Rocky aur Raani kii Prem Kahani

​"Rocky aur Raani kii Prem Kahani (रॅाकी और रानी की प्रेम कहानी)"

Watched Hindi movie "Rocky aur Raani kii Prem Kahani (रॅाकी और रानी की प्रेम कहानी)". 

This film is directed by Karan Johar. Written by Ishita Moitra and others. Produced by Hiroo Yash Johar and others. Cinematography by Manush Nandan. Music by Pritam. The film stars Alia Bhat, Ranveer Singh, Dharmendra, Shabana Azmi, Jaya Bacchan, Aamir Bashir, Kshiti Jog, Anjali Anand, Tota Roy Chowdhuri, Churni Ganguly. The film runs for about 2 hour 48 minutes and was released in 2023. I watched it on Amazon Prime on 1st Oct 2023 with Aditi. 

Jaya is a successful business woman, owner of Dhanlakshmi laddus. Her husband, Dharmendra, was a poet but has lost his memory and is wheelchair bound. Jaya doesn’t pay attention to him and teaches her son the same. Her daughter-in-law and grand daughter have no importance in the house. Ranveer is her grandson, loud, not much educated but good at heart. Ranveer uncovers that Alia’s grandmother and his grandfather were once sweethearts. He and Alia set to reunite them and in the course hook-up.

The movie is about differences. Rocky’s family that doesn’t value women, except Jaya. Rani’s  family that gives equal importance to male and female. A not very educated family in business Vs educated family in literature and art. Loud happy go lucky Rocky Vs beautiful, mannered, responsible Rani. Punjabi Vs Bengali. It’s about how the differences don’t matter in love.

Alia plays Rani. She looks delicious. This movie presents her beauty in sensuous Sarees. Yes, she wears a Saree in the entire movie. She’s a good actor, so it’s the best combination. If I had to cast someone else, I would cast avidya Balan, when she was young. Ranveer plays the loud Punjabi very well. The gaudy shirts, the hairstyle and his acting make the character lively. Dharmendra plays cameo and kisses Shabana on screen first time in his life. Kshiti Jog has got a good breakthrough and delivers a notable performance. Shabana’s performance is not up to her standard. Aamir is one dimensional. Others support well. Jaya in the role of Dhanlakshmi is a casting disaster. Jaya is a good actor but she absolutely doesn’t suit in the role. Neena Gupta or Rekha would have been better choices. 

Story is not bad. The idea of staying in each other’s house and trying to win the future in-laws is not new. Direction is good but it’s not a typical Karan Johar film.

The movie paints Punjabis and Bengalis with broad brush strokes. Punjabis are painted as loud, semi educated, uncultured. Bengalis are painted as forward thinking, cultured and educated. This is quite monochromatic. As a result this movie appears shallow rather than profound.

Positives: Alia, Ranveer.

Negatives: Not profound.

OK as one time watch, but not worth a super hit that it became.