Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar, Kumar Sanu, Sanjay Mishra, Alka Amin, Sheeba Chaddha, Seema Pahwa, Sanjeeva Vatsa, Shardul Rana, Chandrachoor Rai, Shrikant Verma, Mahesh Sharm
Director: Sharat Katariya
Producer: Aditya Chopra, Maneesh Sharma
Production Co: Yash Raj Films
Music Director: Anu Malik
Here at last is a YRF film with some real dum. Dum Laga Ke Haisha packs a wallop of a simple yet unconventional story told from the heart. It’s a film that makes you laugh, makes you cry, and makes you root for the protagonists as they discover love in an unexpected way.
The film is set in the 1990s, when Kumar Sanu was the king of playback singing, when audio cassettes were the staple of music lovers, when the antediluvian Bajaj scooters were the coveted ride, and when Limca was the surefire relief from acidity. In those times in Haridwar, lives a meek and timid school-dropout named Prem Prakash Tiwari (Ayushmann Khurrana), who harbours the romantic dream of marrying a svelte, jeans-clad girl but is married off by his overbearing father to an overweight girl named Sandhya (Bhumi Pednekar).
The marriage obviously doesn’t take off, as Prem is embarrassed of Sandhya every step of the way, even though she likes him.
Sandhya is a contrast to her husband in many ways. He’s thin, she’s anything but that. He’s academically challenged; she’s educated. He’s a pushover; she doesn’t take hurt lying down. The marriage comes to the point of falling apart. But then a sliver of hope and love shines through.
Dum Laga Ke Haisha is not the least bit burdened by the trappings of a big banner film. It eschews not just the mainstream clichés but also the ones we’ve come to expect from the YRF films set in small-town India.
This Sharat Katariya-directorial has its heart in the right place and it tells us that beauty isn’t skin deep. At the core of the film is a touching story that spreads its tentacles around you slowly and then devours you in a heart-warming climax.
The film recreates the milieu of the 1990s with much conviction, thanks to a swell job by the production designer Meenal Agarwal. The writing is pretty spot on and laced with wit. My only gripe is about a few unnecessary deviations the film takes in the second half.
Ayushmann Khurrana redeems himself after the forgettable ‘Hawaizaada’ with a very ‘unheroic’ performance that makes one sit up and take note. But it is the film’s roly-poly leading lady Bhumi Pednekar who walks away with a resounding applause for her very natural, effortless and yet immensely moving performance. This debutante surely knows how to make her presence felt in more ways than one.
The support cast comprising Sanjay Mishra (as Ayushmann’s father), Alka Amin (mom) and Sheeba Chadda (aunt) chip in well.
Kudos to director Sharat Katariya for telling a moving tale simply and effectively. Kudos to producer Maneesh Sharma for backing this wonderful project. And kudos to Yash Raj Films for supporting a good film.
‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’ is the best thing you can find at the movies this week. Don’t miss it.
Rating: ***1/2
Source: Apun Ka Choice
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