Kiss & no tale

Nonika Singh

Two carefree souls; one who has just about landed in Paris  straight from Delhi, the other who is all but a naturalized citizen of France, who calls herself French  with Indian parents. They meet, sparks fly and they are ready for a romp in the bed.

Welcome to the modern day world of ‘no strings attached’ love and romance. And since this comes from the house of classic eternal romance, the Chopras, you know in the end love will triumph. 

The point is what lies in-between. Yes, there is some free-spirited fun. The way the duo constantly dares each other to do some naughty things does appear exciting to begin with and brings a smile as well. But after a while the “I dare-you dare” antics lose steam as do the much-hyped steamy scenes. And the way Aditya, the director, keeps going back and forth in time, this is present, this is one year ago, this one year after, the  lovers’ timeline tends to test your patience.

Indeed, Ranveer as Dharam Gulati is livewire and brings his infectious and palpable energy to the table. The same irrepressible spirit can be discerned in songs especially Ude dil befikre and Nashhe si chad gai. Till the first half, the film despite not offering anything new moves like a breeze. Thereafter you anticipate interesting if not exactly revelatory conflicts in their relationship. 

But oops…in walks an eligible bachelor, an investment banker so to say. He proposes marriage in the classic romantic fashion. And strangely enough, the girl who has vowed not to even utter the lines, ‘I love you’ says yes. Rest of the story we needn’t tell you. As one dialogue in the film goes… ‘and then it ends up like a bad Hindi film’. Exactly our point.

Where the film scores is that it doesn’t hold any high moral ground, no pontification over live-in is good or bad. The nonchalant way Shyra (Vani Kapoor) informs her parents that she is moving out for a live-in hook-up is perhaps exactly the way it happens in the land of young and restless. Vaani Kapoor as bindass lass is a perfect match. Though a little stiff in her demeanour, she does bring in the French flavour, the savoir faire as they say. With her sinewy sculpted body, she sure looks hot. 

As for the film’s hotness quotient, well never mind the barrage of French kisses which are unleashed right in the opening song Labon ka karrobar and all too revealing clothes, it’s not exactly oozing with erotica. All of it comes across like a matter of fact which is actually a good thing and is presented aesthetically as well. But then pleasing is the major USP of this Aditya Chopra film.

With good-looking people and equally attractive locales this rom-com is a treat for the eyes. As for the soul, well look for your fodder elsewhere. In matters of heart the only romantic line that fleetingly touches you comes too late. Love is a carefree feeling in which one should jump without analyzing too much. Fall in love at first glance or through physical chemistry … even a lust story can be a love story. 

So, if you love to find it the carefree way you may find Dharam and Shyra’s story lovely enough. Our verdict; their game of break-up and make-up is more like kiss and miss rather than kiss and make-up. More careless than carefree… at best, time pass.