Gori Tere Pyaar Mein!

Certain films raise not one or two but several questions in your mind about the team behind its making and their basic thought structure before going ahead with such tasteless, ridiculous and uninspiring kind of script without giving it a second thought. So instead of writing a usual review, here I would like to share my conclusions after watching this 'quite hard to see' romantic comedy, wherein I neither found the romance nor any comedy as calmly promoted by its makers with a pretty bad song.

1. "You are a born film-maker!" Now this phrase can be interpreted in two ways. One when a person has a great, gifted talent of film-making in him, which he has developed through his own efforts and hard work, working in the field for years before being called a Film-maker. And Two, when a person has simply got born in the family related to film business or movie-making and therefore obviously becomes a Film-maker by default. (And the same theory goes for the actors too in many cases)

2. Sometimes a project just gets all the needed approvals from a corporate house without any objections raised, simply because of the big names backing it from the front, even when there is no script, storyline or an idea shared about what actually they are approving and putting their money in.

3. In such ventures, even the actors don't know what they are actually being signed for, since the script is yet to be given a thought after finalizing the entire schedule and dates.

4. And when the need of the script arises, they just mix and match few of their senior's famous films hurriedly, as if there are only fools coming to the theater and they can be served anything in the name of a film with some glossy faces and songs.

5. Such projects try to incorporate everything which is trending around without any set vision. So if Punjabi is the in-thing, they get a completely insane and horrible song written around a Punjabi word used for the 'Bums' and just don't care to enquire about its actual use in the language at all! (And it was this song, questionably written as "Tooh", which simply left me with jaws open in disbelief and disgust like never before in all these recent decades honestly. In fact I cannot remember a Hindi film song falling to this sick and ridiculous level ever to say the least.)

6. Normally in the first day shows of a film, all the theater attendants, caretakers and torch-men are also very much interested in watching the new film, standing quietly along the wall with their eyes on the screen. But in a film such as GORI TERE PYAAR MEIN, even they walk out of theaters after an hour or so and never return back even post intervals.

7. When film-makers who perhaps have never been to any real village or remote areas, try to show a village in their film as per their forced-in script demand. Then it's pretty obvious that it turns out to be completely artificial, senseless and fake, since they haven't got the vision to portray such earthy elements on the screen in reality. And that is possibly the reason why GTPM truly becomes unbearable in its second half as it shifts into a fake village wherein a bridge is to be built in a pure LAGAAN or SWADES style by the star architect.

8. A film like GTPM does teach you a valuable lesson of life too, that sometimes even when there is everything available on the table to make a delicious dish, the cook still may make a silly mess out of it due to his over-confidence or no fear of a failure at all (read no-work) in the near future.

9. Lastly, GTPM strongly makes you wonder that did its makers really knew that for whom or for which target audience they were actually making this film and Why?

To end with, if a newcomer (or a struggler writer) would have gone to any of the production houses related with the film, with this SCRIPT in hand to make a movie on. Then either he would have got the rejection right away in hours or the script would have been thrown in the bin as soon as he has gone out of the office after reading only its few opening pages.

Anyway, searching for the only silver lining in this black cloud, there are 10 odd minutes of beautiful Shraddha Kapoor in the film, which are watchable. And in case you are too serious to watch her on the screen post AASHIQUI 2, then just see the film at a lower cost ticket before the intermission and simply walk away.

Does Kareena have some kind of sadistic pleasure by torturing her fans? Or can't she just handle the happiness of her fans from last year and thinks it's absolutely imperative to consistently follow-up a great year, with a terrible one? First Satyagraha pakao film, and now Gori Tere Pyaar Mein. Another terribly PAKAO film. No, I didn't have great expectations from this film (it was Punit Malhotra directing it... I mean seriously??) but the promos were rather enjoyable and the stars really did manage to sell their product and entice the audience. Add to that that it's a Dharma Production (Karan Johar makes sure to associate himself with entertaining cinema) and that it was coming off the supremely likable (and one of my absolutely favourites) hit from last year year, with the same jodi and same production house.... I did expect to have a good time. And that's exactly what the stars promised - a clean, feel-good, full-on paisa vasool light entertainer. Well, they all fooled us.

