Raanjhnaa: Movie Review

By: Harsh
Raanjhnaa Movie Review

Cast: Dhanush, Sonam Kapoor, Abhay Deol
Director: Aanand Rai
Producer: Krishika Lulla
Music: A.R.Rahman

Plot: Kundan (Dhanush) is a very simple kind of a guy who lives in Banaras and has a childhood crush on a beautiful Muslim girl, Zoya (Sonam Kapoor). He follows her for many years. They grow up studying in the same school and in the 9th grade, Dhanush musters up his courage to go and confess. She rejects him at first but after a series of hysterical slaps, 15 to be precise, Zoya decides to meet him. After several meetings and a wrist-slitting exercises by Kundan, Zoya reciprocates positively. They fall in love but their romance is short-lived. Her parents  discover their secret affair and she’s promptly packed away to Delhi for college. While in Delhi, Zoya meets a guy called Akram (Abhay Deol) and falls in love with him.

Upon returning to Banaras 8 years later, Zoya finds out that Kundan is still madly in love with her and still equally ready to slit his wrist if she denies his proposal. But, this time – Zoya has matured and does not give in to his demands as she is no longer in love with him.  Kundan instead helps Zoya acquire her love. Kundan also convinces her dad to get her married to Akram.

Only later we find out that Abhay is actually a Hindu guy named Jasjeet, who fakes his name as Akram because Zoya’s parents are against Hindu guys. And hence, they beat him up to death. To death. Yes. Freaked out yet? There’s more!

After all that drama, Kundan does not give up and decides to re-start his mission to acquire Zoya as his wife but keeps on failing miserably. The twists and turns are so abrupt and uncalled for that you’ll end up finding yourself in the middle of an ocean in nowhere land!  Double marriage plans, an untimely death, revenge, and even a political campaign are weaved into the simple love story, making the plot too twisted and many might question the last 10 minutes!

Actor’s take: The most memorable performances belong to Swara Bhaskar and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub as Bindiya, Dhanush’s crazy lover and Murari, Dhanush’s ever loyal friend. Dhanush performs brilliantly carrying a very adorable guy’s persona. Sonam does not bring in much to her character apart from the change in wardrobe and styling. Abhay Deol is as always a class apart with his style and unique personality. Watch this movie for the genuine performances by Dhanush and Abhay deol.

Technicality: Set in the beautiful city of Banaras, the movie starts on a good note. The first half captures and engulfs you with its intensity and vibrancy. The dialogues are nothing new and you’ve heard all of them before. The music is pretty much good and very soothing. Editing and direction are good but the plot fails with absurd and weird twists.

Rating: 1.5/5

Harsh also writes with Bollywood.Celebden.com, a premire source of bollywood gossips, news and bollywood movie reviews.