Raanjhana, hua mai tera!

There were at least two moments in the movie where I had goosebumps. Without giving away any spoiler, the commonality in those two moments was the combination of a terrific performance heralded to another level by a soundtrack that speaks for the film. Needless to say, a lot of  credit goes to the makers - the director and the writers for creating such moment(s). 

Raanjhana is pushed from good to great because of the acting, writing and music. In what is a complete relief, the characters don't fall prey to Bollywood climax identity crisis which I held as a tragic weakness of yeh jawani..

Here are it's merits in random order: 

The performance of the protagonist- Dhanush, after Ranveer Singh, is a great example that Bollywood does once in a while, look beyond looks and give rank outsiders so much as a "chance". To dhanush's favor is his body of work, kolaveri fame (and of course the rajnikant connection). But unlike Ranveer, Dhanush can boast of no six pack. No dimples. No color. In an industry that has broken looks into measured checklist of abs, dimples, height and weight, it is shocking that someone like Dhanush even got a break. So what does Dhanush have? Simple - Talent. 

He brings to Bollywood what is the essence of successful commercial Tamil cinema - a heroic performance. He embraces the character so well that Kundan makes you laugh, smile, gasp in shock, stunned in disbelief with effortless ease. He exceeds superlative in playing the simpleton who is playful, sometimes stupid, but always, unashamedly, in love. 

He emotes so well that even ordinary dialogues would've been enough for him to nail his expressions.  But Dhanush is handed a script so taut and dialogues so apt that the concoction hits you like a tequila shot. Or a banarasi paan, eh? 

And those witty lines come handy for the able supporting cast. First with tanu weds manu n now raanjhana, the director impresses in creating an ensemble cast that win your heart with their honesty and perspective.  Swara Bhaskar, in particular, deserves a pat on her back to bringing bindiya to life on screen. She is a sweetheart and your heart will go out for her flirting, seduction and yearning alike. 

The writing is a winner. The second half is arguably over-written and seems to unnecessarily elaborate the many sub plots, but as it turns out, it is those details that makes the climax kind-of believable. Albeit, the connections in the plot rely on the  (in)famous Bollywood creative liberty - read "don't ask too many whys". 

In general, the movie is fast paced and the predictable twists and turns in the first half make way for some surprising action in the second half. The end in particular has expert writing finesse that steers the movie clear of an otherwise ordinary end. It helps that the director brought to table an editor and cinematographer who make the screenplay look crisp n beautiful. 

The music - Rahman at his best. Here's an artist with a fresh canvas, colors and imagination who has set off on a colorful journey. Rahman fills every corner of the celluloid canvas with Rich detail. He weaves magic with the tracks, the bgm and even moments of silence. In perhaps a first for bollywood, the movie ends with "music by a r Rahman" instead of "directed by Rai" - respect well deserved. With aise na dekho, he sparks the old debate whether he keeps the best song of the film for his voice or it becomes the best song since he gave it his voice. 

If I must find another flaw in the film, it is the in the leading lady. Even if sonam delivers the performance of her life so far, she doesn't do enough justice to layered character of zoya. Amid sparks of brilliance, she is mostly average and sometimes simply off mark. Chin up gal, it didn't help that you were paired opposite a star who is just too natural. sympathies there. 

So while the first half is predictable, and the second half is a slight information overdose, it still works, because here is a director who knew what he was working with and placed enough punches, enough music, enough Dhanush, to make it a fun watch. 

I will give 4 stars. It's not to miss and well worth your movie ticket n pop corn.