Raanjhanaa

Bro Zoya pmo

Romantic comedies are essentially my guilty pleasure (psst... don't pass the word around), often intaking a few to lessen the intensity levels following more ambitious cinema. Despite being able to fill in the dots several scenes ahead, they do offer a certain respite and touch the less cynical side of a human being.They end up attempting to talk there way into the viewer's sympathy with mildly entertaining punchlines, forced deliveries reeking of pretentiousness or mistimed comedic flow.The best thing in the movie is Dhanush. He simply stole the show with his intense portrayal of a person driven by love, a person who does the most stupid, brave and incomprehensible of things in the name of love.

9 out of 10 movies are based around a theme where a boy sees a girl and then falls for her and next aspires for her love in return. This movie claims to be no different. However, it has some kind of Paulo Coelhoisque effect, which lingers and dominates the second half of the movie and the journey of Kundan's salvation really brings the heart out of the audience. Once I was told by my teacher that tragedy is not when something wrong goes to a person; it's just his bad luck or ill fate. Tragedy happens when an ego clashes with one's love. Saying so, this movie is no tragedy. As in here we'll find the confrontation of two different sort of love; one of Kundan's and another of Zoya's. People really need to see this colourful portrayal/celebration/confrontation of love on the screen. The great aspect of the movie is the locations of Varanasi. I have never seen any other movie capturing the essence of Kashi in such a grand manner as this movie does. The screen sometimes appeared to be the portrait of Varanasi with all its colours, galiyas, ghats and so on. I guess after this the other filmmakers will also realize the potential that this city can offer them on the screen. In addition, the melodious tunes of Rehman bring the vibrant nature of Shiva's nagari with all its thumping and tablas and shanais and chanting. Audience will just fall in love with the first half of the movie. I want to see more of Dhanush, national award winner, in Hindi cinema. He has such a powerful screen presence that you will be in awe to see how he grows his character putting all different shades in it. So innocent, so so innocent. I just loved his Kundan. Sukanya Verma wrote in her review that Kundan is a gem (pun intended). I say, indeed, he is. For Sonam Kapoor, I'll say people should start taking her seriously as she has an immense potential in her yet I feel she should work more on her dialogue delivery. Her Zoya is the best she has offered yet to us, and I believe that this is just a beginning for her illustrious career. I highly recommend this movie to each and everyone who have loved and felt its pangs. If not, then go for some nice dialogues and yes for Dhanush.

Raanjhanaa starts as a simple love story with a boy relentlessly chasing a girl to get her to fall in love. In fact it is more dramatic than your everyday love story that start from colleges. The story starts with a small kid discovering his girl. In the colorful and breathtaking visuals of Banaras, Kundan finds Zoya. The first half of the movie revolves around Kundan's love for Zoya and Bindiya's love for Kundan. Zoya's love for Jaljith is the twist in the plot. The movie could have ended up as any other Bollywood movie. It is not. It is an awesome love story that is divine and beautiful. The movie is built on several layers. The movie is true to each of its layers. Beautiful Banaras city is the first layer. The colors and vibrancy of the city lives with you for long after the movie. On the other side of the movie ambitions of the modern young India to change the world comes to life. What is common to both the cities in the movie is a true love story and characters that deeply believe in their love. The plot is centered on Kundan's love for Zoya and unfolds as a sequence of events with Kundan's unrelenting efforts for Zoya. Kundan is not wrong. Zoya is not wrong. Neither are Bindiya and Jaljith. Simple acts of Kundan result in the tragic death of Jaljith. When finally we sense a happy ending, there are shades of grey in Zoya's character. Kundan is dead. Was Zoya really wrong? May not be. She was only trying to live Jaljith's dreams. She could not get away from Kundan at all. It is not your everyday Bollywood love story. This one touches your hearts. It shows you what true love means. The movie is held together by the magical background score of Rahman. Two thumbs up for Dhanush, director Aanand Rai and Rahman. It is a dream debut for Dhanush. 10/10 for Raanjhanaa

The first half was really gripping with stupendous performance of Dhanush. Set on the backdrop of Hindu-Muslim backdrop at Varanasi, such romantic movie definitely needs good script, which was there...but to some extent. Although Varanasi was very well captured in the camera but the moment the movie moves to JNU at Delhi the entire movie changes. The storyline gets diverted from a very nice build up in the first half to stale "bhrastachar - politics" in the second half, which was not at all required in such kind of romantic movie with communal set-up. Director wanted to give everything on one platter i.e., Khichdi, Chicken, Sambhar, Makke di roti etc etc...and that is why the film lacks in totality. AR Rahman's music, as a whole, is just OK. But Dhanush was simply outstanding.

