Rating: ***
When its the sound of Dhat Teri Ki that continues to play in your mind long after the end credits have rolled for Gori Tere Pyaar Mein, you do realise that these were perhaps some of the best moments from this Punit Malhotra directed film. Call it a comfort zone that the director and his lead actor Imran Khan enjoyed in the film or the film's screenplay that that kept the narrative moving but the fact remains that it is a crackling first half of Gori Tere Pyaar Mein which is simply irresistible. How one wishes that the second half too was as much fun but then an overdose of drama ends up diluting the romcom quotient of the film.
Imran Khan plays 'Shallo Sriram', and rightly so, as he is someone who doesn't go or think beyond himself. Well, he has his own reason, what with the motto of Jiyo aur jeeno do looming large. Rather than making things complicated by thinking of happiness of others, he first wants to make himself happy. Fair enough, but then the problem is that he is a hero just for himself, and no one else. So while his idealist girlfriend (Kareena Kapoor) wonders what really made her fall in love with him, his to-be-wife (Shraddha Kapoor) has a similar expression on her face plastered for most part of her screen presence.
It all ties down towards the interval point though and one sees multiple layers behind the personalities on screens. Well, as it turns out, they are not as 'emotion less as they seem' - in their own words - and actually do care about each other's feelings. However, at the point where most films end, Punit Malhotra gets adventurous, and rightly so, by flashing the interval card at this point.
However, and this is where one feels that the proceedings could have been further frothy, while the idea behind this adventure is interesting, the adventure by itself isn't. The entire second half of the film, which is set in a poor village, is set on a single track of building a bridge and while this is pretty much established as a metaphor behind the couple bridging their distance, you can't help but draw references to Swades. In fact the makers were quick to realise that as well and hence references to Ashutosh Gowariker's other film Lagaan is made more than once.
Thankfully, even though dramatics take over the proceedings here, things do not turn dreary since with Anupam Kher appearing as the villain of the piece, there are some light hearted elements thrown in as well. While that is fine, what isn't really fine is the song Chingum Chabaake that comes out of nowhere and is seemingly there just because the second half of the film required a catchy dance number. One can't blame the makers for that because after three back to back entertaining songs in the first half (Dhat Teri Ki, Tooh and Dil Duffer), need of the hour was to make it all balanced.
This doesn't turn out to be the case though, not just for the songs in particular but also the film as a whole, where one hunts for a balanced approach towards storytelling. So while first half passes off as a breeze, the second half makes one check time on more than just a couple of occasions. With the single track of an under-construction bridge being the focal element here, one ends up missing the quintessential romcom element that was a good driving factor of the first half.
Nevertheless, what is heartening is to see Imran Khan doing well in a 'zone' where he has almost always done well. He is pretty much in a free flow form here and his expressions are indeed a delight. Ditto for Kareena Kapoor who does play an older character than Imran and brings to fore a variety of emotions on display. Shraddha turns out to be a surprise package though and in every scene, she shows a gradual rise in confidence, screen presence and overall likeability. Anupam Kher is fun whenever he is around. Esha Gupta sizzles and teases in Dhat Teri Ki and how one wishes there was more of her. Vineet Kumar is hardly there though!
Eventually Gori Tere Pyaar Mein turns out to be a decent affair though which does make for a family watch but also leaves you with a desire for a lot more that could have been offered on the platter. It is not shallow but then is not sumptuous either.
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