A contemporary-day romance between consenting adults at cross functions? A Bollywood film with the braveness to embrace no-holds-barred physicality? Finally, a movie that takes mature viewers severely. Can something be higher? Gehraiyaan raises our expectations however stops effectively in need of delivering.
First issues first. The truth of Deepika Padukone’s main woman Alisha aka Al being a lady in her personal proper, who works for a residing, and who bears the scars of her previous, is one thing to be celebrated. Her relationship along with her regular Karan (Dharya Karwa), a wannabe author tapping away aridly at his pc, see-saws between outdated likes and irritations. On a weekend getaway with Al’s rich cousin Tia (Ananya Pandey) and her busy-making-millions-in-real property loverboy Zain (Siddhant Chaturvedi), issues begin shifting, and all of it turns into a breathless kaleidoscope of lust and betrayal.
The movie scores on exhibiting us simply how rapidly issues change, and the way one little lie can result in a cascade of untruths. The stunning intimacy created by a textual content, precise names being saved beneath different names, the fixed undercurrent of connecting with a 3rd particular person whereas pretending to be couple. We all understand how these items escalate and the way porous even seemingly sturdy boundaries are, and the way they’ll change into the numerous elephants within the room that nobody needs to the touch upon.
This foursome ought to have been a throbbing scorching mess, feelings spilling out from tightly-reined-in histories, searing us. Director Shakun Batra proved himself adept at mining painful complexities in ‘Kapoor & Sons’. ‘Gehraiyaan’ doesn’t dig deep sufficient; it’s too designed and uneven. The tangle of scantily clad our bodies in mattress, the electrical energy between two individuals who can’t preserve their arms off one another: we see all of it, we don’t really feel sufficient of it.
There’s at all times some pleasure available by taking a look at such handsome folks, so manicured and put collectively. The divine Deepika’s messy updo isn’t like several of us placing up our hair carelessly: she appears styled even when she’s in items. The similar will be mentioned of the others (Siddhant, Ananya, Dhairya), in addition to of Rajat Kapoor who exhibits up as Zain’s enterprise affiliate: natty-on-yatches, verify, informal seashore put on, verify, boardroom apparel, verify. Not even essentially the most hard-nosed wardrobe Nazi can object to the tasteful garments, and the array of beautiful, toned our bodies. Everyone makes use of the f phrase liberally, sprinkling it of their dialog. It’s all very swish however floor: you might want to carry off the display from amidst the gorgeous surroundings.
The solely particular person on this ensemble who’s appropriately rumpled and feels actual is Naseeruddin Shah, as Al’s distant father. When they’re collectively, the movie manages to breathe a little bit, and reaches out to us.
Gehraiyaan film solid: Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday, Dhairya Karwa, Rajat Kapoor, Naseeruddin ShahGehraiyaan film director: Shakun BatraGehraiyaan film score: 2 stars
