In many ways it is quite fitting that the ultimate marriage movie, with a plot involving non-stop shaadis on screen, should come from the Yash Chopra stable, known for its lush, syrupy romantic sagas.
Unfortunately of late YRF has been producing a succession of lame duck horses, not expected from the industry leader, but they finally get it kind of right with Band Baaja Baaraat, a fun, honestly made movie, with an engaging storyline, superb dialogue and sassy music, ably handled by debutant director, Maneesh Sharma.
Then, the lead pair of Anushka Sharma and debutante Ranveer Singh looks fresh and has an easy natural energy, which makes the film worth watching.
Band Baaja Baaraat is entirely shot in Delhi, and the director gets the flavours of the city just right. Bittu Sharma [Ranveer Singh] and Shruti Kakkar (Anushka Sharma) are studying together in college.
Ranveer comes from a rich farm owning family from Saharanpur and stays in the Kirori Mal hostel, while Anushka lives with her middle class parents in Janakpuri.
Even as the boyish Ranveer is busy goofing off in college, trying to resist going back to his orthodox family, the ambitious Anushka is dreaming of starting her own business, that of a wedding planner. When an attempt to patao her fails, a desperate Ranveer offers to be her business partner. At first Anushka refuses, saying then love-shove will start, and she believes 'vyaapar mai kabhi bhi pyaar nahin'.
Ranveer promises no love, so they start a wedding company together, Shaadi Mubarak. Slowly they organize non-stop shaadis, Ranveer buys a bike, their business increases and so does their friendship.
Eventually one drunken celebratory night, they kiss, fully and actually on screen, clap clap, and then make love, cheers. That's interval, and so far so good,
The next morning after the night before, the equation between them changes. She starts calling him 'tum' and making chai for him, which she never did before, all of which makes the macho Ranveer uncomfortable. He starts distancing himself, until they stupidly fight and divide the company.
This portion of the film is the weakest, and becomes too rushed and convenient. So then they start their individual wedding planning companies, till they are again forced together to organise a big ticket shaadi.
Finally they resolve their differences and live happily ever after. Though the film is full of non-stop shaadis, what saves the film is the smart dialogue by Habib Faisal like 'packaging phado toh andar se dus takde ladke niklenge', and crackling chemistry between Anushka and Ranveer.
The rest of the cast also does a good job, specially Neeraj Sood, and the music by Salim-Suleiman is very hummable, notably Tarkeibein and Aivi aivi lut gaya.
Finally, newcomer Ranveer Singh is a good find, necessary in these troubled times where the big heroes are charging the moon, and yet not delivering. Ranveer has an easy, natural swagger and insouciance, and an overall endearing quality.
That coupled with a muscled torso, handsome jaw and decent acting skills, surely makes him prime hero material. Anushka Sharma continues to impress again, with her bindaas brand of sassy, saucy chick who can kick ass when needed, a quality which more than makes up for her slightly unconventional looks. In the end, Band Baaja Baaraat is a shaadi worth attending.
YRF finally gets it kind of right with Band Baaja Baaraat, a fun, honestly made movie
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