Ozean der Träume: Dil Dhadakne Do

Preserving wealth is a lot of hard work. When a man has labored life long to project enviable luxury, it's essential that he appears to relish it with his family and flaunt it among his friends. Footing in a large bill every single day for a group he requested to come along on a scenic Mediterranean cruise to celebrate his 30th

wedding anniversary, Kamal Mehra (Anil Kapoor) feels the pinch of keeping appearances.

A self-made billionaire, he's still in touch with his middle-class values when it comes to matters of the money. Everything else is as superficial as it gets -- be it his jaded marriage to ace cupcake- chomper Neelam (Shefali Shah), his tediously old- fashioned expectations from kids Ayesha and Kabir (Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh) or his relationship of convenience around his equally catty tycoon friends.

Zoya Akhtar's breezy outlook and aversion for melodrama are something I've constantly appreciated in all her previous films.

Her latest Dil Dhadakne Do retains this virtue whilst exploring the woes of well-heeled lifestyles without turning them into caricatures of a dysfunctional family.

Farhan Akhtar's pat dialogs contribute significantly -- they're the best takeaway from this cruise confection. As is the spot-on timing they're delivered in.

In one fine scene, Ayesha is discussing incompatibility issues in her marriage with her mother. The latter brushes it off arguing how her husband (Rahul Bose) provides her with everything she needs. And there you have it -- "Aisa tha toh phir meri mall se shaadi kar dete (If that was the case, you should have married me to a mall ?"

In another, a hysterical Kabir goes on a spontaneous spree of puke-themed jokes ranging from 'Vomatino' to 'Louis Vomiton.'

One cannot say the same about the voice-over provided by Aamir Khan for Pluto Mehra, the darling mastiff pet of the Mehras. His sagacious captioning of scenes (in Javed Akhtar's words) robs Dil Dhadakne Do of much of its delicacy and caters to Bollywood's annoying tendency to 'see, what just happened there?'

For a script that's bold enough to sail without a plot, simply as a whimsical slice of freewheeling vacation and untapped impulses, Dil Dhadakne Do is surprisingly stale in fleshing the circumstances of its protagonists.

Bickering parents, daughter trapped in a loveless marriage, son whose heart is not in running the family business, progressive ex-flame around the corner, free-spirited Londoner facilitating a long- due coming-of-age, competitive uncles and their matchmaking-obsessed wives -- all these are lamentably one-note or familiar facets from her past work.

It's an eclectic group of impressive actors led by Anil Kapoor, Ranveer Singh and Shefali Shah, making sure they own their respective parts.

Right from the moment Kapoor delivers his first punch line clad in a pair of spiffy golf pants to the final scene seizing his vivacious, winsome grin, he crackles the screen with his portrayal of a deliciously calculating Punjabi patriarch.

Alternately refined, bumbling, rascally and vulnerable, Kapoor is the life of Zoya's opulent multistarrer. Though unfairly neglected to highpoint her live-wire co-star, Shefali bites into the part of his disenchanted sounding board just as avidly as her diet in the movie.

I've always found Ranveer Singh's excessive energy to be a major deterrent but here he contains it so deftly making his low on ambition, dry-humored albeit tender Kabir a delight to watch. Easily his most realized, assured and nuanced delivery.

Priyanka Chopra's Ayesha invites judgment in her submissiveness and silence as a self- deprecating achiever who allows her husband to think he 'allows' her to work. All the more so because she doesn't look the part even if her chic styling is right on mark.

Also cast against type, Rahul Bose has more success in getting the tone of his chauvinistic mamma's boy (a terrific Zarina Wahab) just right.

Farhan Akhtar and Anushka Sharma remain at the periphery triggering romance, realization and rebellion into the complex Mehra kids. Even if their role isn't as meaty, their lovely, likable persona infuses quick, believable chemistry. There are occasions when Zoya digs into their darker spaces -- pity sex, history of infidelity only to retreat back into the safety of all that is cosmetic, chirpy just like the Mehras.

Clearly, the leisurely-paced family dreamed isn't in a rush to get anywhere.

