Dum Laga Ke Haisha

Dumb Laga Ke Haisha is a movie that celebrates the unfounding of size and space, and juxtaposes it against the flight of ambitions in a detailed, layered, yet breezy romance that acts as both a social commentary, as well as a mainstream romantic comedy.

A narrow by-lane in Haridwar leads to a narrow minded class ten failed simpleton Prem (Ayushman Khurana in a refreshingly natural role) of the 1990s who dreams of Juhi Chawla but is instead married off to a portly and much more educated Sandhya (Bhumi Pednekar in a supremely brilliant and dauntless debut).

While she dreams of a government job as a school teacher and a husband who respects her, he has nightmares about everything she stands for - be it her intellect or weight. What follows is a refreshingly original and daring film that overcomes stereotypes while bringing a smile on our faces, even as it tugs at our heartstrings.

Here the 90s is captured in stunningly nuanced detail by writer-director Sharat Katariya several times, as is the language of Uttar Pradesh (mostly), and the life of a small town (perfectly).

Be it a dash of Limca to get over retching, the unspiralling of cassettes using pens, watching of movies in VCPs and VCRs, using landline phones, giving missed calls, the fascination with Kumar Sanu, or a fight using songs being played by a warring couple, the makers get the 90s spot on. What also makes the majority of the scenes worth the 'wait' is Bhoomi Pednekar who 'weighs' her emotions while adding ample 'weight' to her character through a gamut of emotions that are sure to resonate with your heart.

Adding 'weight' to the plot is a series of sub plots involving a separated elderly aunt, parents and in-laws struggling with their values, ethics, and modernity, a young brother preparing for his board exams, a 'sankha' with its moralistic lessons, jealous friends, and a contest 'Dum Laga Ke Heisha' aimed to test the ultimate bonding between a married couple. There is humor, action, emotion, shame, romance, and triumph in equal measure that help the film measure up to the 'weighty' expectations of any discerning viewer gasping for a breath of fresh air. What helps is an able supporting cast that makes you want to 'wait' and watch the proceedings.

This small film involving small town people is sure to occupy a not so small space in your hearts and minds. All you need to do is give it a chance - just like the leads of this film are told time and again, and love will surely follow.

Watch it for an era gone by, for an unconventional heroine, for relationships that survive against the test of time, and for that sense of nostalgia that is impossible to ignore. And last, but not the least, for Kumar Sanu - who is back (along with Sadhana Sargam and Annu Malik no less). This 'Ishq' is 'Kararaa' indeed... and definitely worth its 'weight' in terms of originality, story, and execution. What are you 'waiting' for? Watch it in your nearest theater and do your bit to support good mainstream cinema with a refreshing storyline... Take a bow Yashraj Films!

It is never easy to make a movie about a topic like this. Past attempts have mutilated this kind of story so I was skeptical.One is happy to see that the characters (especially the leads) don't take unhealthy and impractical steps. Also there was no (unnecessary) villain waiting to take advantage of either of them.

Bhumi acted so believably and Ayushmann complemented her acting. These kind of movies hopefully should be eye openers to ignorant parent in Tier-2/Tier-3 cities and towns and not force their children into arranged marriages. It was just a luck break that the contest (in the end) resolved the marital issues; everybody does not get the same opportunities.

Hats off to the cast and Director for pulling off a superb movie.

DLKH brings the much needed freshness in Bollywood romance movies. And it comes with a very strong message woven around a very sweet love story. The direction is impeccable with moderated melodrama.

Ayushmann Khurrana might never get the stardom like the Khans and the Kapoors but he is definitely one of those actors never afraid of doing path breaking movies and top them up with amazing natural acting - be it comedy or drama. But he gets a good competition from the new girl Bhumi Padnekar who delivers a very good performance, depicting a struggle of a fat girl in a white skin - size zero obsessed society of India. Sanjay Mishra, playing the role of Ayushmann's father, gives a memorable performance with really good dialog delivery topped up with brilliant comic timing.

The length of the movie is unusually short for a Bollywood movie but then quality is always more important than quantity. Overall, for someone in a mood to watch a light romantic movie, your search ends at DLKH.

This movie comes easily into the list of "movies I can watch anytime".

This movie does touch the realistic side of commoners with a hint of comedy within it. In a span of two hours the movie covers all the problems and changes a newly wed couple go through. Groom not ready to accept that bird watching is no more an option for him and bride trying to settle in a house where her education is an envy point for others. The comic melodrama keeps the viewer glued to their seats till the end of the movie. Music is nice and simple which pushes viewer to cherish the old and simple times. It was hard to believe that Bhumi Pednekar debuted with Dumb laga ke Haisha. Her eyes and facial expressions never made me feel that I was missing anything in the movie. Part I loved was, when Ayushmaan and Bhumi fight over the songs to be played in the tape recorder. Must say a brilliant idea!!

Dum Laga Ke Haisha is produced by Yash Raj Films. Thinking about the Yash Raj productions of the early 2000s, one cannot escape the vision of glossy, expensive mainstream films, very romantic, often based abroad and if not, centring on wealthy individuals. Some of them were wonderfully entertaining, including Hum Tum and Salaam Namaste, which were racy and socially progressive for the times, but generally most of their films became quite synonymous with superficial and shallow commercial potboilers with nothing substantial to offer. Following quite a few exceptional gems earlier, like Band Baaja Baaraat and the likes, which started the trend of social and realistic romantic films, Dum Laga Ke Haisha is even a bigger step toward a whole welcome change in Hindi cinema, and it really is a breath of fresh air in both story and execution. This new brand of mainstream Hindi cinema, which deals with everyday issues within simple families from India's lower middle class, is a real blessing. Gone are the days when Indian filmmakers insisted on showing only the glamorous side of India or being ashamed of its simpler reality. On the contrary, recent commercial films, and this film definitely among them, celebrate this simple part of India, celebrate its beauty and cultural richness, going back to the magic of Hrishikesh Mukherjee's memorable middle-of-the-road cinema.

Indeed, Dum Laga Ke Haisha is one such film - it is beautiful, authentic, and it has this sense of everydayness that makes it a terrific watch. Obviously, the core theme of a young guy who is caught in an arranged marriage with an overweight young woman for whom he has zero attraction, is a true draw in and of itself, but it's not just that. The film is charming, just charming in the way it embraces its characters, its story and situations, in the way it rejects stereotypes, and in the subtle portrayal of the romantic buildup between the two leads. Acting-wise, too, the film is a delight. Ayushmann Khurrana as always does his socially conscious cinema, and he is terrific here. He is easy to judge or dislike, but at the same time so easy to understand and feel for. His gradual growth is convincingly portrayed. It is Bhumi Pednekar though who dominates this film with her brave turn. Obviously, the physical change is admirable (she put on quite a lot of weight for the part), but just as a character, she is wonderful, putting in a consistently credible, compassionate, and touching performance. A host of tremendous supporting actors all work together brilliantly. Dum Laga Ke Haisha is set in the mid-1990s, and it also manages to bring some nostalgic value for the music and innocence of those days. The film's last sequence is a cinematic triumph and a great conclusion to this wholesome entertainment that is both enjoyable and educational.