Anand L Rai’s Raanjhanaa (2013) Movie Review
Cast: Dhanush, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayub and Abhay Deol.
Music Director: A R Rahman
Director: Anand L Rai
Runtime: 146 Minutes
Watched at “BigCinemas”, Hyderabad.
Ever since the first buzz of Raanjhanaa hit the news, it fast became one of the most awaited films of 2013. Two winning personalities coming together creates lots of expectations and excitement. Dhanush, fresh from his critically well-received Mayakam Enna and Abhay Deol, after the heart-winning performances in Zindagi Milegi Naa Dobara & Shanghai join hands for “Raanjhanaa”.
As SRK said in KKHH “Hum ek baar jeete hain, ek baar marte hain, shaadi bhi ek baar hoti hai, aur pyar…ek hi baar hota hai!” First love always holds an especial position in anyone’s life and can’t be erased from the one’s memory when it’s filled with vivacious ruminations of the place they grew up.
A Banarasi gully ka Launda Kundan (Dhanush) falls in love with a Muslim girl Zoya (Sonam Kapoor) the moment he sets his eyes on her. They both are very small to fall in love, but as they say love also sees no age. Kundan follows her in most weird ways of courting her. The child break away when the girl’s family discovers about them and sends her to Aligarh for her studies. While she is settling in her new life, she falls in LOVE again. But the gully ka launda Kundan is still frantically in love with her. Where does this tale of unanswered love head for? Forms the rest of the story line.
South Indian Superstar Dhanush once again proves his talent. A perfect Launchpad for actor like Dhanush in Bollywood. He excelled in every department. Abhay Deol character lacked the depth to make our heart go out with his character or AICP. Sonam Kapoor as Zoya is believable but doesn’t quite seem to strike an uncritical chord. Though she emotes her character well as a school girl and the wing leader in the college, yet I couldn’t find anything new in her. Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and Swara Bhaskar are truly magnificent as Dhanush’s friends. All the supporting actors’ superbly cast and perform admirably.
The story moves ahead in a pattern like some of those light hearted romantic comedy dramas. Director Anand L Rai has presented the film in a nice way with good visuals by Natarajan Subramaniam and Vishal Sinha. There are quite a number of shiny moments and the good writing is evident all along.
“Ladki aur rocket insaan ko kahi bhi pahuncha sakta hai…”
“Dilli sarkar hamara kuchh nahin kar paaye, ek ladki ke chakkar mein maare gaye.”
Things could have been definitely different if the director tweak the film (especially in the second half) to increase the pace.
Being an A.R. Rahman fan I would humbly like to say that I was really expecting a lot more from this soundtrack of Raanjhanaa. The songs other than “Tu Mun Shudi” and “Aisey To Na Dekho” need repeated listening to become likable and one can only relate with most of them after watching the film.
Anand and Himanshu Sharma have taken too many liberties in their script, which don’t let you fall in love with their characters completely. Like;
1. In a city a gal slapping a lad in the middle of the road not causing any panic in the people around. 2. After returning to the Village Zoya simply forgets Kundan who had slit his wrist only for her. 3. Zoya’s kiss to Abhay Deol to prove people are not equal on this earth in the campus center. 4. Muslim Family very particular about religion make NO investigations about the groom. 5. Dhanush forgets to attend his marriage. 6. Zoya double crossing the senior Minister in the end (कह होता है यार).
Keeping these points aside, First half of the movie makes a superb impression, second pulls a bit down. At around 150 minutes the film is a nice little experiment that will make you leave the theater with a good feel.
Survi Review: 3/5 (rated “1” more for DHANUSH!!)
Theatrical Trailer:
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