~*Sushant's Bollywood Journey*~ #14 - Page 103

Verdict - Shuddh Desi Romance has a fantastic first half but ends in a complete mess.

Shuddh Desi Romance starts off well. The characters break the fourth wall and speak openly to us. They speak to each other in a casual fashion. Like how we would. They reject the clichs and everything they do is refreshingly romantic and coyly funny. Post intermission, things become a big fat mess. The characters don't know who they love. They don't know why they did what they did or what they want to do and keep running away. The makers ultimately run away from making a good film resorting to a convenient yet shoddy escape. Shuddh Desi Romance end up being neither romantic nor shuddh and definitely not desi in any way.

If there is any film this year that sets up expectations with a good first half and then squanders it with the second, it is this one. Along with Ek Thi Daayan, this is the biggest disappointment for me. More so because the first half is absolutely fantastic. If this is what you call a progressive romance, then please give me big fat clichd romances like Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani or Jab We Met. I'm perfectly happy with those. People blame the movies for ruining their love lives. It gives them too many expectations and a wrong idea of real life romance. Yes, sure. There are have been quite a few films recently that have challenged the idea of cinematic romance and made it more realistic. What this film tries very hard to do is challenge the idea of a realistic romance as well. Aren't we getting a little ahead of ourselves?

Parineeti Chopra is one of the best things existing in the Hindi film industry. I could even watch her do nothing for 2 hours on the big screen and she would still make it worthwhile. Sushant Singh Rajput has lots of potential to be an accomplished actor and a star. He shows promise yet again. Vaani Kapoor the newbie is just fine. Nothing great.

The songs in the film are wonderful. I love Gulabi and Tere Mere Beech Mein. For a film which has good actors, good dialogues and a good premise, it hurts even more to watch it all go to waste. The intermission says "Bathroom Break". I chuckled. They use the toilet as a cheeky device throughout the film. Till here, I was going along with it but by the end there are one too many bathroom breaks and not enough story. Cigarettes and cold drinks and random motifs are all hurdles in a film that could have been so much more.

Socha Na Tha (2004), Love Aaj Kal (2009) and Band Baaja Baarat (2010) were some great examples of a romantic comedy done well. Their idea of romance was modern and formulaic, in a good way. It did not reject clichs, did not claim to redefine them but showed us a new facet to them. Shuddh Desi Romance's idea of revising the concept of marriage can be considered novel but what is says about it is simply nonsensical. It is utter hogwash and takes escapism in the wrong direction. Especially because the characters have absolutely no clue about who they are and what they want to do. What they need is a tight slap across each of their faces. Not a song at the end where they are cheerfully exclaiming "Shuddh Desi Desi Desi Romaaahnce". Give me a break. Not a bathroom break, thank you very much.

The first half is a 4 star film. The second half is a 1 star film. Yes, it is that bad. I hated hated hated the second half. I'm going to round it up to a 2 and a half. Only because the first half is definitely worth watching. Although, something stops me from calling this a good film. The juvenile conclusion it leaves us with in the guise of new-age romance makes me not want to recommend it. If you watch it, just don't take any advice from it and start acting up on it. You should know better.

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Shuddh Desi Romance

Live-in relationships are a commonality in the West, but it still raises eyebrows in India. It's often considered taboo and spoken about disapprovingly by the orthodox in towns and also by several people living in a metropolis. SHUDDH DESI ROMANCE is, perhaps, the first Hindi film that looks at live-in relationships and pre-marital sex in the heartland [Jaipur] of India. Sure, Yash Raj did have a look at live-in relationships in SALAAM | NAMASTE, but that film, if you recall, was set in Australia.

Maneesh Sharma, who helmed the immensely likeable BAND BAAJA BAARAAT and appealing-in-parts LADIES VS RICKY BEHL, is ready to undertake an uncharted trail in his third excursion SHUDDH DESI ROMANCE. This time, he talks of love, attraction and commitment in a real space. The question is, how open-minded are we today? With SHUDDH DESI ROMANCE, Maneesh makes a heartfelt attempt to decode and decipher several issues pertaining to intricate relationships.

