Do Deewane Seher Mein :An eminently forgettable love story

Somehow of late, Bollywood had given up on romances that once instilled greater confidence among dating couples. So, the latest film from the stable, Do Deewane Seher Mein, came as surprise to me in a country that had for some years now relished murders and kidnappings and mysteries – some styled on Agatha Christie novels. Directed by Ravi Udyawar (who had in the past worked with Sridevi and Ali Bhatt), Do Deewane, is all about a young man and a girl, who have been stung by Cupid’s arrows. This time, the helmer has Mrunal Thakur (as Roshni) and Siddhanth Chaturvedi (Shashank) to weave a plot that drags for 138 minutes, a story that could have been narrated in just about 100 minutes or less. Scenes stretch and dialogues are laboriously lengthy. Seriously, Hindi cinema needs to trim its flab. So, what is the story all about? Shashank, with a speech defect (cannot pronounce “sha”) comes from an affluent family in Bihar who has arrived in Mumbai for a career as salesman – promoting washing machines. Roshini pushes designer labels through the columns of a style magazine. On the work front, she has a strange boss, at home pushy parents trying to push her into marriage

never mind she ke eps throwing away photograph after photograph of guys. Yet her parents do not get tired – in a country where the ultimate goal of a woman is husband, children and home. Things may have changed somewhat today, but still refuse to die. When she is introduced to Shashank, she turns him down too, but he stalks her (a crime these days, I would think, but cinema has the right to take such liberties and without any qualms). When they finally meet, hearts begin to melt, emotions mix, love blossoms and a happy-ever-after point is reached but not before Roshini throws up several tantrums – which seem forced. There were many occasions when I could not understand why she was picking up a quarrel. As one writer quipped, the graph goes up and down. A strange dance of love and anger. In two words “bad writing” that lets down a fairly good actress like Thakur! But Chaturvedi is just awful, and needs to really polish his skills. He seems to have remained rooted at one point. Love stories need greater drama, a good performance arc and, above all, an emotional quotient that will tug at your heart. Romeo and Juliet were penned in 1597 but still endears. Casablanca opened in 1942 and Roman Holiday in 1953. We still remember these, because they had great stories to tell backe d by incisive scrip ts and marvellous acting. Do Deewane lacks all these and sinks. THE WRITER IS A FILM CRITIC. VIEWS EXPRESSED ARE PERSONAL

Advertisement