Director Mr. Anand L. Rai work is superb. He had made the film so new, fresh and enjoyable by adding fine nuances through new taking and shots. This film is a good example of great rapport between writer and director. Writer Himanshu Sharma work is good and fresh. Especially the dialogues are just fantastic. Promos were reflecting that the film must be about immortal love and the title of the film was sounding like that. Film starts on very blissful and sweet note. Starting one hour of film is mind blowing but then some political issues diverts it. Although, some political satires are very intelligent but I was in mood to watch more love then any practicality. Even I am not able to digest the climax. I believe in giving and forgiving type of love not in revenge taking type. If, someone loves you blindly and purely then you shouldn't take revenge to him whatever he has done by impulse. You can be angry with that person for sometime but If you take cold blooded revenge then I am unable to justify it. Performance wise Dhanush work is superb. Sonam is okey. She fails to deliver the intensity of the scenes especially in loud ones. Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub as Murari work is very good. Swara Bhaskar as Bindiya is fantastic. Abhay Deol is fine. The boy , who played young Kundan is very good. Music by A.R.Rehman supports the film and mood very well.

After managing to sit through this painful movie (I almost walked out during the intermission), I still couldn't figure out what it was about. Was it about love? Or religion? Or politics? The acting is awful and the storyline is unrealistic and ridiculous. In addition, Kundan's behavior while trying to woo Zoya involves stalking, grabbing her in a rickshaw, Is this the sort of behavior we wants to celebrate and promote to the impressionable youth of our country? The only redeeming qualities were the music, Abhay Deol, and some of the scenes that highlighted Benaras. The movie stretched on for too long and became overly complicated, targeting multiple issues and not concentrating on any one.

I had got a lot of positive reviews for this movie from various websites, newspapers & friends. Hence after a very long time I decided to watch a movie in a theater. The first half is good. Dhanush as Kundan, an uncouth youth & madly in love with Zoya (Sonam Kapoor) is fun to watch. The dialogs are witty. The locations have an authentic U.P. feel to them. But the movie starts to drag & loses many points after the interval. The political angle shown is very juvenile. The "dharam badal dunga" dialog (will change my religion), 17 slaps, spitting on the mouth, 3 wrist cutting scenes left a bad taste in my mouth. The whole road romeo falling head over heels in love with a girl is a done to death concept in Hindi movies & this story is no different. The struggle between the head & heart which the hero faces could have been shown way better than what was. The music by A. R. Rehman was a major let down too. The "tum tak" track was lovely. But other than that one song there is nothing special. But what hurt most was seeing a super actor like Abhay Deol being wasted. He had nothing to do in the movie. He does a bit of slogan shouting, gets sassy with a politician, romances Sonam & then dies. Watch it at home when you have nothing better to do.

Raanjhanaa is easy viewing works thanks to Dhanush's powerful performance with Sonam kapoor & Mohammed Ayyub. A R Rahman's scores once again. The story is complicated yet transparent, one that you may be inclined to feel judgemental about but one that you'll see from different perspective. After the flavour blend in the Kanpur for Tanu Weds Manu, Rai extends his ambitious to introduce the majestic of Varanasi city in this movie with a great blend of love story and moreover, since the film revolves around locals, it doesn't make sense to capture the visuals like some wide-eyed tourist. But the playful hues of Holi and a generally colourful palette that defines the city of temples fills the frames for most part till the story shifts to misty winters in Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University campus. CLIMAXXX!!!! A must watch film this season. 4.5/5