STORY: When more-than-pleasantly-plump Sandhya (Bhumi Pednekar) gets hitched to Prem (Ayushmann Khurrana), the latter cannot bring himself to look beyond his wife’s size. Her relentless attempts to win over his attention are in vain and the two end up on the brink of divorce when she overhears him passing objectionable remarks about her to friends. Can blubber hinder love?
REVIEW: Dum Laga Ke Haisha is an unlikely quasi-original offering from the stable that in recent past has made sincere efforts to defy the conventional notions of love.
This film might further the cause of breaking away from the bastion but it reeks of predictability. Sharat Kataria pulls off a quaint-yet-flawed film. Set in circa 1995 in Haridwar, he carefully refrains from creating a staple, syrupy affair. The film’s first hour sails smoothly sans hiccups, but the second half can be faulted for unspooling tediously.
The movie erects a plot whose on-the-face nostalgia factor is almost jarring. Its rustic setting, bustling by-lanes and old-world charm does an overt job of selling the VCR era. There’s even a desperately-included fight sequence where the couple aggressively play 90s songs.
Such scenes might crack you up, but the crackling effect is wiped out as the film moves towards a predictable climax featuring Kumar Sanu, a steady fixture since the first scene. It’s the only thing that makes its ‘loser’ hero look good and is a contrived culmination of the romance we never find blooming.
The film’s subplots are unnecessary and abrupt, like the sudden demise of a never-mentioned-before uncle which triggers the final act.
The actors, however, deliver redeeming performances. For a debutante, Pednekar is surprisingly confident. Khurrana, is the best he has been since his launch venture. Sanjay Mishra and Seema Pahwa are at the top of their game.
But in the end, it isn’t extraordinary, failing to rise above the idea that a fat girl needs some schmuck to complete her life. Undeniably, the smarts are visible in its original thinking but it doesn’t translate into a satiating viewing experience.