Film Review : Dum Laga Ke Haisha

Film:- Dum Laga Ke Haisha

Genre:- Romantic Comedy

Cast:- Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar, Kumar Sanu

Director:- Sharat Katariya

Face value is a much abused term in our films and through it stretches into our lives. Our mainstream films have given us such rigid definitions of beauty and the shapes that it comes in that often we end up judging the book by its cover. And Yash Raj Films is often the culprit in creating these chiffon thick definitions.

This week the banner breaks the stereotypes and says “LOVE COMES IN ALL SIZES”. Dum Laga Ke Haisha is the newly released film produced by Ysah Raj Films and it sets an example of what a mainstream Bollywood film can achieve when it lends its action to an out-of-the-box idea executed by the director.

This film is one of old-world romance, set in an era of 1990s which we often mock at as over the top in pop culture, the director brings out the nuances of the period and takes us to the holy towns of Haridwar and Rishikesh to celebrate ordinariness. 

Here Ayushman plays the lead role as Prem,  who is a high school fail boy who runs a music recording shop, is forced to get married to a plump Sandhya in group marriage. Bhumi plays as Sandhya who is overweight but unlike Prem she is educated and talented. In her, Prem’s father sees a bahu who could help improve the family’s economic condition. But Prem can’t look beyond the size. Add to it Sandhya’s brimming self esteem and their relationship hits a rough path even before it gets started.

Dum laga ke haisha is crafted with a string of wonderfully well-written scenes that flow seamlessly into each other. It plays primarily with emotions. It tells a slice-of-life love story that is exceptionally unconventional, and not simple because of the heroine’s body type. The film itself is of the sort that delights in humanity, a trait deeply embedded in its core.  It is a fond tribute to Hindi film music of the 1990’s – the retro feel is enhanced by Anu Malik’s compositions.

The detailing is delightful. Be it the sound of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi rendering “Mile Sur Mera Tumhara” or the use of Kumar Sanu songs to create the atmosphere of the 90s, Katariya has filled the ambience with many little gems that you won’t forget in a while. Kataria creates believable scenarios and gives us flesh-and-blood characters that never feel less than real. Prem is cruel to his wife; he's embarrassed to be seen with her in public, and insists that by marrying her he's ruined his life.

Sandhya, refreshingly, is unapologetic about her weight, mostly confident in her own skin, and she knows how to give it right back. There are other characters too: screaming fathers, pushy mothers, opinionated aunts, and assorted friends and relatives that pop up regularly and weigh in on the 'samasya'.

The script gives each of them a reason to be there, mining laughs from unexpected places. It's the relationship between the protagonists however, and how that eventually changes, that is at the heart of this film. Kataria's script puts them through their paces, never rushing towards a contrived, convenient resolution. Ayushmann and Bhumi have charming chemistry, and each delivers heartfelt performances that ring true.

It is one the most relatable and grounded films from Yash Raj banner in the last few years which never resorts to crowd pleasing tricks after taking a detour from big city “Dhoom” to the seemingly drab routines of small town India. There are no grand designs, no mawkish emotions and yet it is deliciously entertaining.

Dum Laga Ke Haisha takes us into its world with well-etched characters, beautiful cinematography, perfectly detailed production design, and a host of fine actors - including Sanjay Mishra, Seema Pahwa, and Sheeba Chadda - who add to the film's authenticity. Music plays an important role too, as highlighted in one lovely scene where Prem and Sandhya switch between popular Hindi film numbers on the transistor to convey their respective moods.

Simple and breezy, while at the same time evocative of life in small-town India. Dum Laga Ke Haisha cleaves to the romantic message of Hindi movie songs from 20 years ago: true love is hard, cruel and demanding, but it can move mountains and make a full-scale hero out of a size zero. It is different and it will make you smile and you really shouldn't miss.

Diya Das

Msc.Media || PG:1