I Hate Luv Storys

Brace yourself for one of the biggest Bollywood chick-flicks in recent history. Although I seriously doubt how many chicks will really like this movie!!!

First of all, I'm not sure if this movie was intended to be a parody of all the classic Bollywood love stories or that is just wanted to use the clichés for the entertainment factor. I cannot understand that when the lead pair is good looking young and reasonably talented, why would the director not put more effort into making an original love story? We have been subjected to Hollywood rip offs for so long.....but seriously Mr Director, Bollywood rip offs are in no way better!!! For heavens sake, let the classics remain classics. With the exception of the opening scenes of the film which revive memories of some of the hit love stories of the past (DDLJ, Dil Kehta Hai and Hum Tum), I didn't see the point of making any further reference to past movies. The director has tried to humorously incorporate all the clichés of the great Bollywood love stories and tried to give it a modern twist (as in Om Shanti Om)......but unfortunately, there is nothing new or "different" about this movie. It just didn't work.

Sonam is as cute as a button. She is surely one of the most beautiful actresses we have in our industry today. Her character however is silly and superficial. Imran is cool and can easily pass of for the playboy types but he seriously needs to learn how to emote. He does well in the scenes where he is supposed to be cool and funny but when the time comes for him to profess his love, he might as well be talking to a wall! I hope he takes some tips from his famous "maamu". I wish I could say that I loved the chemistry between the lead pair....but I would be lying through my teeth. And please, what was with Soman's loser BF always color coordinating his clothes with her?? Is that supposed to indicate the depth of love or something?? The trait of a good director is to put his/her point across without being ridiculous in the process!

The reason I gave this movie 5 stars (I am being extremely generous here) is because I think both Sonam and Imran look great and have the potential to be good actors, some of the humorous dialogues were original, the music of the film is hummable, Imran's fat friend was funny at times and the cinematography was generally good.

Seriously am I the only one who saw "I Hate Luv Storys" was a blatant copy of their own clan "Dil Toh Pagal Hain"? My Lord, allow me to present my case. The boy runs away from anything that is anything close to the word love. The boy and girl get to know each other on a creative project (musical/ movie set). The girl is already engaged to a fly-in- the-ointment and contemplating her decision with each passing reel. While in IHLS the cupid pierces the girls heart first as opposed to DTPH where the boy is blessed with illumination. So the verdict is clear, if you have missed the bus in 1997 then here is "I Hate Luv Storys" for you. Looks as good as new, completely refurbished and re-branded.

Sonam Kapoor:: Yes, she is the diva personified for the youth of today. Calling her character "Simran"? And Sammir Dattani "Raj"? Adi/Karan - there should be a tax for licking your own noses and never- ending innuendos to "Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge" & "Kuch Kuch Hota Hain".

Imran Khan:: Playing a quirky character doesn't come quite naturally for Imran, especially if you were to compare it with Shah Rukh in DTPH. This movie would be better remembered for Sonam Kapoor than Imran Khan.

Sammir Dattani:: Pity that he has stopped to such low level to accept such fun-poking characters. His counter-part in the 1997 version ie. Akshay Kumar got a decent/ dignified/ memorable role.

Since it comes from Johar/ Chopra camp, music is given due importance and the album has quite a few memorable/ hummable numbers from the house of Vishal-Shekhar. "Bin Tere" is wonderfully rendered by Sunidhi Chauhan/ Shafqat Amanat Ali (noteworthy is choice of word "khalish"). "Sadka Kiya", another favorite of mine has some good stanzas backed with vocals from Mahalakshmi Iyer. "Bahaara" sung by Shreya is very soothing.

No stone was left unturned by the marketing department (read that blaring in public).

The title plays up on how unbelievable love stories can get, and despite its ripping apart the classical romantic films by Dharma Productions and Yash Raj films in the opening, and throughout the film, ultimately this one proves to be quite hypocritical in a sense that it too cannot come to grips with its battle against cliché, and falls prey to the tried, tested and tired formula of a romantic comedy. As the saying goes, if you can't beat them, join them.