True to its title, SHUDDH DESI ROMANCE is indeed a shuddh [pure] take at live-in relationships involving desi characters and looks at the highs and lows that come with it. Although the spectator has, over the decades, witnessed innumerable interpretations of love and romance, Maneesh and writer Jaideep Sahni make sure they don't take a leaf out of been-there-seen-that kind of situations. Instead, they ensure that the three characters in SHUDDH DESI ROMANCE follow their hearts and don't succumb to the diktats of the society. Also, they speak an uninhibited lingo, which hasn't been spoken in Hindi films earlier. They are not rebellious, but straightforward. And that, in all honesty, is the prime reason that gives this film an edge.

SHUDDH DESI ROMANCE is the journey of three restless young people who junk the society's syllabus for finding love and decide to follow their heart. Raghu [Sushant Singh Rajput], a tourist guide in Jaipur, wants a love in his life... Gayatri [Parineeti Chopra], a part-time instructor in an English-speaking institute, has been around the block a few times and knows the scene... Tara [Vaani Kapoor], who's dying to get out there and fly, knows what's right for her, but a little experimenting never hurt anybody, did it?... When their lives crisscross, their beliefs get challenged and their loves, tested.

Writer Jaideep Sahni, who has penned films like BUNTY AUR BABLI, CHAK DE! INDIA, AAJA NACHLE and ROCKET SINGH: SALESMAN OF THE YEAR for Yash Raj, opts for a plot that's borrowed from slice of life. The characters in SHUDDH DESI ROMANCE mirror the mindset of several youngsters in contemporary times and how the meaning of love and commitment has undergone a complete change in the present context. The obstacles in the form of caste, religion and culture seem pass, frankly. Dating, pre-marital sex and marriage are three diverse issues, unlike earlier times, when matrimony was a beautiful culmination in a relationship... Armed with an unsullied plot and creative situations, director Maneesh Sharma breaks away from the conventional thought process and paints a picture that challenges the mindset of the conformists.

Additionally, everything that Maneesh and Jaideep attempt to convey through their characters in SHUDDH DESI ROMANCE looks credible and relevant. The good thing is, there's no preaching or sermonizing vis--vis who's right or wrong; it's more of a dialogue with our peers. You need to change with the times and cinema needs to grow as well. This film does exactly that without belittling the traditional beliefs. More significantly, all of this is presented in an entertaining format.

The only glitch in the otherwise smooth narrative is that the pacing slows down considerably in the second hour. Also, Vaani's stance is a little difficult to absorb. In fact, her exit -- without offering any concrete reason -- looks a bit unreal. However, all said and done, the commitment-phobic attitude of the new generation comes across very well in the narrative.

Sachin-Jigar's soundtrack garnishes the goings-on wonderfully. The gifted composers, who have delivered musical hits in the past, live up to the faith reposed in them. 'Gulabi' and the title track are infectious compositions. The DoP captures the rustic flavor with meticulousness.

After leaving a tremendous impression in his first Hindi outing, Sushant Singh Rajput wows you with a remarkable portrayal yet again. He brings a lot of freshness with his unpretentious and spontaneous act. Parineeti Chopra gets into the bindaas zone yet again, a role that's become synonymous with her of late. She seems to be going from strength to strength with every film. Vaani Kapoor is self-assured and doesn't seem overwhelmed by her skilled co-stars. Rishi Kapoor is, like always, in terrific form. Rajesh Sharma is okay in a cameo.

On the whole, SHUDDH DESI ROMANCE caters to the youth and reflects the mindset of a chunk of the youth these days. The film, which speaks a different lingo, is a gutsy attempt that defies the stereotype. Told in an entertaining format, it is sure to strike a chord with not just the youngsters, but also with those who love shudh [unchartered, in this case] storylines. Refreshingly different, give this one a chance. Recommended!