Gori Tere Pyaar Mein has been made with honest intentions, but I could care less how noble they felt while making this. I paid 8 euros and I expect to enjoy myself, not roll my eyes until they got stuck up there. This film was reminiscent of those 90s films.... and fair enough, if you want to revisit the past and pay a homage to the (good)-old style of film-making, but for God sake, package it differently!!! This was old wine.... in an old bottle. Even Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani was like a renewed version of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, but everyone loved it.... because it was refreshing. It offered something new. The direction was different, and offered a new perspective. Gori Tere Pyaar Mein fails on many levels, despite a young director, because it lacks punch. The film is devoid of anything that would make you sit up and be interested in the proceedings. And I entirely blame the director and writers here. How could they come up with such a regressive script?? And didn't they have any sort of inclination that things were getting..... really bad.... in the second half?? The whole Bridge nonsense had me fuming :fume: .... to such an extent that I wanted to leave.

I just didn't enjoy the film, overall. There were a few good moments. Some really funny sceness/diaogues... and the middle portion of the film, right from when Imran ''sells'' himself (hilarious) to the wedding fiasco (brilliantly executed) to the second half, with the initial village scenes, was good stuff. But the film goes downhill there-onwards and completely crashes. The songs are nice and peppy, but the film doesn't do justice to them. Chingum Chabake pops up randomly, and it's a shame because it's such a good track. I hated Naina, because it was all about the damn bridge. Dhat Teri Ki is Imran's introduction and sets the mood for a fun, zany film (which it was not). Tooh was OK. It got boring. Moto Ghotalo was funny... while Dil Duffer was pointless.

Punit Malhotra isn't made to be a director. Period. I'm baffled as to how some reviewers could even say that he's a solid competitor for Ayan Mukerji.... say whaaaaaaaat?? I wasn't much of a fan of I Hate Luv Storys, but that film was overall very watchable, and in my opinion, better than Gori Tere Pyaar Mein (and this says a lot). I know that Karan likes to give complete freedom to his directors, but he really should have stepped in for this one. What a terrible mess he could have avoided.

Imran Khan - an actor who has slowly been proving his mettle - doesn't try too hard over here. He's decent and does shine in the sparse comic moments, but is wooden for most part. I have absolutely no clue what Kareena Kapoor Khan is doing in such a stupid film, with such a BLAH character? :hmm: Someone slap me, but she found this more interesting than Ram Leela? Ram Leela was no great shakes either, but that film had so much more to offer, in terms of everything!!! Kareena does well, but honestly, this role doesn't demand anything. Even a newcomer could have done this. After Satyagraha, this is another uninspired performance. I'm disappointed. Chemistry-wise, they look good together, but what a poor follow-up and HUGE let down after Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu.It's good to see Anupam Kher but again, I don't understand why he picked this film? Shradha Kapoor looks stunning and performs well.

I've a headache thinking about this film. It was seriously a pakao film... the kind that you watch and mutter '''what rubbish''. I feel like I should stop watching films in the cinema.... This is the 4th time that I've seen a film in the theatre and either disliked it or felt it was below expectations* (Besharam, Krrish 3, Ram Leela*). It was really on the same level as the other regressive films of the year like Phata Poster Nikla Hero, Ramaiyya Vastavaiyya, Krrish 3.... At the box office, this is definitely going to bomb big time. I'd advise you to just wait for an online print. The Gori isn't worth it this time, not even for her tooh. Poor

Punit Malhotra's 'Gori Tere Pyar Mein' is strictly time-pass entertainer, that sums up best as a one-time watch.

'Gori Tere Pyar Mein' Synopsis: A selfish shallow guy from a cosmopolitan city falls in love with a girl, who turns to be a social activist. Fun follows...

'Gori Tere Pyar Mein' has a breezy first-hour & a fairly okay second. The portions based in the cities are sparkling, but the portions in the second-hour, based prominently in a village, are plain ordinary. However, luckily, the film never gets boring.

