In high spirit(s)

Nonika Singh

Mohabaat kis chidiya ka naam hai...and finally we have a movie that decodes love in a heartfelt manner with a supernatural angle in tow. The marketing campaigns have already spilled the beans and given away 

that Anushkha Sharma plays a ghost in the film. That this beautiful ghost Shashi has a love tale behind her is also known to most movie buffs by now. 

Yet, the plot that intersects two different time periods rather seamlessly has many refreshing and delightful moments in store. The first part is full on comic quotient. As the ghost, herself a bride-in-waiting, makes her presence felt in the life of a soon-to-be married youth Kannan (Suraj Sharma), the 

situational comedy replete with some pungent one-liners brings the house down. A Punjabi wedding is invariably a perfect setting for some mirth and merry making, but rarely is the tenor so delectable and 

delightful. Yes, the film perpetuates certain stereotypes or rather dittoes the new clichés associated with Punjabis. Post Vicky Donor, a matriarch sipping her whiskey is all but a new norm. Add to it a bunch of boisterous Punjabis who too love their drink and a Punjabi family is complete. But lest 

Punjabis take offence, let it be reminded that the film takes you to erstwhile Punjab, of music and words, of literary forays and toombi, of phulkari and simplicity and of course timeless love ballads. 

And if words live through corridors of time, so does love. Though the exact period to which the narrative takes us back time and again is revealed only in the finale, the recreation of the period look with Diljit Dosanjh’s killer looks in place is one major plus. In its inimitable way, if the plot 

gives a fresh twist to the love legend Mirza Sahiban and other such tales of unrequited love, Diljit and Anushka add to the ethereal timelessness of love. Anushka has proved her mettle more than once in film after film. Here she is pretty, adorable, funny and emotive all at once. Her chemistry with Diljit is endearing and a perfect counterpoint to the confusion of Kannan who suffering from pre-marriage blues can’t quite fathom his feelings for his fiancée Anu (Mehreen Pirzada). 

If Kannan is ghost stricken, Mehreen, who makes an assured debut, too is assailed by doubts and thus lends more than one 

layer to her persona of a girl hopelessly in love. With a woman producer(Anushka herself)at the helm you can only expect the female parts to be well-fleshed out, much more than just that of a besotted beloved. 

However, in an ensemble cast, Manav Vij as the stern loving brother too is commendable and adds to the heart of the film that doesn’t fail to touch. The ghost story or the contemporary bonding…both love 

tales have their USPs, flavour and complexities. The title Phillauri too is not just an ode to the place Phillaur but to oneness of love. Who is Phillauri out of the two… watch to find out the answer. No 

reason to miss this one that not only gets the act of spirits right but also the undying spirit of love.