Remember when ‘Queen’ released last year. It received excellent reviews from the critics; however, the first day collection was not that great. The first day collection was just Rs.1.75 crore, but the movie later did an excellent business. It went on to become one of the favourite movies of 2014. Just like how ‘Queen’ releases with no expectations but went on to wow the critics and audiences, even the new release ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’ has done the same thing.
Kangana Ranaut’s performance in the 2014 movie did not just get her critical acclaim, but she even won honours at major award shows. Not just she, even director Vikas Bahl took home many a trophies for the movie.
Cut to 2015, another unique story hits the big screen. Though the trailers generated curiosity among the masses, there were not many expectations from it. A movie runs on three wheels – story, actors and the director. If any of the three wheels is damaged, the movie fails. But the audiences have changed now. They don’t want a six-pack-ab flaunting star or an arm-candy actress to be in it; what’s more important is that whether the story is powerful enough to make them sit through those two hours.
And so, Sharat Katariya’s ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’ has raised the expectations now. The movie released in theatres this Friday (February 27) with Ayushmann Khurrana and Bhumi Pednekar in lead roles. It received outstanding reviews from the critics and had a positive effect on the audience on day one itself.
Rajeev Masand gave it 3.5 stars saying that the scenarios in the movie are believable and the characters feel real. Raja Sen of Rediff gave it 3 stars saying that the movie is beautifully seasoned, with utterly fabulous detailing.
As for the performances: Masand says Ayushmann plays it from the gut, never once striking a false note as the insecure young fella, bitter over being dealt an unfair hand, but who nicely transitions when he realizes he's wrong. For Bhumi, he said she steals the film with an assured turn, effortlessly making you care for Sandhya, without ever reducing her to a slobbering, self-pitying caricature. Sen writes that Ayushmann is great, giving his mostly pathetic character a sort of sullen, defiant dignity, and biting into the role rather sportingly. About Bhumi, he wrote she is -- part sassy, in part pitiful, part heroic --mostly impressively real, creating a genuine character.
And here’s what some of our readers said about the movie:
People should support good movies thro word of mouth. Nowadays its hard to find good family entertainer movies. Even humshakkals earned 50/60 odd crores. Shows how people go for only star values and not for good story.
This movie is my most anticipated movie of the year!! Last two movies I really enjoyed were 'Queen' and 'Total Siyapa'. Of course Vicky Donor was good too but I think this one is going to surpass all of them. Of course I am not comparing these movies with the isnane commercial movies like HNY or PK etc. You realize with time that actors who are not so popular in mainstream cinema give so much better performances and are actually much better actors than stars.
Hearing positive reviews.. must be a surprise like how Queen came last year.. hope it should do good in box office too..
So with so much positive word of mouth, excellent reviews and a great storyline, do you think ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’ is 2015’s ‘Queen’?