Cinematographer Carlos Catalan's sublime visuals, whether he's capturing the gorgeous ocean, majestic heritage sites, Zoya's expressive cast, the lavish breakfast buffet of freshly baked goodies, are effortlessly attractive.

Unfortunately, it doesn't lead up to anything distinct. Despite all the gyaan Pluto belts out, the movie wraps up hastily in a rather unfulfilled, problematic manner. Except that the actors play out the ensuing irrationality with such infectious gusto, it doesn't bother straightway.

Zoya Akhtar's Dil Dhadakne Do unravels like an entire season of soap opera condensed into a nearly three-hour movie that observes the clichés surrounding the affluent through wit and warmth but is, ultimately, too facile to rise above the charming fluff.

Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtar make a stunning team together. Reema is a genuis; Zoya added her brilliance. This is a highly messed up story of an even more messed up family. It all happens on a cruise, where they bring everyone's life to the table without roaming into the past and get things even more messed up to create gigantic conflicts.

This is a story about family issues. One of Zoya's favorite genres including adventure; travel and trips to be honest.

I have known Zoya well, the films she chooses, her usual casts. There is hardly any movie where she has disappointed. If there is any, pardon me, I haven't watched.

The casting was amazing here. Ranveer, Farhan, Priyanka, Massey, they were exceptional. Anil, always, is. It was magnificent to see, how they brought everyone's life, little things, issues, social issues, to the table to make things completely messed up on a cruise trip. I am repeating messed up these many times since this is the second most messed up Hindi language movie I have watched in my whole life, first one, Welcome, being my all time favorite.

It was very slow burn. Few things weren't even required although the first fifteen minutes was just the introduction where they revealed only important things. Cunningly, they kept creating conflicts from then only to solve all at once at the climax.

This was really a tough story to write and direct, a job well done I must say.

Few more things, it was a brave and very good decision by Zoya not to cast her favorite actress in this movie. Two, I loved Galla Goodiyan song and the choreography along with the song's timing.

The song with Ranveer and Anushka was completely futile.

The people who are saying this movie is not good clearly don't know anything about films.Dil Dhhadakne do is one of my favourite films.It is inspiring,beautiful,funny and just a full package.The film has a soul and is just a masterpiece from the director Zoya Akhtar.

I don't know why the movie is so under rated. Movie surely deserves at least 8 stars.

I read the reviews and rating on IMDb before watching the movie and thought that it was waste of time. But I went to see it with my family and I am glad that I went...

This movie revolves around an upper class Delhi based Punjabi family. The movie is light and very entertaining and the movie script contains no cheap stunts like emotional sympathy(showing a little girl who has cancer or has lost his parents)or cheap non-veg stunts. While I was in the movie theater all I could hear is the people laughing and enjoying their every moment from the start to the very end....

Those who loved Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara will really love and enjoy it.

The message from this movie is also very nice which is "Zindagi jeene ke liye hai....zabardasti kheechne ke liye nahi".

So just give it a try and do take your parents with you. Enjoy!!

Initially, I was hesitant to watch this movie as this movie did not do that well commercially(compared to other Zoya Akhtar movies). However,I must say I was very impressed with the way the movie was put together and executed.

DDD is a must watch for everybody regardless of what social status or financial category a person belongs to. Agreed, the drama takes place in a 'rich' people setting. But the family problems depicted in the movie are common across all classes in the country. So although it feels like they are rich people problems, they are actually not.

The performance of all the actors is superb especially Anil Kapoor and Shefali. The portrayal of Anil Kapoor as a shrewd, stubborn businessman is very genuine and so is Shefali's struggle to cope with unhappiness in marriage and maintaining social status. It is refreshing to watch Ranveer Singh doing something different than playing the usual macho/rowdy roles. Priyanka Chopra and Anushka Sharma are good as usual.

Overall the film is extremely pleasant to watch with no unwanted melodrama or item songs. It is a very sensible approach to depicting problems within a family that are often not spoken about but need to be discussed.And I must say Zoya handled it pretty well!