The Pinkvilla Movie Review - Sanam Re

Tch Tch. It is a loveless Valentine’s at the movies and that’s a shame. We have been doing the love business since eternity. Then why in 2016 we’ve become so incapable of creating one heartfelt, blow-your-mind romantic film? We wish Sanam Re had managed to create some magic or had a couple that looked like they are genuinely in love. Contrary to that, it is a plain-jane love triangle – the average love story that has no zing and clichés you can spot from a mile. In such a scenario, Sanam Re is just a sore bore!

Childhood friends-and-prospective lovers Akash and Shruti are separated when Akash leaves for better prospects. Their love story go through the usual wishing and hoping…Ever Thine, Ever Mine, Ever Ours…The terrain is well-known to anyone who has grown up on Bollywood romances.

Director Divya Khosla Kumar’s vivid imagination could've been applauded but after watching the delectable and lush Fitoor yesterday, it is hard to call this film a spectacle. With the snow and picturesque locales, along with some soothing music, Sanam Re is a great package which cannot tell a decent story. Divya’s characters lack depth – Akash and Shruti are replicas of people you’ve seen on screen before. Take a concoction of all the Rahuls and Rajs and Rohits played by Shah Rukh Khan and Pulkit is that. He is the romantic hero who we all know inside out, the college boy you would have a crush on, the man in your office whom you can call your first love. Divya stick to playing it safe in terms of characterization. Even Yami’ Shruti is coy, demure and beautiful. We hardly went in seeking a top-notch romantic drama/comedy but dull was the last thing we expected on the menu. Oh yes, Sanam Re is dull and the chemistry not as sparkling as the tabloids speculating the romance of Yami and Pulkit claimed.

Added to this was the unfunny Bharti who kept poking fun at herself and the fat people in the world. Guys, the higher side of the scale isn't so much of a shame for starters. Bharti made a career out of her weight jokes and great moolah too…but it is time she glances through the new cover of Elle. Plus sized rocks and the shame of ‘fat’ exists only in the regressive realm.

But the unfunny jokes and the seen-it-all story isn't the problem. The problem lies in the lack of earnestness. Sanam Re never hooks you despite a decent effort from its actors. Yami Gautam is practically the best thing in the film. When she is with Pulkit, she manages to evoke a somewhat heartfelt performance from him. And Urvashi Rautela should be forbidden from acting altogether. It is blasphemy that in India we give such non-artistes the privilege to be called actors. We are a warped nation that equates good looks with acting. It is a shame that Rishi Kapoor is reducing to playing a wisely Dadaji. We frankly loved him in the trailer of Kapoor and Sons since 1921, which shows more shades of him than this movie even considers.

The predictable narrative relies on Ekta style soap-drama and the dated stereotypes. In some parts it is a moral science lesson on a woman’s character. It is comical that Badshah breaks into an unnecessary item number which features skimpily clad women with the director herself leading the pack, almost then. Divya’s focus is too much on spicing up the story than on the love story itself. The milna-bichadna and the chase between Yami and Pulkit had little scope to bloom in between item songs and regular songs and the comedy (that the film could've done without).

Divya’s judgement of stories and characters has evolved. Sanam Re is a lot more matured compared to the dismal Yaariyan. The putrid vein of thought is a lot in control. On the report card, Divya manages a better grade. At least, Sanam Re isn’t idiotic. It tries to make sense and the pairing has some freshness which doesn’t translate to fantastic. Much like Fitoor, the music is good (very different good but nevertheless, good) and the film look fabulous. But the chemistry tales was much ado about nothing.

We rate this film a 40% on Pinkvilla Movie Meter.