~*Sushant's Bollywood Journey *~#17 - Page 76

SHUDDH DESI ROMANCE - My Take!

God lies in the detail! So does beauty! And that's where the beauty of Shuddh Desi Romance lies. Quirky is how this movie can be described in one word!

For me, a movie works if there are interesting characters (Forget the main leads, I'm talking about the characters in the movie who don't even have a single dialogue to speak or so - the background/ensemble cast) and if a movie has taken care of all the details (which automatically gives multi-layers to the movie). Writer Jaideep Sahni infuses this movie with both the above points and that's where this movie stands apart from any romance genre films or any romantic comedy genre films (which is the genre of this movie). Scratch this surface and you'll find a strong solid message about one of the biggest problems of today's youth - COMMITMENT, in this movie.

The society around us has changed so much, and yet it is still the same. The youth of today, wants to be in a relationship but are afraid of Commitment and most importantly Marriage. And this is the basic premise around which Shuddh Desi Romance revolves. And by setting this movie in a city like Jaipur, it addresses the middle class family in particular. I'm glad that this movie wasn't set in any of the metro city or any foreign country, as the mentality and the mind-set shown in the film couldn't be captured in the way it has been here.

Manu Anand captures Jaipur beautifully in his lens and lends authenticity and depth to this movie. The songs have captured the culture and tradition so well. Loved it when the monkeys are shown losing their grip when Phisal Gayo Re words come on screen. Gulaabi is one of the best shot songs of this year. Equal credit should go to Maneesh Sharma who is back in form after Band Baaja Baaraat which was another movie revolved around marriage. That's his strength and hope he sticks to it. But the one job without which the movie wouldn't have been what it is now, is of the editor. Namrata Rao, once again proves why she is the best in the industry today. Look at the way she has cut some of the portions. A commendable job indeed. A movie like this (which is almost in the league of Jhoom Barabar Jhoom) which is dependent on Speech (A more of a Blabbering film than an Character's Action premise) is not easy to execute and at the same time keep the audience engrossed in the proceedings, but Shuddh Desi Romance successfully manages that. In fact, the second half stood out for me, because of the written material and the wonderful climax. There was a dark humor in the movie, which might be difficult for most of them to accept it.

Coming back to the 2 main points I had loved - The ensemble cast has done an outstanding job. Parineeti Chopra as Gayatri nails her role and how. My only glitch of her character was she is an English Instructor in a Coaching Class but is never once shown going to teach or anything unlike Sushant Singh Rajput who is a tourist guide cum fake baraati cum duppatta salesman in a shop. Vaani Kapoor as Tara speaks volumes with her smile and dialogue delivery style. Her's was the best etched out character metaphorically. Rishi Kapoor breathes life while essaying the part of Goyal ji, who has a wedding business of getting people married and provide fake baraatis. His concern over the burning issue of marriage, and the way he emotes the scenes, is a learning lesson for all actors. Small characters like the other fake baraati who overacts (about the gold chain), the halwai kid who scratches his bum with the belan he makes sweets with, gupta ji who thinks he is the only one who has the right on Gayatri; induce life in creating the environment required. But the one who stood out for me was Sushant Singh Rajput as Raghuram Sitaram. Stuck between 2 women in his life, not knowing whom to choose and not able to understand his own feelings, he shines in each and every scene.

*SPOILERS START* Going to my next part - the detailing; Shuddh Desi Romance is filled with so many such moments, directly and metaphorically.

Take the character of Tara. Whenever she is in any problem, she opts for a cold drink. That is her solution. Now go and replace the cold drink with Raghu.

Scene 1 - He runs away from the mantap and she orders for a Thanda. Meaning - she got her Raghu back as a form of Cold Drink.

Scene 2 - They meet in a restaurant after she gives him the number. There she orders for a Thanda. This time, she wants the Thanda (Raghu) to be hers (so that she can take her revenge).

Scene 3 - At the pre climax when all the 3 of them meet, she asks Raghu to get her a Thanda and she goes and sits with Gayatri. She knows, Gayatri has come back, now the real Raghu will be hers. So she solaces with the Thanda.

Scene 4 - The scene between both Tara and Gayatri in the bus. Gayatri is smoking, she comes with a Thanda again. There she gives away the Thanda to Gayatri and walks away. She knows she has lost the interest.

The other detailing I loved was the usage of songs. There are so many songs playing in the background; either on TV or on a radio or used as a background piece, but each song fits perfectly to the situation.

1. Banjaara from Ek Tha Tiger (shown playing in the bus in Raghu's Baraat) - reflects Raghu's mental condition. Travelling to a destination to commit to an unknown person.

2. Hum dono, do premi duniya chhor chale (plays in the radio when Raghu moves with his suitcase to Gayatri's House) - depicts the scene that they are not bothered about the world about their live-in relationship.

3. Hum the, tum the, aur samaa rangeen (plays in the background after Raghu tells Guptaji that Gayatri is his didi) - depicting Irony.

4. Dekha jo tujhe yaar, dil mein baji guitar (Post interval when Raghu and Tara are welcomed in her cousin's wedding by the baraatis) - depicting he has fallen in love with Tara.

5. Dil Dance Maare (when Raghu is planning to propose Tara) - depicting his true feelings.

6. Mera chain vain sab ujda (The next scene immediately when Raghu sees Gayatri in the same wedding) - stating his mentality.

7. Main chali, main chali (When Raghu and Gayatri go to pick Panditji) - Pun Intended.

8. Baagon mein bahaar hai... tumko mujhse pyaar hai (When Raghu and Gayatri are on their way back with Panditji sitting behind) - they are discussing about themselves and the line tumko mujhse pyaar hai.. na na na fades in the radio.

9. Bachna Ae Haseeno (When Raghu has got a cold drink and he sees Gayatri and Tara sitting together in the wedding) - Can it get more awkward and funnier? *SPOILERS OVER*

My only problem (or what I would have loved to see) was I wish Gayatri, Tara and Raghu were given a strong immediate family and then if these sequences of running away from their own marriage/s were shown and the impact on the family was shown, it would have added much more drama and a realistic feel. But no worries.

In the end, like one of the song goes, my take on commitment and marriage is - Chanchal Mann, Ati Random... Phisal Gayo Re, Phisal Gayo Re... at the moment.