Rating: 3.5/5
Do Aur Do Pyaar is a romantic comedy film starring Vidya Balan, Pratik Gandhi, Ileana D’Cruz and Sendhil Ramamurthy. Directed by Shirsha Guha Thakurta, the movie marks her directorial debut and is an adaptation of The Lovers. A feel-good film after a long time, there’s so much warmth that the movie provides while also giving you ample laughter.
I watched the movie at a screening last night, and here’s my honest review.
A feel-good plot with many heartfelt moments
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The movie begins with a quote by Groucho Marx that says, “Marriage is an institution and who wants to live in an institution.” As one would expect, it gets quite a laugh. Moving on, it is well established in the very beginning that the story is about an estranged couple in their late 30s, and both of them are having an affair. However, one trip to Ooty, changes things and well, that’s a restart of a love story that started 15 years ago.
Everything from here on is funny in parts but also poetic because that’s how the movie portrays life’s many complexities when it comes to love. Vidya Balan’s Kavya and Pratik Gandhi’s Ani are characters that you relate to in parts, but also feel bad for, and at the same time, you want them to remember of the love that existed, of how all they need to do is talk, and that could solve half their problems.
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From a rather complicated relationship that Kavya has with her father to Ani losing his, there’s also one arc of the story that kind of comes to a circle in its own sweet way. Kavya’s boyfriend Vikram (Sendhil), at one point, talks poetically about how brushing together is something that’s intimate in a way like nothing else. And then, there’s a scene where we see Ani and Kavya comfortably brushing together, and it’s kind of in that moment, that I knew that their love story is not going to end just like that. However, thanks to Vikram and Ileana Dcruz’ Nora, it’s not going to be very easy to rekindle.
What works for ‘Do Aur Do Pyaar’
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Honestly, the beauty of Do Aur Do Pyaar lies in the simplicity of it all, even though it’s so complicated. There’s this bit in the movie where Ani and Kavya are dancing a choreography from years ago and yet, their chemistry proves that they aren’t done just yet. Everything that follows is chaotic but fun!
Something that’s also a big plus for the movie are the songs, thanks to Lucky Ali, Vishal Dadlani, among others, because they’ve done a fab job. In the end, it was truly the song that kind of added an extra emotional appeal to the scene and it’s done very well.
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The build-up to the climax is a rather interesting watch because there’s so much that’s happening and you almost know where’s this going but you don’t completely know since you can never be sure. And well, that’s exactly what the movie is about – you can never be too sure when it comes to love, but you just take a chance.
Another highlight of the movie is the interval block because that’s where things get interesting and honestly, it never stopped being like that.
A special mention to writers Suprotim Sengupta, Amrita Bagchi, and Eisha Chopra for beautifully putting this together because its near perfect execution wouldn’t have happened otherwise.
No better fit than Vidya Balan and Pratik Gandhi
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That’s the thing about not stereotyping actors, you never know what they can do on screen if given a chance. Vidya Balan as Kavya is someone who makes you absolutely adore her, because while you understand her need for love (daddy issues), you try to find a rationale behind her doings. However, right from the scenes where she’s angry about life and love to the confrontation scene where she asks ‘what’s wrong with stainless steel’ (it was serious but it did garner sweet laughs), she’s done a fabulous job at portraying Kavya. It’s almost like she breathes life into her characters like no one else.
Pratik Gandhi as Ani is literally a ‘cutu’, however, there are moments where you absolutely hate him because you feel like he could have done better. Nonetheless, he redeems himself towards the end and that’s when things actually start falling into place (or so we think). He’s aced his emotional scenes but he’s also managed to pull off one-liners and punches with so much ease that it’s lovely.
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You do hate Ileana Dcruz and Sendhil for that one ‘red flag’ thing they do, but once again, you do try to find the rationale behind it because maybe, it’s just coming out of love and insecurity. And well, like I started in the beginning, that’s the thing about not stereotyping actors, you get to see the kind of range that’s rather not very common.
The downside to ‘Do Aur Do Pyaar’
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There’s a brief period post the interval and in between that big fight between Kavya and Ani that didn’t really strike a chord with me. There’s this bit where the couple decide to confront each other and while it’s obviously how the story goes and is something needed as per the script, something was missing. However, it’s no biggie given how the rest of the movie pans out beautifully!
Our verdict
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With phenomenal performances and a story about love, laughter and beyond, Do Aur Do Pyaarturns out to be one of the most heartfelt movies I’ve seen in a while. Many might have opposing ideas on the ending and the execution of two people being ‘confused’ and in ‘love’, it’s actually only a portrayal of things that happen. The movie turns out to be relatable, hearty, and one that’s humorous in parts!
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