Raanjhanaa had the kind of promos that would attract you to theatre based on the promise that it claims to carry; an inter-faith lover story, political setup, good music all together could potentially lead to a blockbuster. However, the movie fails to live up to this promise as it loses its steam after the interval as the movie labours hard to create new logics and turns that the characters and the storyline take. Sadly enough, all this is done while leaving the central characters underdeveloped and letting the storyline meander along.
The first half of Raanjhanaaaa is a treat with visually rich display of Banaras, its colours, traditions and people. It is richly aided by A R Rahman's music as it brings it all together. However, its other central location, JNU, is used either symbolically or sadly as a caricature.
Dhanush excels in his first Hindi role, Sonam Kapur promises, much like the movie, but her role is lost between glamour and reality. Swara Bhaskar and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub deliver in their acts as friends. In fact, their characters look more real than that of the leads. Anand Rai's previous film, Tanu Weds Manu, hit the right cord because of its believable characters that one could relate to emotionally. Unfortunately, Raanjhanaa does not do enough to let you empathise with its leads as in the end you feel more for Bindiya and Murari than for Kundan and Zoya.
Watch Raajnhanaa for Dhanush who could (should!) give some acting lesson to the bollywood stars; if you go to the theatre hoping for a punch of a story, you will be disappointed.
The first half of Raanjhanaaaa is a treat with visually rich display of Banaras, its colours, traditions and people. It is richly aided by A R Rahman's music as it brings it all together. However, its other central location, JNU, is used either symbolically or sadly as a caricature.
Dhanush excels in his first Hindi role, Sonam Kapur promises, much like the movie, but her role is lost between glamour and reality. Swara Bhaskar and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub deliver in their acts as friends. In fact, their characters look more real than that of the leads. Anand Rai's previous film, Tanu Weds Manu, hit the right cord because of its believable characters that one could relate to emotionally. Unfortunately, Raanjhanaa does not do enough to let you empathise with its leads as in the end you feel more for Bindiya and Murari than for Kundan and Zoya.
Watch Raajnhanaa for Dhanush who could (should!) give some acting lesson to the bollywood stars; if you go to the theatre hoping for a punch of a story, you will be disappointed.
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