Aditya Chopra has returned back to the director’s chair after a long gap of 8 years with Befikre. While his last film — Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, dealt with the complexities of destiny and love in a marital relationship, Befikre is all about being carefree in love.
Though the film starts with flashes of the lovely couples of all ages, shapes, sizes and orientations in a kissathon with the soulful Labon Ka Karobaar in the background, it has failed to weave the same magic that Chopra’s previous films did.
Here’s why:
Predictable:
From plenty of skin show (a 1-second shot of butt-naked Ranveer Singh!), beautiful locales (Paris, of course) and stunning actors, the film has everything to make it to the list of typical Bollywood masala movie. However, what it lacks the most is a strong storyline. A boy meets girl in a foreign country and charm each other by slapping, kicking and troubling strangers (because how else would you impress the other person). The frivolity definitely leads to friendship (Bollywood’s new love story recipe) where you decide not to fall in love and then do exactly the opposite but of course, remain oblivious to it unless one of you finds somebody else. A stab in the dark is all you need to know how the story will unfold.
Befikre (Courtesy: Twitter/Befikre)
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Too many inspirations:
While Befikre’s Dharam will remind you strongly of our evergreen Bitto Sharma, rest of its storyline seems to be inspired from Band Baaja Baarat’s pyaar and confusion, and Tamasha’s masti (though Tamasha’s storyline is much better any day). In other words, Befikre has been released previously as well. Just with different actors and under different banners, that’s all.
ALSO READ: KRK reviews Befikre. Don’t read, it’s a spoiler!
Fails to be ‘New Gen’:
Though the movie is all about being carefree and cool, much like Dharam’s Karol Bagh mindset which doesn’t leave him even when he’s in Paris, most part of the movie remains stuck in the 80s. And if Adi thought that his final sermon on love and life will leave us in tears, he definitely underestimated the young people. The youth though carefree is not going to fall for just anything and has a far better understanding of movies than you thought.
Ranveer Singh, Vaani kapoor: (Courtesy: Express)
Lack of Humour:
Though characters can afford to be a bit smudgy in a rom-com, the fact that a successful stand-up comedian can’t even come up with a single funny gag is quite worrying. Befikre preaches about breaking free, following your heart and what-not. But the frequent preaching had been digestible if it was served with humour.
Music:
Though Vishal-Shekhar gave good music, the Befikre songs are situational and barely memorable sans the visuals. Apart from Nashe Si Chadh Gayi and Ude Dil Befikre, none remains with you once you’re out of the theatre.
Misunderstood Characters:
The characters — Dharam and Shrya, are strong, independent, full of life and know how to take control of the situation. But like most of the youth today, something is holding them back when they want to fly. What is it? Are they confused? Or scared? Or insecure maybe? The audience would have loved to know about the day-to-day problems that the youngsters face but have been kept at a distance by the writer who refuses to dive deeper into Dharam and Shrya’s lives and rather chose to show us the glossy surface.
For an Aditya Chopra film, this one is anything but disappointing. The director, known for cult romances like DDLJ and Mohabbatein, seems to have misunderstood contemporary relationships and fails to construct a tale worth telling.
