Movie Review: Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania
Passion, compassion and chemistry can make you believe in a love story. Luckily, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania is full of these virtues.
Director, Shashank Khaitan's film is a contemporary masala take on the classic, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge. So girl (Kavya Pratap Singh, played by Alia Bhatt) goes from Ambala to Delhi for her wedding shopping, only to fall in love with boy (Humpty Sharma, played by Varun Dhawan) But then, reality strikes, as Kavya realises she's already betrothed to an NRI Munda of her father's choice (Angad, played by Sidharth Shukla). And she has to leave, as her father is dead against love marriages after her sister's failed one.
Though Humpty is no Raj from DDLJ or even Prem from Maine Pyaar Kiya, director Shashank makes sure to create enough situations to make this naughty Delhi boy endearing and lovable. Varun Dhawan puts his heart and soul into this character. He'll charm the pants off you in this film and even leave you teary-eyed. Maybe playing the desirable Indian lover boy is his true calling. He does it with so much ease that you want to take him home. The actor especially stands out in scenes where he's trying to win Kavya's family over.
Alia Bhatt. Is there anything this girl can't do? She plays the feisty Kavya to the T. Her energy and spunk is infectious and she brings the screen alive in every scene. Alia's heroes need to be issued a statutory warning. This is one actress who’ll steal your thunder with a few blinks of the eyes.
Varun and Alia's chemistry in the film is electrifying. Some scenes deserve a special mention. Like the one where Kavya's father tells Humpty in DDLJ style, "Jaa, jee le apni zindagi." And the one where Kavya channels Rahul (SRK) from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.
Among the other cast members, Ashutosh Rana is a delight to watch as Alia's father. He's aptly cast. Directors, can we please see more of his genius on celluloid? Newcomer Sidharth Shukla too makes an impressive debut. He may not have a meaty part but boy does he have the talent and looks of a star!
On the downside, besides the two already hit tracks, Saturday saturday and Samjhaavan, the music is strictly okay. In the first half, there's an overdose of Delhi milieu. Somewhere the Delhi flavour and romance in our films is going beyond tolerable limits. Perhaps it’s time to move on to fresher settings.
On the whole, clichés aside (there's plenty of Virji, Biji, Bapuji, you get the drift), HSKD is a romcom perfect for cuddling up with your loved one in the irresistible rainy season. It's food for our sappy souls. Make it your weekend watch... Go fall in love.