Review of Dum Laga Ke Haisha

When in recent past lots of the directors were taking us to the same old world of 70's and 80's director Shrata Katariya has given us a refreshing treat to go back to the 90's . The mid-nineties when there was no internet , mobile or wi-fi even the CD and Cable tv were just introduced. It was the time dominated by audio cassettes, VCR, Landline phone and of course Kumar Sanu songs and you will get to enjoy all these throughout the film along with the journey of the leading couple who are trying to settle down in their post married life which was forced on them by their parents in the name of an arranged marriage."Dum Laga Ke Haisha" is surely one of the best movies we have seen in recent past in Bollywood but it is sad to see Yashraaj Film spend so less on its marketing and publicity but still we are thankful to Aditya chopra for backing such a good script and Manees Sharma for bringing the script to Aditya Chopra.

It is a story set in Haridwaar in the mid nineties. Prem Prakash Trivedi (Ayushmann Khurrana) who is a 25 year 10th standard fail, under confident guy who sits at his father's

audio cassette repairing shop and listens to Kumar Sanu songs all the day. On the contrary to it Sandhya Vernma (Bhumi Pednekar) is a well educated confident young girl who wants to be a teacher. She is little over weight but she doesn't feel ashamed of that rather she is confident enough to deal with it. In the beginning of the film these two opposite minded people get introduced to each other for a formal meeting before arranged marriage in the presence of a group of people from the would be bride and grooms families. After the first meeting, Sandhya likes Prem but Prem has problem with Sandhya's over weight figure, but due to his father and whole family's pressure he had to marry Sandhya. As expected their is no understanding between these two from the first night of their marriage. Prem keeps avoiding Sandhya as he feels ashamed of her while Sandhya keeps trying to make a place in Prem's heart as well as on his bed with the help of satin nighty to adult English movie but none of these works in her favor. Although frustrated with each other Prem and Sandhya continued to drag their mock relationship due to family pressure but one it got over when Prem vent out his frustration after getting drunk at a friends wedding and insulted Sandhya by calling her a "moti saand". Sandhya lefts Prem's house and came back to her parents and files divorce. But with the family member's intervention they are convinced to live with each other once again to give the relationship a second chance before taking the final decision about their divorce. On their second chance they realize that they are different not only physically but also psychologically and gradually they try to feel the gap too as they start knowing each other better now. Finally it reaches to the climax which is sort of predictable but still it will make you happy.

About the story and screenplay it can be said it is a simple story which has been told in a simple narrative style. Though it is based in the nineties but it has not been made in true

nineties over dramatic style rather the treatment to the subject is very realistic and simple which reminds us the old classic films of Basu Chatterjee or Hrishikesh Mukherjee.It is written from heart which connects with your heart. The story has some light moments which will surely bring smile on your face on the other hand it will make you moist eyed too. It is a journey of two strangers who come close to each other after knowing each other better and their discovery of each other never looks too hurried. The screenplay gives them enough time to know each other without making the pace too slow. All the characters around the leading pair are also very interesting and real whether it is  the parents and bua of Prem and his friends or Sandhya's parents and her brother, no matters how long is their screen time but everyone lefts an impression. A lots of references of nineties has been used throughout the film but it never looks forced. The best among them is the silent fight between Prem and Sandhya where they fight with each other without saying a single word but only playing hit songs of nineties on the tape recorder. The only disappointment with this film is the game show in the climax which goes little over the top considering the realistic treatment given to the rest of the film. The writer could have think a better way to conclude the story.

As a director Sharat Katariya has done a wonderful job, though it is his second film but it is his first opportunity to work under a well known production house and he has done a hard work to utilize this opportunity perfectly. He has given the film very realistic touch from the characters to their looks and language to the music and the production design of the film, everything is just perfect. His eye for detailing is very much clear in every frame. We hope this movie will surely give a much needed boost to his career as a director and end his long running struggle.

Ayushmann Khuranna is in terrific form, he is a talented actor and once again he has proved that. He has totally synced himself with his on screen character, Prem prakash Trivedi.

His dialogue delivery and body language is awesome. In every frame he looks Prem not Ayushmann. The other key player of the film is Bhumi Pednekar who has made a confident debut. Just like her character Sandhya, this young lady is never ashamed of her weight rather she is confident about her talent and she has impressed everybody with her brilliant performance. She has not the look to be a regular Hindi film heroine but considering the new age films of today's time she can have a good future with her acting abilities. Together Ayushmann and Bhumi have a wonderful chemistry. 

Among the rest of the cast it can be said everyone has given an A grade performance but among them who shines out most are Sanjay Mishra as Prem's father , Seema Pahwa as Sandhya's mother and Sheeba Chaddha as Prem's bua. Here credit must be given to the casting director Shanoo Shrama for casting such wonderful actors in the roles perfectly suited for them.

Among the technical departments who deserves credits are of course the production designer Meenal Agarwal and costume designers Darshan Jalan who have created the look and feel of nineties so authentically. Here special mention should be given for the over the top costumes in the "Dard Karara" song. The sound design by Sajith Koyri and cinematography done by Manu Anand has been done very nicely as it captures the small town ambiance of Haridwar very well. You can feel your presence in the real locations while watching the film.

Though its not a musical and there is not enough scope in the movie to put songs but a nineties story is never complete without  songs that too by Kumar Sanu and you will get

that nostalgic feeling of Kumar Sanu in the opening credits as well as in the end credits in "Tu" and "Dard Karara".Both the songs are very cliche but sounds very refreshing as we have heard something like this after a long time and it really take us back to that time. Anu Malik has done a good job as a composer not only recreating nineties melodies with Kumar Sanu but also composing the other melodious song "Moh Moh Ke Dhaage" which is very melodious and has been used very well in the movie in background. The song "Dard Karara" has been choreographed by Chinni Prakash in a true nineties style with dozen of background dancers and it looks good on screen.

Overall it is a movie with a heart touching story and brilliant performances. Go and watch it to feel the nostalgia of the nineties as well as to feel the superb love story between two different peoples and fall in love with them.