SHUDDH DESI ROMANCE MOVIE REVIEW

In the penultimate scene of Shuddh Desi Romance, in which Raghu and Gayatri ruminate about their inability to commit to get married, he asks her why she keeps fleeing the wedding. Gayatri’s response is a nonchalant ‘pata nahin’ – I don’t know. For all its bravado in portraying runaway grooms, cigarette smoking girls and live-in relationships, Shuddh Desi Romance cannot in essence provide a concrete answer as to why the younger generation is seemingly commitment phobic. But that is only if you are seeking any answers as such. If not, Shuddh is a rather delightful movie about unsure youngsters and their uncertain relationships.

 

This Maneesh Sharma directed film has small town charm written all over it and its actors are earnest performers, rendering a skilful disposition to the movie. Raghu, who sways between working as a tourist guide and part-timing with the wedding planners, meets Gayatri on the day before his wedding. Raghu’s insecurity about his wedding is amplified with Gayatri’s free-spiritedness and he decides to abandon his wedding. Subsequently, he meets Gayatri again and they start dating and living in. In a drunken stupor, they decide to get married but on the day of the wedding, Gayatri repeats the act and abandons the wedding.

 

Raghu’s life takes a new turn when Tara, the girl whom he abandons for the first time reenters his life. Without much hesitance, partly because he still carries some guilt for having deserted her on the wedding day, he pursues her and wins her love. However, when all seems just well, Gayatri quite literally bumps into Raghu’s life again. But this time, she is not that determined to leave him and he, on the other hand, is confused again. 

 

Sushant as Raghu is the movie’s backbone and he is quite a natural with his effortless performance. His casual demeanor infuses the perfect kind of vibe for his role in the movie and Sushant nails it. He also passes the litmus test in his second movie – a task considered to be herculean to disprove the flash-in-the-pan notion what with his first movie being a super hit.

 

Parineeti’s Gayatri is as much a firebrand as she is an emotional puddle. Though her dialogues often edge on the sloppy side of things, she is in full control over the character and that enables not a single slip up – except, maybe in the awkward kissing scenes. Talking of which, new comer Vaani proves to be much better in that area. Her character is one of the beautifully fleshed out parts of the movie. With no ounce of jealousy or vile emotions, Vaani’s well written role complements her performance. Ever reliable Rishi Kapoor is another benefit the movie has. 

 

Jaideep Sahni’s characters are well written. They are neither serious, nor overtly flippant and render themselves a perfect balance between both. As a result, you get a movie that doesn’t necessarily make you think, for its subject matter has plenty of food-for-thought to offer, but makes you feel light about a heavy subject.

 

Maneesh Sharma’s direction adapts a mockumentary style approach that works so well for the movie. He elbows out the ‘better left unsaid’ approach and makes his characters speak their mind out resulting in a clearer perspective. It works particularly well in the case of Gayatri and Tara’s character portrayals, rendering justification for their actions. Dialogues are the movie’s strength too.

 

Sachin – Jigar’s music brings the joie de vivre of Rajasthani music and the title song is a keeper too. On the whole, Shuddh Desi Romance works well as a light hearted romance, if you don’t read too much into it.