Dil Dhadakne Do 2015 (Movie Review)

Dir: Zoya Akhtar

Starring: Anil Kapoor, Shefali Shah, Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma, Rahul Bose

Dur: 2 hr 40 mins

Genre: Comedy-Drama

Rating: 3.5/5

PG: Quite a number of kisses.

Our Indian families are relatively closer together than the Western families, or so I thought, but experiences I’ve had over the past few years plus this film have led me revise that view. Family ties are loosening and members are growing more distant from each other despite living in close proximity of one another. Dil Dhadakne Do is a well-set family drama that effectively brings out the themes of relationships, principally those within the family and also those between friends and acquaintances.

It’s a different matter that the story is about a family that is stinking rich and is sailing the oceans on a cruise liner that is too big for people with small imaginations and bank accounts, along with their stinking rich friends all, or rather, most of whom stink of wealth, booze and other sweeter fragrances; this is a story about us and our family, well maybe not literally ‘our’ family but it does reflect a reality and may have something to say to each of us.

The language is highly colloquial and the setting so western that you wonder why at all is the film Indian when it just as well could have been western? But it is Indian for the very important reasons that it talks about the Indian society, the Indian mindset and the Indian view of life, love, marriage and divorce. What’s noteworthy is that it doesn’t preach; there are no ethical absolutes proposed and little criticism is offered overtly. The star-studded cast bring to the film a touch of class but also, and more importantly, give the film a dash of finesse which is a delicate yet necessary component of this genre.

Listening to the drama unfolding from a dogs point of view is funny especially when he makes an analysis of situations and characters. Viewing the world from a dogs point of view is also a wonderful exercise and has the potential of revealing insights into things that may be deeper and more penetrating than if we had so from our own viewpoint. Ranveer really is an eye-catcher and Anil plays very well the role of a rich businessman and poor father. The acting is impeccable and the story is novel. The only things lacking and preventing it, in my opinion, from turning into a smashing hit were catchy songs and glitzy dance sequences. Nevertheless, the film is excellent for family viewing and exudes freshness and strong educative content.