We just watched Salman Khan and Sonam Kapoor's Diwali release Prem Ratan Dhan Payo and we're simply bowled over by Sooraj's presentation that takes us down the memory lane!
Salman Khan's come out of a Bajrangi Bhaijaan to be Prem for Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. And ask him about the shift and he quips, "These films are like cleansing processes for me. I would call them my teerth yatra." We understand it now. Why? We have just finished watching the first day first show of PRDP and we can't help but admit that Sooraj Barjatya has left us floored with this one!
From the packaging to the performances to the crackling chemistry between Salman and Sonam Kapoor, PRDP has everything working for it. But here are 5 reasons why you should not miss this one this Diwali season. Because this is the best Diwali gift from our Bhaijaan and Co.
A trip down memory lane!
The biggest takeaway from the film definitely is the amount of nostalgia associated with the entire film. Forget the 2 hour 45 minutes long runtime, this film doesn't even seem that long. Easy-breezy, the first half takes us through varied emotions to an excellent second half where we see most of the action happening. Nevertheless, ask any 80s or 90s kid and invariably, one director whose films have been loved (for decades now!) across pan-India is definitely Sooraj Barjatya. Targeting the remotest rural corners of the country, Sooraj's film takes us down the memory lane. Although the treatment is very, very contemporary, the story-telling is trademark Rajshri- very rustic, very Indian and very, very 90s! Ahh, those good ol' days are back!
A plethora of emotions!
Sooraj's biggest merit is in evoking a series of emotions among its audiences. While Prem's naughty jokes and mad antics make you laugh, there's the underlying tension and despair among the family members that moist your eyes. Karan Johar made Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham with the tagline- It's all about loving your parents. But over the years, it's Sooraj's films that have always been about loving your family.Rightly so. He makes you smile, cry, upset, happy, angry all in a matter of less than three hours. And with such simplicity! Sooraj's direction is noteworthy but it's the way he envisages his characters for the film that wins over everyone. Keeping it simple, Sooraj's vision is coupled with a good story backdrop to present another family entertainer which doesn't leave you disappointed! And to everyone who thought PRDP would be outdated, Sooraj's poetic treatment will amaze you and hammers the fact that even today, family traditions and values hold special places in the common Indian household!
Salman Khan
There's a reason we put him third on the list. And he would be rather pleased with this change. Salman's definitely the superstar performer on whose able shoulders the entire film rests. Box-office wise. Keeping that aside, Salman has delivered another great performance in a matter of few months. Though Bajrangi Bhaijaan was in a different league altogether, with PRDP, Salman's Prem is back and with a bang! From his action scenes to his lover-boy image, Salman essays Prem like the dream man every girl would love to have as their partner, every mother would like to have as their son and every sister would like to have as their brother. In the last 16 years, Sooraj tried reinventing his Prem with so many other heroes but Salman proves that there can only be one Prem and that's him!
Sonam Kapoor
Before the movie was about to release, a section of media was abuzz with stories about how Sonam's a total misfit for the film. But we were adamant! Right from the trailer to the promos, Sonam looked every bit the Rajshri heroine and when you see the actress playing Maithili on screen, your faith in her is reinstated. She perfects the nuances of the typical Rajshri heroine with so much elegance, grace and effortlessness that you fall in love with her. Truly, her brilliant stint also makes you feel at the end, that no other heroine from her age bracket could have played the princess better than her.
The strong ensemble!
Along with Salman and Sonam who take the film forward with their terrific on-screen camaraderie, there's a powerful ensemble and everyone has their bit of contribution to the film. While we loved Swara Bhaskar's stellar act as Chandrika the most among all from the supporting cast, Neil Nitin Mukesh too delivered a good performance. Also, adding to that were two supporting actors who are now considered stalwarts in the game. Anupam Kher and Deepak Dobriyal. It's hard to imagine Sooraj's PRDP without Bapuji or Kanhaiya and kudos to Barjatya for choosing the perfect ensemble cast for his magnum opus!
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 "Prem Ratan Dhan Payo")
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