Laapataa Ladies ...

 

    Watching a movie in the theatre has its own charm. There are those movies that are just made for a big screen - action, amazing landscapes, animation, time-pass comedies(only when the company is made up of giggly girlfriends) - I have enjoyed all of these a few more. 

    Today I saw a different one - one I usually wouldn't have spared the time to see in the big screen, but I have never been wrong! Laapataa Ladies! What a gem of a movie! I was so disappointed to see such less crowds - that too on a Sunday afternoon 😕 .. We live in strange times, when movies like Jawan, Pathan drag in crowds in troves when they are so hollow and a rich jewel like this one, has just a handful of folks. 

    Salute to each and every one who was part of this film, starting with Kiran Rao to Ram Sampath to every single actor - who has lived the movie, not acted. Not for a single moment you will feel that somebody is playing a part. It is just not a story, but the harsh reality of what happens in our world. We might as well be in 2024, but every single scene is still true in most parts of our country. 

    It is so heart-warming to see the innocence of Deepak and Phool's 'love' story in this world where love is often portrayed as mindless yet well-choreographed dances between a scantily dressed heroine and a hero equally missing parts of his attire, surrounded by writhing bodies trying to match their steps ; or unnecessarily introduced yuck inducing kissing scenes. Arijit Singh's 'O Sajni Re..' haunting plays in the background to induce just enough emotion but not bore you in having to watch 3 and half minutes of unnecessary scenes - like running around bushes / transporting to a foreign location at a whim. 

    The characters are so realistic and endearing. Each dialogue nailing the truth of our society. Be it - the various ones around the Ghoonghat, about women not realising their potential (dialogues between Pushpa and Deepak's sis-in-law), the pride in which Pradeep's mom boasts about the dowry they got, the one where Deepak's mom resigns to the fact that her likes dont matter once she got married. The scene with the Mantri on the stage - how he uses Deepak's situation to his advantage without even caring for his name - Deepak ki Jyothi ko doond nikalenge hum! Each one hits the target at a 10! 

    Ravi Kishen brings in a fresh breath of humour without having to sound or look artificial. You just have to look at him and you would burst out in laughter. But he is a superhero in the finale - we even clapped at that scene! Sparsh as Deepak is so natural - confused and totally helpless at unable to find out where he 'lost' his wife. Nitanshi (yes i looked up on google) as Phool is as fresh as her name, sweet as her voice learning about the real world from "daadi" yet with conviction that her husband would come for her. Pratibha as Pushpa(Jaya) ends up being the protagonist of the tale - while she uses the 'lost' opportunity to work for her, she is not without emotions - she bonds with her new family and stops back to do a good deed for Deepak. 

    The whole album has only 4 songs and what wonderful lyrics - very apt to the scene in which they play - which enhances the story telling to a higher notch. As the movie ends, you leave the theatre with tears of happiness in your eyes, feeling everything is right in the world, having witnessed the victory of the suppressed and the happiness of everything fitted right in the small world of Deepak.

    Usually i come back from a movie , exhausted either because there was too much sound, or I was too focussed on the over the top action scenes or animation - but I came out feeling quite 'Fresh' after watching this real jewel. 

    People go out - watch this movie in the theatre - give the credit to the movie that deserves it! It is a pity - the world where we live in - where such movies are not given the greatest status they deserve. 

    Thanks Kiran Rao for giving us a wonderful film!