It piqued my interest when I read that Shraddha Kapoor’s character was a bit different, and in search of something light to watch, I decided to go for this movie. I had the sibling's company as well.
Firstly, it was wonderful to see Gurugram and generally happy, flirty Punjabi characters again – they remind me of some great times in my life. Shades of “Hitch” made me smile – it is now much easier to appreciate the easy-going break-ups rather than dramatic ones!
It was interesting to see how the joint family was portrayed differently for both Ranbir and Shraddha, with Ranbir enjoying the warmth and general camaraderie and Shraddha struggling with not having space to just be and watching her educated mother give up her dreams. I loved the dialogue delivery of both Dimple Kapadia and Hasleen Kaur, who play Ranbir’s mother and sister. The ease with which they portrayed the healthy family unit was lovely. Ranbir’s sister spends plenty of time at her maternal home along with her daughter – and this was also a nice touch. I heartily laughed at the sequences shot during the car ride and airport featuring the nonstop banter in Ranbir’s side of the family.
Now come the tougher observations. In the fight that takes place on the day of their engagement, even if Ranbir’s character wants to make it easier for Shraddha’s character (watch the movie to know why), the way he asks her if she is fucking dumb and how she should have asked him before applying to a job in a different city left much to be desired.
Shraddha’s character makes it clear that she wishes to lead her life in a nuclear family unit, and as movies would have it, the warmth of the joint family wins her over and she gets happily married and settled into her life in one – in short, the hero “rescues” her, with her MIL even helping her after a drunken night and not expecting her to do any housework. What happens to her independent streak and fractured equation with her side of the family is left completely unaddressed – her mother makes an appearance only in the last scene when Shraddha has a baby.
Earlier, Shraddha does indicate that Ranbir’s life wouldn’t change post marriage. Later, she happily takes to playing golf with him – as if adapting to his hobbies isn’t a change by itself. She likes to run – he is not shown as having taken to it! It so happens his best friend is married to her best friend - else I would have liked to know who she spends more time with.
Dimple is shown as an undemanding, genial MIL – I wonder what it would be like to see the story from her side, where she takes care of everything for her son and DIL and spares them all labour. Also, when she repeatedly slaps her adult 30+ year old son (even post his wedding, even after he says it is abusive) and his best friend, it isn’t clear why she wouldn’t do the same to the women in her family.
By no means are relationships all fun and frolic – routine life and responsibilities do take over. In midst of this, sparing some time to look at structural inequity and patriarchal expectations is necessary. And yes, pyaar hota kayi baar hai!
No comments:
Post a Comment