Making a 3-hour movie and keeping it engaging is a feat that KJo has managed to achieve with this movie. It also helped that the lead actors are so very talented and have tremendous screen presence. The supporting cast also comprises stalwarts. And I thing Jaya Bachchan surpassed herself in the role of the matriarch. I have otherwise found her to be an overrated actor!
What I like immensely about the movie is the realisation by the characters that what we judge others for, is a trait that we have in ourselves. Reminded me of the Jungian archetype of the Shadow. We judge people for being loud because we are sophisticated. We judge people for being a dancer because it’s not what we do. We judge women working in corporates because they are not able to devote ‘that’ much time to the home and kids. We judge women working at home because they don’t earn money. The list is endless. And we judge because a little bit of ‘that’ is within us.
I LOVED the Dola re song dance with Ranveer and Tota RC. And the jhumka gira re song. The picturisation is breathtaking. The colours in the jhumka gira re song made my heart sing. The bright red costume in the Dol re song was so apt. I have noted the location of these 2 songs in the film and watch these two scenes often. And the Abhi najaon chodke, ke dil abhi bhara nahin was inserted in the most beautiful ways in the appropriate scenes.
The last, wedding scene was spectacularly done. It can give any exquisitely done white wedding a run for its money. KJo’s visual vision and execution is amply displayed in the film.
What did not gel with me is making Ranveer Singh wear a bra. No one does that. Overdramatised, I think. In fact, I don’t know any community where the future son-in-law is the sole companion for lingerie shopping. My general knowledge may be limited!
And what’s with making the heroine wear a sleeveless blouse with a chiffon sari when the hero is wearing a thick jacket. I think the men should insist on wearing a tshirt when their female co-actors are clad thus in an extremely cold environment.
Also in one scene, the character played by Ranveer Singh playfully undoes the string on the blouse of the character played by Alia. Though this is a seemingly innocuous action in the scene, it does impinge on the private space of the woman. It has the potential of being misunderstood by certain sections of society as a permissible act.
And what prevents the actors from getting the Bengali pronunciation correct while playing Bengali characters? Of course, in parts they got it. Why not all the time? I had the same issue with Tabu in Khufiyan. This issue baffles me!
The Dharmendra-Shabana track could have been dealt with differently. How exactly, I don’t know. But I just did not like it!
Finally, KJo abandoned the character played by Jaya Bachchan. When It’s all about the family, how can you do that??? And she did realise her mistake and apologise. So, she should have been at the wedding na?
If you have 3 hours to spend with family or friends, this is a perfect watch.