Review 'Sanam teri kasam': Romantic drama with impeccable love story

RATING: ** 1/2

GENRE: Romance

CAST: Harshvardhan Rane, Mawra Hocane, Murli Sharma, Sudesh Berry, Manish Chaudhary

DIRECTOR: Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru


-STORY

It is impossible for Saraswati Parthasarthy (Mawra Hocane) to get a guy for herself. After being turned down by ten men and disowned by her own family, Saroo finds solace in her incorrigible neighbour Inder (Harshvardhan Rane). Does their love story see a happy ending?

-REVIEW

A brooding, disgruntled, gruffly man with a heart of gold falls in love with a simple girl from a traditional family... quite an unlikely pair? Well, not for Bollywood atleast. But you forgive director duo Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru just because of their perfect casting. When everything falls flat in the film, the lead pair hold the forte with their effortless chemistry. For a romantic drama, the film has its most essential element right - the love story is impeccable.



(Image: Twitter)

It is mighty flawed otherwise. The sub tracks dilute the build-up of the movie. In the first half, the film wastes too much of its time and energy in what they call 'the make-over of the Vibhuti aunty'. Vijay Raaz breaks into an abhorrent item song with back-up dancers straight out of the sets of Shefali Jariwala's Kaanta Laga and give the 'fossil' Saroo a modern look. If this doesn't kill the audience, a father executing the last rites of his living daughter will.

As long as the focus stays on its leads, the film does a good job. Harshavardhan, besides flaunting his perfectly chiseled torso and walking topless all through the film, give his angst some charm. Mawra matches up with her innocence and vulnerability. From Inder softening every time he is around Saraswati, to watching them goof around in Kheech Meri Photo, they are a treat from the word go. You want to invest in these characters but the movie gets shrill over its 155 minutes, a little too sappy for liking and eventually boring. Your heart genuinely goes out to Harsh and Mawra who are let down by their clumsy narrative.

Aashiqui 2 did a good job at bringing back the 90s' melodramatic romance back but Sanam Teri Kasam is barely as compelling.