Film: Band Baaja Baaraat (U)
Director: Maneesh Sharma
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma and others
Rating: ***½
 
A Yash Raj film that centres on weddings can be a scary proposition. Surprisingly, Band Baaja Baaraat (BBB) — while retaining all basic Yash Raj ingredients — springs a surprise. There is a certain freshness in the drama which makes it stand out among not just recent YRF productions, but other recent films too.
 
BBB reminds you a little of Bunty Aur Babli, with two go-getting protagonists forming a partnership in order to fulfil their dreams, and falling in love along the way. But these youngsters are no thugs. They want name, fame and money, but they will do it the right way — with the help of their ‘binej’ (business) skills.
 
The film starts with a montage of the protagonists Shruti Kakkar (Sharma) and Bittu Sharma (Singh) as you tap your foot to the peppy ‘Tarkeebein’. Young, ambitious and full of zest, Shruti is the one with the plans — she seems to have her life sorted out — while Bittu is the clueless, living-each-day-as-it-comes kind of guy. The two meet at a wedding and an unlikely friendship develops.
 
Shruti wants to be a wedding planner — the best in Delhi — and after initially resisting, realises that Bittu is the ideal partner for her. The two form a company, Shaadi Mubarak, and move from arranging marriages in small gullies to the most high-profile weddings in the country.
 
To keep the business free of complications, Shruti lays down a simple rule — the two partners can never have an affair. But when they end up in bed together after a night of partying and Shruti realises that she’s developing a soft corner for the slightly dumb but lovable Bittu, things get complicated.
 
The film works primarily because you can’t help but be charmed by the antics of the two characters. While Shruti’s firebrand ‘phataka’ attitude is endearing, Bittu’s vela laidback approach has a charm you can’t resist. The duo crackles on screen — first with the chhed chhaad and silly fights and later with a chemistry that makes you pine for them to get together.
 
Debutant director Sharma does a good job of creating the sights and sounds of North India, and his command of the art of storytelling shows. He has also extracted some commendable performances, considering that he’s working with a bunch of new actors.
 
Habib Faisal, who recently wrote and directed the delightful Do Dooni Chaar, is the screenplay and dialogue writer of BBB. Just like he gave us a peek into the lives of a middle-class family living in the capital in his film, Faisal here writes a script that brings Dilli alive once again.
 
The film could have done without the unnecessary ‘item song’ towards the end, especially since the numbers before are all easy on the ears. ‘Ainvei ainvei’ has a happy, contagious feel to it and the title song gives the film just the energy it requires. Salim-Sulaiman’s music and background score add just the right amount of tadka to the proceedings.
 
What makes the film work, in addition to some witty writing and the peppy music, is the performance of the two leads. For Anushka Sharma, BBB is an opportunity to perform a role meatier than the ones she had in her two earlier films, and she does well. She brings the right amount of sass and vulnerability, and looks ravishing too.
 
Singh puts in a performance which belies the fact that BBB is his debut film. He is confident, has likeable screen presence, and acts well too. While Sonakshi Sinha has been the best debutante this year, Singh is easily the find of the year among actors.
 
Watch Band Baaja Baaraat for the happy, feel-good frame of mind it leaves you with, some memorable dialogues, the catchy music, and to see one of the best onscreen pairs this year. You won’t want to miss this party.