As an ardent fan of Bollywood's golden era, I eagerly awaited the release of "Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani," hoping to relive the old nostalgic flavors that once graced the silver screen. While the film did succeed in bringing back some of that magic, it fell short of fully capturing the essence of classics like "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham." Despite this, it remains a one-time watch for me. Here is my review of the movie Rocky aur Rani ki prem kahaani, a nostalgic attempt with missed flavors
The movie commences with the introduction of Rocky's family, and while the portrayal of major characters is well-executed, it does feel somewhat clichéd. Ranveer Singh's performance during the introduction song as Rocky appeared slightly disconnected from the world of the Randhawas, his affluent family background. He seemed more like a "roadside Romeo" from Chandni Chowk, and this abrupt characterization left me questioning its coherence.
Karan Johar directorial gains momentum when Rocky learns that his paralyzed grandfather, Kanwal Lund, miraculously regains his ability to speak after being reminded of his old love, Jamini, through poetry at an event. Rocky and his friend embark on a search for Jamini, and their quick success in finding her through a simple Google search feels too hasty and unrealistic.
Enter Rani Chatterji, a modern Bengali news anchor and Jamini's granddaughter, portrayed beautifully by Alia Bhatt. The Chatterji family is thoughtfully written, with well-crafted character sketches. However, Rani's initial flirtation with Rocky during their first meeting at her office felt out of place and not aligned with her character.
As the story progresses, Rocky and Rani fall in love while attempting to unite their grandparents, leading them to switch families temporarily to understand each other's backgrounds better. Unfortunately, this shift causes the once beautiful track of Kanwal and Jamini's love story to fade into the background.
The movie's pace remains slow and dull until the interval, but it picks up speed afterwards as the characters uncover the layers of their respective switched families, discovering secrets, flaws, and hierarchies. Rani's family showcases a modern-day household, with her father being a kathak dancer and her mother a professor. In contrast, Rocky's family follows traditional patriarchal values, with his grandmother, Dhanalakshmi Randhawa, assuming the role of the dominant figure. The interactions between Dhanalakshmi and Rani are intriguing, given their contrasting yet ambitious personalities.
Although it resembles a daily soap, post-interval, the film becomes more captivating. Memorable moments include Ranveer Singh's impressive kathak performance alongside Rani's father and his rendition of a Bengali song. Despite these efforts, Rani's character lacks a compelling arc until the climax, when she apologizes to Rocky's father.
Despite the beautiful performances and moments of brilliance, one aspect that hampers the overall experience of "Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani" is its lengthy runtime of 168 minutes. The extended duration becomes challenging, especially with the film's slow pacing during the first half. While the story gains momentum post-interval, the excessive runtime can make the movie feel dragging at times, affecting the overall engagement of the audience. A more concise editing approach could have alleviated this issue and made the film more seamless and enjoyable.
Undoubtedly, the film boasts exceptional performances, but it falls short of capturing the iconic Bollywood flavours present in classics like "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham." The movie seemingly attempts to evoke the quintessential masala Bollywood experience but fails to deliver it fully. For future productions, it's essential to prioritize a compelling story alongside the customary Bollywood elements like chiffon sarees, jhumkas, and bindis. While "Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani" has its moments, it remains a high-budget remake of "Two States" without achieving true Bollywood greatness.
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