HUMPTY SHARMA KI DULHANIA MOVIE REVIEW

Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania is another ‘DDLJ’ inspired Bollywood rom-com featuring a likable lead pair and a large contingent of characters, playing the family members. Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt’s chemistry is refreshing and they are both in their comfort zones playing ‘Humpty’ Rakesh and Kavya respectively. While Rakesh is a ‘happy go lucky’ Delhi lad, Kavya is an Ambala lass who comes to Delhi for her wedding shopping. Inevitably, they meet and fall in love and Rakesh has to somehow convince Kavya’s dad as her marriage day nears ever so fast.

The charming Varun Dhawan exhibits a lot of energy and looks, feels natural in such roles. He comes across as a true flirt and is at ease being around women. In the early stages of his career, you can’t expect much more from him and he is a good prospect.

The current crowd favorite, Alia Bhatt scores yet again with her range of expressions, her cutesy quotient, that sweet voice and of course her stunning  looks which would floor any male.

The ripped Ashuthosh Rana is solid as Alia’s stern father who is not as menacing as he appears to be. The other support characters are all adequate and play their little parts, particularly the quintessential friends who help the hero out and get thrashed sometimes in the process. Siddharth Shukla plays the ‘too perfect to be true’ groom who is invariably bumped off, despite his obvious qualities as nothing can stand up to the power of love, in our movies!

The DDLJ hangover in the movie is unmistakable and even deliberate. But the memorable songs that were there in DDLJ aren’t to be seen and heard here, except the melodious ‘Samjhawan’. The film has been entirely  in India and the visuals are fresh. The ‘Dilli’, ‘Punjabi’ flavor which Bollywood loves so much, is all over ‘Humpty’ too.

Coming from Karan Johar’s banner, ‘Humpty Sharma’, directed by first timer Shashank Khaitan, is a feel-good outing which is in line with the noted director’s brand of movies. There is nothing new on offer and the film rides on its lead pair and safely lasts the complete distance despite speed breakers and moments of tedium along the way. Time-pass!

Review by : Behindwoods Review Board

RAMANUJAN MOVIE REVIEW

The life of Mathematical wizard Srinivasa Ramanujan is not known to many and Gnana Rajasekaran who has a directorial repertoire in the form of Mogamul, Bharathi and Periyar, attempts to throw light on this extraordinary genius’s accomplishments, which remains largely unsung, through his biopic Ramanujan.

The film opens with “Ramanujan, the man who saw tomorrow’s Math yesterday” and closes with the details of his axioms which are being used widely in contemporary technological advancements and also in everyday life. The Math prodigy was much ahead of his times but sadly was not well recognized during his period which the director showcases in an unambiguous form.

Rajasekaran chronicles the events in Ramanujan’s life in a linear fashion starting from his Kumbakonam days where the young Ramanujan questions his Math teacher and later tutors people who are much older than him and then goes to his Cambridge times and finally comes to his last days.

Detailing is one of the highlights of the film and Rajasekaran has to be appreciated for demonstrating the period feel well. The role of Professor Hardy in bringing out Ramanujan’s talents to the fore and his undying faith on the genius are well communicated. The scene when Hardy explains about respecting Ramanujan’s religious beliefs to Abbas, sensibly balances Science and faith systems. The way in which he frees Ramanujan from the British police is quite endearing.

Ramesh Vinayagam’s music is mellifluous and none of the tracks are a forced entry. Thuli Thuliyai is a well picturized number. Sunny Joseph’s camera travels unobtrusively and captures the terrains of Kumbakonam and Cambridge in a very effective manner.

Humor is sprinkled here and there in occasional scenes and the monochrome nature of the proceedings are transformed with the arrival of Bama and the frames involving her and Abhinay come as refreshing whiff of air.

Abhinay Vaddi, grandson of the legendary Gemini Ganesan and Savitri, in the titular role, appears tall and good but has to loosen a bit in the emoting sectors. Suhasini plays Komalathammal, the omniscient mother of Ramanujan who makes all his decisions while Nizhalgal Ravi is his dad. There is a plethora of supporting cast in the form of Sarath Babu, Delhi Ganesh, Y Gee Mahendra, Mano Bala, Abbas, Kiity Krishnamurthy to name a few. However it is Bama who plays Ramanujan’s wife who steals the show with her expressive eyes, beautiful countenance and understood performance. She sure is a good talent to watch out for!

On the downside, the film’s narration is snail paced, with the biggest drawback being lack of any inspiring sequences usually associated and expected from biopics. Documentary feel does come through in many sequences where artists give the impression of acting out in a stage play. It is a good idea to make the English actors speak in Tamil although it sounds a little odd initially. Also, the dubbing artists who have lent their voices to English actors sound very very native with English dialogues.

In all, Rajasekaran should be credited for showcasing the life, tribulations and accomplishments of an unsung Math genius on the silver screen thereby making the legend be known to a wider audience.

Review by : Behindwoods Review Board