However it has its youthful, eye candy cast added to its advantage as it plods through its rather meandering and cumbersome plot, involving J (Imran Khan), a production assistant who has worked on countless of romantic films by hotshot director Veer Kapoor (Samir Soni), and Simran (Sonam Kapoor), who is employed under the same production umbrella. To J, work means a constant rolling of the eyes because he just doesn't subscribe to nor see the appeal of formulaic romantic movies, even if his employer is the best in the business. And for Simran it's just the reverse, feeling privileged to be part of movie magic, as she expounds her own blissfully perfect relationship with fiancé Raj (Sammir Dattani).

So begins the clash of the believer and the non-believer, made worst when J is ordered to be working under Simran who is the new art director for Veer's upcoming love saga, Pyar Pyar Pyar, which I have to admit that writer-director Punit Malhotra managed to weave in a film in production within a film, that drew nice touches of parallels between J and Simran's developing love affair, until the final act which somehow had to conform to hammed up clichés. On one hand, I thought it was quite brilliant to get the audience engaged through two levels, one which is the reality the characters live in, and the other the ultra-hyped film reality which exists in Pyar Pyar Pyar, with extremely over the top performances and delivery used to elicit plenty of laughter, especially from fans of Bollywood romances.

We'd expect the usual clash of the opposites, where J the non-committal playboy unwittingly turns on his charm on the on-the-way-to-blissful-marriage Simran, who by the time the interval rolled by, is at odds with wanting to settle down with the man she thought will provide that level of stability through routine, or someone who's more of the livewire even if you started out hating the guts of the person? The story seems to play on the theme of close proximity having that big a role to play in demolishing stability, and like all nicely crafted clichés which you can see coming from a mile away, J and Simran inevitably fall in love, which takes one of them by surprise, leading to plot development reserved for after the interval.

If not for the young film starlets as the leads, it'll be quite hard to imagine how love can make them do silly things, with plenty of assumptions drawn up that the characters inevitably fall for. Nothing new gets added to the flavour of the story, and while it doesn't stand out, it also doesn't fall flat on its face as well, making this a simple, breezy romantic tale to sit through. Imran Khan pulls through his J quite effortlessly, since I suppose the easy-going, good natured guy is almost always easier to play as opposed to Sonam Kapoor's emotional Simran, who has ample opportunity to show her acting chops in what's only her third major role in her film career, compared to contemporary peers such as Ranbir Kapoor, or even Deepika Padukone.

Perhaps the only thread of interest here to sustain your attention will be the numerous film references from dialogues to sets and even downright spoofs, or if you're the incurable romantic, then yes, this film will be right up your alley.

I Hate Luv Storys is a humorous modern love story with all the flare and drama of a Bollywood classic. Jay and Simran have great chemistry and the development of their relationship captivates the audience. Although the premise of the movie is grander than grand, the two meet on the set of a Bollywood film and fall in and out of love with each other time and time again, the audience can relate to the ups and downs of their courtship. The songs are great to sing along to and the internal monologues of Jay and Simran give the characters more depth than is sometimes afforded in Bollywood. This film builds off of the Bollywood classic themes seen in films like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak of a young couple willing to do whatever it takes to be together. However, unlike these films, the protagonists don't instantaneously fall in love and are often falling in and out of love with each other. The portrayal of love in I Hate Luv Storys is more natural and realistic than that seen in classic films. Additionally, the character of Veer, the director, has a style similar to KJo. Part of what makes this film to endearing is the Bollywoodiness of it all- the big dance numbers, the sets, the music, the drama. Since KJo is a producer of this film, we see his trademark over the top Bollywood style that film scholar Sangita Gopal says is more of the same, but brought to the extreme. This film is so fun because it is over the top!

Imran Khan looks deliciously cute. Sonam Kapoor serves rom com heroine goals. The music is phenomenal. The cinematography is top notch. Yes the story and characters are a bit cliche, but the treatment is fun and new.