Manmarziyaan: BO and Movie Review Thread

Manmarziyaan movie review: Abhishek, Taapsee and Vicky deliver solid performances in a film that tugs at your heart and leaves you emotional

Check out the review of Manmarziyaan before you make a dash for the tickets.

• By Tushar P Joshi 
•  
• Published: September 12, 2018 11:13 AM IST

Manmarziyaan is a love story directed by Anurag Kashyap. That is a reason alone to get really intrigued by the film because the filmmaker is known for his dark, grim gangster movies. Plus it has Vicky Kaushal, the talent everyone is talking about along with Abhishek Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu. Quite a formidable cast, we tell you. Does the film live up to the hype then? Read the review below to know that.

What s it about

Love knows no boundaries and parameters. It is also an emotion that is often the subject of narratives that are sometimes complex and wound and other times simple and linear. In Anurag Kashyap s long yet engaging Manmarziyaan, the protagonist girl is named Rumi, perhaps alluding the poet whose take on love and longing finds a place in the film's storyline. Rumi played by Taapse Pannu is a fiery dragon whose lust and love for Vicky (Vicky Kaushal) knows no boundaries. They are crazy for each other, can t keep their hands to themselves when they are in a room and their electric chemistry can cause explosions in a lab. But all that sizzle and sexual chemistry are not enough to sustain their love story. When Rumi decides to take the plunge and get married, Vicky develops cold feet and seeks the easier route out - no show! The third spoke in the wheel is Robbie (Abhishek Bachchan) Who is this exact opposite of the loud boisterous Vicky. He falls for Rumi in an arranged married setup but his affection for her is unplanned. A rebound relationship never works and we head into a second half where things get heated and serious. Emotions run high and the heart wants what it wants, Manmarziyaan deals with the notion that it s ok to be confused and it s alright to let the heart wander and flutter to the tune of its own pace. Does Rumi settle down with the more evolved and mature Robbie or does she go back to her unstable ex?(Also read: BL Predicts: Manmarziyaan to open with decent numbers despite 9 releases)

What s hot

Manmarziyaan is a performance heavy film. There is a lot that it offers its three characters to do in its limited framework. Anurag Kashyap excels in going beyond the stereotypes of a bound script and attempts to give precedence to moments over making technically superior frames (something he was obsessed with in the past). He lets Rumi and Vicky collide and burst into flames with their toxic love and then brings the headstrong yet emotional Robbie to try and put perspective on the situation. Taapse is a star and as Rumi she becomes a seductress trapping you into each and every scene with her craft. Everything from her diction to her body language in building Rumi is a result of immense hard work. Abhishek Bachchan makes a comeback in a role that seems close to his heart, playing an underdog comes easy to the actor, but as Robbie, he invests more than what the script requires and the rewards are rich! His scenes with Taapse showcase his sensitivity and vulnerability that makes his character real and lifelike. Vickey Kaushal yet again proved why he s becoming the king of versatility. Is there anything this boy can t do? He brings in the correct mix of sexy raw appeal and that angst of being in an incomplete love affair. He and Taapse are an incredible combo. The music of Manmarziyaan is more like a supporting actor and reflects the mood and state of minds of its characters. I loved the way the songs have been choreographed, especially the twin girls who have a cryptic presence through the film.

What s not

The real villain of the film is its unpardonable length. Anurag gets over indulgent and seems like an artist playing with a canvas so long that the paint takes forever to dry up. Despite the depth and complexity of its narrative, the film can do with some serious trimming in the second half. That climax also felt tiring and the conversations long drawn. I wish there were more dramatic scenes between Abhishek and Vicky to bring out the clash of their individual love stories with Taapsee. The change of heart of certain characters feels a bit forced at times, like a ploy to keep it dramatic. Less organic and more artificial.

What to do

Manmarziyaan is long but the reward its three leads - Abhishek, Taapsee and Vicky offer in terms of their performances, is worth the time. Like love, Manmarziyaan needs to be watched with your heart, the mind can take a short nap.

Rating:3.5 out of 5

Manmarziyaan Movie Review Quicker: Vicky Kaushal plays the role of Vicky, a crazy music composer waiting for his first break. He loves Rumi (Taapsee Pannu), who gives him a day to bring his parents to her house in order to step up their relationship. Enters Robbie (Abhishek Bachchan), a perfect husband material, who's in India looking out for a bride.

The story of Manmarziyaan is set in Amritsar. He plays Robbie, a banker based in London who comes to his native place to get married to a girl who he later finds is in love with another man.

Anurag Kashyap continues his edgy direction on this side of genre. This is his first attempt at exploring love in a more realistic way and he's doing very well at least till the first half. The confusion between Vicky and Rumi's character is written very well and dialogues like "If I can't marry you that doesn't mean I don't love you back up the strong screenplay.

The songs are amazingly placed and none of them feel like an obstruction. Vicky Kaushal is on another level here! He adapts every mannerism of his character with perfection. Taapsee Pannu is brave & beautiful! She's the perfect one to play Rumi and proves yet again why she's one amazing actress. Abhishek Bachchan underplays his role very beautifully and gives a very subtle performance.

Abhishek was asked how the film's story is different from the rest of the love stories one has seen in Bollywood over the years, Abhishek said: "While most of the time we make our love stories based on judgment, our writer Kanika Dhillon wrote a script which goes beyond that.

Manmarziyaan, featuring Taapsee Pannu and Vicky Kaushal along with Abhishek, is releasing on September 14. Stick to this space for full review!

Manmarziyaan Movie Review: The Heart Knows

Anurag Kashyap's film, essentially a story about people who crush hearts instead of bodies, features terrific performances by Taapsee Pannu and Vicky Kaushal

• POSTED ONSEPTEMBER 12, 2018
• 5 MINUTE READ
• BY RAHUL DESAI

This is still the most sunshine, Imtiaz Ali film that Anurag Kashyap, from the heart of darkness, is ever likely to make. And it's not that Kashyap currently scripting a career that easily places him among the finest Indian filmmakers ever hasn't dealt with romance before.

THis last film itself, Mukkabaaz (2017), was originally written as a boxing movie, that he then brilliantly turned into a love story. And how can you forget the stellar Dev.D (2009) a Trainspotting type adaptation of Devdas, the most filmed Indian romance ever? Manmarziyaan is about two guys, and a girl, where none can seemingly have each other. Could you see it as an inversion of Devdas as well then? Long shot; maybe (hard to say).

To give you a gist: Kaushal plays the 'bad boy', a lukkha, local DJ. Bachchan is the patient, well-meaning, good boy London banker. Pannu (on a roll, lately) is their object of affection. There's no better way to describe her feisty character than, as Bachchan puts it in the film: "Atom bomb" explosive that's really what her stunning, viscerally moving performance feels like.

Every second, she grabs you by the collar to look at her. And look at her some more. This is just as true for Kaushal (Sanju, Raazi, Lust Stories, Love Per Square Foot). Like this film, he seems to have completely owned this year as well.