOfficial @befikrethefilm @Vaaniofficial

#Befikre collected approx 10.25Cr on day1.

Apart from the engaging rom-com on screen, Befikrereminds you of the stupendous ability of one man to redefine romance even as it goes through the throes of change in real life. But why is that surprising? After all, we're talking about Aditya Chopra, whose body of work includes classic love stories like Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Mohabbatein, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and now Befikre.

For just a moment, rewind to DDLJ, a love story that typified the era in which it was set; Befikre does the same, except that both films are decades apart yet equally powerful. Chopra has that special ability to make people fall in love with his cinema, and with ingenious writing and the ability to elicit the best performances from his actors, Chopra has delivered something special' for the audience, yet again.

Perhaps the most refreshing aspect of this film is its approach to romance and relationships, which is very different from the way Chopra has approached it in his earlier movies. Yet again, Befikre proves that no other production house has its finger on the pulse of the youth and their take on romance as Yash Raj Films does.

True to its title, posters and teasers, the film is about two carefree protagonists who take life as it comes. It is a light rom-com that presents romance from the perspective of today's youngsters.

The story follows Dharam Gulati (Ranveer Singh), a stand-up comedian from Delhi who is brought to Paris by his friend to perform at his bar, and Shyra Gill (Vaani Kapoor), a free-spirited, French-born Indian girl. The film starts with their break-up and proceeds to reveal their story in flashback mode.

On his first tour in Paris, Dharam meets Shyra and is instantly drawn to her. In no time, the two hit it off. The duo decides not to fall for each other and say the clichd love you's' as that complicates things. After a year of being in a live-in relationship, they realise that they are incompatible and were merely attracted to each other. The two part ways but end up becoming friends.

As their friendship brings them closer, they now have a much better understanding of each other. Shyra meets Anay, an equally crazy yet sorted investment banker. Anay proposes marriage to Shyra and, not be left out, Dharam proposes to his girlfriend, who he has just met. How Shyra and Dharam's friendship turns to something more forms the crux of the story.

Directorially, Chopra has taken a simple love story and given it the right twists while interpreting young romance for the big screen. The film has a well-rounded first half and a complementing narration post-interval. Among the scenes that stand out are Dharam and Shyra's accidental meeting at her parents' restaurant; Dharam's first meeting with Shyra's parents and his meeting with them at the wedding; Anay's proposal to Shyra; Shyra's conversation with her mother; and Dharam and Shyra's confrontations. The dance before the climax is a major USP of this film. And the chaos at the wedding is very funny too.

The dialogue is excellent. Music is by far one of the strongest points of the film as each track works along with the screenplay. Background score is excellent. Costumes and locations are fabulous. Cinematography by Kanam Onoyama is top notch and. Editing by Namrata Rao is another asset.

Performance-wise, the duo delivers an outstanding performance and their chemistry on screen is splendid. The film undoubtedly belongs to Ranveer Singh. He wraps himself around the character and plays his part exceptionally well. He literally bares it all for this role. Vaani Kapoor plays her part with gusto and gets into the skin of her character while bringing out the essence of being a French girl beautifully. Ayesha Raza Mishra is fantastic. The actor who plays Vaani Kapoor's father is good. Arrman Ralhan makes a confident debut. The rest of the supporting cast does justice to their respective roles.

Verdict: Hit.