Bachna Ae Haseeno: Movie Review

After a long string of damp squibs, Yash Raj Films seems to have arrived yet again with “Bachna Ae Haseeno”- a much needed break for the Kapoor Kid after Saawariya left him black and blue (quite literally)!

What is it about?

Raj (Ranbir Kapoor) is the quintessential “wrong kind of guy”- the one who charms the wits out of girls, sweeps them of their feet and leaves them heartbroken and weeping. The story traces his journey through youth and his growth as a human being. From a girl-thirsty high school pass out, he graduates to a mature software engineer. His relationships with three girls at different stages in life teach him what love, life and emotions are all about.

The Story (no spoilers):

The first few scenes of the movies are reminiscent of the DDLJ era- boy and girl meeting on a train with the pretty Swiss Alps fleeting in the backdrop, the girl missing the train and being left alone with the “hero”- who is incidentally called “Raj”. Mahi (Minisha Lamba) is a dreamy, romantic girl from Amritsar who thrives on a Mills and Boons kind of idealistic romance. A hardcore DDLJ fan, she is on a lookout for her “Raj” who would serenade her with a mandolin (remember “that tune”?) and mouth sweet- nothings into her ears. She gets a “Raj” of course, but does he actually fit the bill?

Raadhika (Bipasha Basu) is a wannabe actress who is ambitious, independent and “modern”- like some people would like to put it. Like most girls however, she gives top priority to love, marriage, home and companionship. She and Raj share a beautiful live-in relationship in a Mumbai apartment. All goes well till Raj gets a transfer to Sydney and Raadhika comes up with a brilliant idea of having a court marriage before “they” move to Sydney as Mr. and Mrs.

Raj meets Gayatri (Deepika Padukone) in Sydney- a sassy, intelligent and fiercely independent girl who attends a B-school during the day and drives a taxi by night in order to fund her education. Raj falls head-over-heels with her but a sudden turn of events changes his life forever. How he goes about cleaning up the mess he left behind and setting things right is what the movie is about.

The Movie

Shot at exotic locales from all over the world, the movie has some really brilliant performances by the lead actors though Ranbir Kapoor and Minisha Lamba are exceptional. The characters are easily identifiable- atleast for the urban youth. Most of us would agree to have passed through similar stages in life. The song and dance routines though a wee bit in excess are engaging and take the narrative forward- the choreography is amazing too. The chic clothes, styling and background score make the scenes vibrant, youthful, fresh and aesthetically appealing. Despite its feel-good appeal, the movie leaves you with a thought to ruminate on. The humor does not look forced or slapstick though it has a few “toilet-jokes” cracked in between. Like a typical Yash Raj movie, this one is high on candy floss and cheesy dialogues. If these are not for you, you may give it a skip. Overall, Bachna Ae Haseeno is likely to be appreciated by the classes and the masses alike.

Viewer’s Rating: ****1/2