Taran Adarsh : Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi Movie Review

Taran Adarsh : Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi Movie Review

Just before you read the review, a special message from Admin of this blog.. The movie is superb.. just don't miss it cause of these reviews etc. Movies like these are not made every year.. So read all the reviews, but watch it to decide it. :)

One often cribs about Yash Raj repeatedly casting SRK in similar roles, in film after film. However, this allegation is far from true. Right from DARR to CHAK DE INDIA, the combination has collaborated on varied subjects. With RAB NE BANA DI JODI, they take this association to another level altogether.

To start with, RAB NE BANA DI JODI brings back the golden team of DILWALE DULHANIYA LE JAYENGE and MOHABBATEIN after a hiatus and the only parallel you can draw with the earlier achievements is the fact that each of them is a love story. Otherwise, RAB NE BANA DI JODI is truly different. It's not set in London or Switzerland, there's no sarso ke khet, it's not about a good looking couple sporting designer outfits and accessories, there's no parental opposition either.

Set your eyes anywhere and you see countless unknown faces. In markets, malls, streets, airports, stations, just about everywhere. And everyone who walks this planet has a story to tell. With RAB NE BANA DI JODI, Aditya Chopra talks of one such ordinary person. Living in one of those crowded bylanes of Amritsar, his life undergoes a 360 degree change the moment he sets his eyes on a beautiful girl.

Like SRK does a 360 degree turn in the movie, Aditya Chopra too does a complete turn as far as the story is concerned. Seeped in Indian emotions and traditional values and very desi at heart, RAB NE BANA DI JODI is a complete departure from the good-looking, picture perfect YRF movies that sport glam bodies parading designer outfits.

For the present-day generation, a story like RAB NE BANA DI JODI may come across as an original piece of work, but if you've been a keen observer of films of yore, you can't help overlook the similarities with Dr. V. Shantaram's NAVRANG and more precisely, Raj Kapoor's SATYAM SHIVAM SUNDARAM. In fact, RAB NE BANA DI JODI also brings back memories of the low-cost MAIN MERI PATNI AUR WOH [Rajpal Yadav, Rituparna Sengupta], not in terms of story, but in terms of characters.

The problem is, RAB NE BANA DI JODI works in patches. The first 30 minutes and the penultimate 30 minutes are the highpoint of the enterprise, but the screenplay in between doesn't hold your attention. That's the truth!

In a nutshell, RAB NE BANA DI JODI is no DILWALE DULHANIYA LE JAYENGE. It's not MOHABBATEIN either. At best, it's an average fare that may generate some curiosity initially, that's it. You expect much, much more, but… alas!

Surinder [Shah Rukh Khan], a simple, clean hearted, honest man working for Punjab Power, leads a humdrum life, but the moment he sets his eyes on Taani [Anushka Sharma], his life undergoes a change. She's flamboyant, fun-loving, vivacious, unlike Surinder. But unforeseen circumstances bring them together.

Director Aditya Chopra chooses a desi plot and weaves a story around an ordinary, middle class couple. The story begins with gusto and the initial scenes between Shah Rukh and Anushka are thoroughly interesting. But the screenplay falters the moment Shah Rukh's character Surinder transforms into Raj and his personality undergoes a sea-change. The first question that strikes you is, why didn't Anushka realize it's him, her husband, not someone else? Sure, he has undergone a complete makeover, but how can you not recognise your husband's voice or appearance? That's a glaring flaw, it's like taking the viewer for granted!

The sequences thereafter are equally uneven. A few sequences are well executed, but the problem is that Shah Rukh keeps playing the game till the very end. If he had to win her heart, he could've done so by making her realize that it's a mirage, making her realize that the person she loves and the person she's married are the same.

There's a twist in the tale only towards the pre-climax, when Anushka is ready to elope with Raj, her dance partner. The climax, the drama that ensues during the finale of the dance competition, is excellent. Even the end [the honeymoon in Japan] brings a smile on your face.

Director Aditya Chopra is letdown by his own writing. The story is not convincing, the screenplay is not water-tight and therefore, RAB NE BANA DI JODI does not create the impact it ought to make. Also, the film is quite lengthy. With a running time of approx. 2.45 hours, RAB NE BANA DI JODI could've easily done with some trimming. The unwanted flab could've been trimmed for a better impact.

Salim-Sulaiman's music is of a mixed variety. 'Haule Haule' is a superb composition and 'Dance Pe Chance' is foot-tapping, but the remaining tracks, though well shot, are plain average. Ravi Chandran's cinematography is top notch.

Shah Rukh is superb as the simpleton and your heart goes out to him every time he appears on screen. You want the underdog to win and here too, the way SRK tackles this part, you're all the more convinced. As Raj, SRK goes overboard at times. Anushka looks the character and surprises you with a confident performance. It's no small achievement to share screen space with an actor of the calibre of SRK and Anushka manages it very well from start to end. Vinay Pathak is incredible. He contributes enormously in making the proceedings lively.

On the whole, RAB NE BANA DI JODI is vey desi at heart with a strong start and an equally strong emotional end. Having said that, you cannot deny the fact that you expect much, much more from Aditya Chopra. RAB NE BANA DI JODI is no DILWALE DULHANIYA LE JAYENGE, it's not MOHABBATEIN either. It's lower than that! At the box-office, the business will be better at some multiplexes, while the single screens will be below average. The business in Overseas, however, should be better, but the business in India will totter, tremble and fumble after the initial weekend.

Lets clarify a few things:
* This is not a film based on a dancing competition as speculated by the media
* Shahrukh Khan is not seen in a double role

The film has soul and will leave you spellbound, panting and breathing for more as you leave the cinema hall. The repeat value is tremendous with many sterling moments of high emotions and drama.


…the audience is treated to dancing competitions, sum wrestling and a stunningly choreographed Tribute song on yesteryear stars Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Shammi Kapoor, Rajesh Khanna & Rishi Kapoor with guest appearances by 5 stunning bollywood actresses. SRK displays like no other that he is the King of all tribute songs!

The screenplay and story never let you down. The pace is perfect and the treatment to what is a simple story is crucially superb. Hats off Aditya Chopra for a sterling comeback

Performance wise, Vinay Pathak will sweep all the supporting actor awards next year with a sterling effort in grooming Surinder into Raj.

Anoushka Sharma could not have asked for a better debuting platform! Understatingly beautiful, she has excellent dialogue delivery and tremendous appeal for youngsters across India. Cheekly innocent, her comic timing and dancing capability will leave a memory in your minds as you leave the theatre. She will bag all the major debutant awards.

What can one say about SRK that has not been said in the past? His ability to carry Yashraj's problems singlehandedly is well noted, but this is his biggest moment where he rekindles the energy and flamboyancy of old and delivers what can only be described as his greatest performance ever. A challenging role - nearly a double role, it would be difficult to imagine any other actor essaying the diversity so effortlessly. In a word - UNFORGETTABLE! The way he emotes, the way he dances in his impish style, the way he smiles, his accent - everything is so unblemished and infectious that his legion of female fans will fall in love with him for the upteenth time.