# Dhadak – Beats well!!!

The city of lakes sinks you in the love story that beats raising the pulse each minute when the love blossoms. Director Shashank Khaitan does quite a justice to the Marathi remake “Sairaat” and gives story a wider audience as a Hindi feature film.

Jhanvi Kapoor plays Parthavi and Ishan plays Madhu they both together steal the show as the film relies purely on their chemistry and that evolves flawlessly.

Love story is simple, there is nothing new that you may not have come across. A rich girl, an influential father, a poor boy, a bit of eve-teasing and the cupid strikes. Family plays villain in the story and love birds get heroic and they see nothing but love. Some end happily and some don’t; some bore you out to the core and some don’t. Dhadak falls in the latter category. It differs for Madhu and Parthavi; their journey in their love story. The Udaipur landscape that blossoms their love gives you a picture perfect experience. Cinematography may not be as splendid as a Sanjay Leela Bhansali film but the scenic beauty of the “city of lakes” stands for itself giving you quite an authentic feel of Udaipur. Music is decent and goes well with the film; though not as strong as the love story should hold but it definitely syncs you in the right mood.

The rest of the cast is just a passing phase; even Ashutosh Rana’s character is not well crafted or anybody else’s for that matter. This is somewhere you feel a strong casting could have helped making Dhadak a richer experience. Be it their families, the pals, the opposition, mostly first timers and doesn’t really add much value. Kharaj Mukherjee gives you a bit of relief with his presence in the second half; his sheer presence makes you feel you are in Kolkata.

And this is how Dhadak purely rides on Jhanvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khattar and they do justice to their roles bringing you a story that leaves your Dhadak still.

Jhanvi Kapoor has it in her genes; her confidence is at par, screen presence brilliant, her performance comes as smooth as of any vintage performance. Her beautiful eyes emote and the sparkle in her eyes does remind you of Sridevi. Parthavi very much belongs to her and her screen presence only echoes the kind of hard work she had put-in to make Parthavi stand-out.

Ishan Khattar is definitely getting beyond the clouds. He continues to showcase his talent brilliantly in his second outing as well. The younger generation is not taking their genes for granted and are putting their best foot forward. Hard work reflects and silver screen shines; they both together give you a feel of fresh love; that is innocent, vulnerable, brave and yet fragile.

For those who have seen Sairaat, they will know what is coming, since the film is an adaptation. For those who haven’t seen Sairaat may know what is coming but How is something that numbs your Dhadak. Execution matters and Shashank Khaitan leaves a mark with his version of climax without altering much of the narrative.

Dhadak beats well.

Verdict: Silver Plus 3.5*s

Judging is easy understanding difficult. Rajkumar Hirani clears the air rising the love for Baba at another level altogether. Ranbir Kapoor plays the skin but Junior Dutt is the soul so integrated that you stay deep into the story with Sanju Baba and there is so much behind the actor than what we know. The film comes as an open book; out and out entertainer with the right doze of entertainment and information. The journey makes you cry and laugh together at so many times and Goosebumps most of the times.

Friends play very important role in everyone’s life. One wrong friend may make your life hell to the core and this is where the Dutt lost himself in his life; making a path for painful journey ahead yet incredible. The wrong friends can ruin your life and the right ones can elevate your life where sky is the limit.

Jim Sarabh and Vicky Kaushal play these friends and Vicky Kaushal is heart of the film. He is in fact the Heroine of the film, where no heroine gets the screen presence he is the one who has a maxim screen presence along with Sanju bringing in the best and brilliant camaraderie. Together they make you laugh and cry. Not once, you feel you have Ranbir Kapoor playing Sanju; he is in the skin of the Dutt. Watching him perform is being in trance.

The film from frame one is hilarious with the right amount of humor backed up with a strong story giving you prominent insights of the events that shaped up Dutt the way Dutt is. Right from his drug days to the days of terror Mumbai faced and his under-layered connections that you crave to know. The writers here have done an outstanding job unveiling the story making it an interesting watch.The film is top-lined with brilliant actors Anushka Sharma, Sonam Kapoor, Dia Mirza, Boman Irani, Manisha Koirala making it quite a multi-starrer. Each one plays a role less on length but high on intensity in the journey of Sanju. Paresh Rawal and Vicky Kaushal are the soul of Sanju. Their sensibilities of the father-son duo or the bond of friendship they share with Sanju is full of soul.

The opening song shoot of his career “Kya yahi pyar hai” of Rocky is fun to watch. Rajkumar Hirani is at his best. So is Ranbir Kapoor and A.R Rahman. Sanju is one of his best work off-late. The lip-sync “Main Badiya Tu bhi Badhiya” song is the first effect of the drug encounter. Ruby Ruby will take you to trance. Sukhvinder Singh’s Kar Har Maidan Fateh is the Sanju Anthem – the appearance of the song gives you goose-bump experience. These songs belong to the film Sanju; however, there are ustad songs that actually worked. Music indeed does play a key role in healing one’s soul.

Ranbir Kapoor plays Sanju at a level where you step out of the film with more of Sanjay Dutt and less of Ranbir Kapoor. That’s the charisma of cinematic art. Ranbir Kapoor and RajKumar Hirani cheers to you and take a bow for bringing in this story.

The film ends with the slapstick song on media where the real and reel Sanju come together to entertain you. Sanju – An entertainer, an eye opener. One man may lives.

Two personalities one soul – Sanju -The SuperNayak.

Verdict: Platinum*****

India!!! Ahaa!!! is what the director leaves you at the end making you feel a Proud Indian you head out of the movie with your Head up with pride. Abhishek Verma gives us a reason to rejoice the Indianism within us.

The film is inspired by the true events. It carries some historical bytes from the past authenticating the proceedings of the film helping you see the journey of India becoming the proud Nuclear State it is; along with the challenges it faced in becoming one.

The first half is a bit loosened up it is the second half that succeeds to engage you and keeps you hooked with lot of interest and when you near the historical date; the director brings in the wow factor. This is John Abraham’s best performance in the recent times after Madras Café. He delivers and makes Parmanu worth the watch.

His team of Pandavas has a decent ensemble cast where everybody does their part well but it is there teamwork that shines out bright making Parmanu an enriching experience.

Not many of us know India celebrates 11^th May as National Technology Day; these are some of the facts the films bring in; making you feel Proud. Indians fooled Americans and achieved the much awaited goal back then and hence the day is celebrated as the National Technology Day. The execution of the film to the Tth day is brilliant. If you are in the right theater the sound will give you the right impact of the Nuclear blast with its shattering sound. This is what makes Parmanu a Big Screen must experience.

The film of course has some loose ends and unnecessary emotional drama outside the patriotic zone on the personal life to buy some screen time which wasn’t required much but everything is overshadowed with the Proud Moment the film gives towards the end making Parmanu a must watch and bringing in a Proud Moment yet again in millions of hearts.

Parmanu – Go live the Proud Moment.

Verdict: Gold***