The Screenplay appeals in bits & pieces. A stronger second-hour wouldn't have hurt. Punit Malhotra shows marked improvement over his debut film 'I Hate Luv Storys'. He has handled the film well. Cinematography is rich. Editing is average. Music by Vishal-Shekhar is excellent.

Performance-Wise: Imran Khan does a fair job. Kareena Kapoor Khan is just perfect. The immensely talented actress displays each emotion with great confidence & control. Shraddha Kapoor is passable. Anupam Kher entertains as the manipulative villain. Esha Gupta sizzles in a song.

On the whole, 'Gori Tere Pyar Mein' is watchable.

And the film has two-two and a half clichéd points to make. You can only imagine how bad the movie and the cast performance are when the characters themselves are required to enlighten us about who the hero is. Terrible!

Not accounting to Punit Malhotra's previous & future blunders, this film strikes few brownie points here and there. The best thing was to cast Shraddha Kapoor as Imran Khan's fiancée and boy, does she do good. Kareena Kapoor, as an aunt figure, is passable. The hero (a bad moniker) should stay away from Tinseltown.

As to the story, it has nothing new to deliver. Just an hypocrite environmentalist who travels to make a point just because his ex pointed it out. Then the camera turns to how the good guy tries to woe his girl Friday in front of a village by bridging the gap with a pool bridge by fighting the corrupt state of affairs. Whoa! for the second part of the film, I just stared into the screen wondering why the hell did they make this movie? And when such an expression is born, you know what the verdict is. Poor attention to details, poor cinematography, poor editing.

BOTTOM LINE: First part will make you laugh 3-4 times and for Shraddha Kapoor, I rate it 4.2/10. Songs make up 30 minutes and there is not a single reason why you should spend 300 bucks for this stupidity.

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES

Sex/Foreplay: No | Nudity/Porn: No | Violence: Mediocre | Gore: No | Smoking/Alcohol: Mild | Drugs: No

Is Gori Tere Pyaar Mein worth seeing? Short answer: Yes. The long answer, is also yes. Though its not going to challenge you or make your uncomfortable or leave you gobsmacked, Gori Tere Pyaar Mein is definitely worth your entertainment rupee. The film begins with our 'No do, no care' hero Sri Ram Venket (Imran Khan) the son of a wealthy Bangalore builder. Of course the family decides to fix their son the way countless desi parents vow to...marriage. The very arranged meeting and engaging with Vasudha, (Shraddha Kapoor) with close-ups of banana leaves and teak furniture, are framed with both wit and sophistication. Yep, there are a bumper crop of Punjus playing at Tamil Iyers in this film. Through their engagement and flashbacks we meet his first love Dia Sharma, (Kareena Kapoor), a feisty fighter for those who cannot defend themselves. She does everything, fighting for parks, for children, for sex workers. Dia has left her Delhi home and is matter-of-factly introduced to our hero as being much older. The second half of the film ends up in a small village in Gujarat. Where Tamil is used for humour and confusion in the first half, Gujarati has its turn later. Astoundingly there are not foreign shoots or even foreign dream sequences. Gori Tere Pyaar Mein, writer-director Punit Malhotra's first film I Hate Luv Stories did very well at the box office. I didn't see that film, but Mr. Malhotra's became best known for being his leading lady Sonal Kapoor's boyfriend, which may have been a step up from being known as fashion designer Manish Malhotra's nephew. I think judging by the deft handling and American sitcom type setups of this film, Mr. Malhotra will soon be best known as himself. Imran Khan has become the desi version of Hugh Grant. He usually manages to elevate rom-com material. This is his second film with Kareena Kapoor and the second film where Ms. Kapoor is a rabble rouser. Both Mr. Khan and Ms. Kapoor are pros and this role required no stretching for either one. They essentially played appealing characters which they probably are in real life. Shradha Kapoor is lovely but she too had no scope to do much. The songs particularly "Shake That Tooh," have already hit the airwaves are being played at weddings this winter. Dharma gloss is evident in every frame and costume, but it does not overpower, just makes us understand that our protagonists are upper middle class. Thankfully, the giant homes with spiral staircases have been retired. The cinematography is bright and polished. The story by Punit Malhotra and television writer Arshad Sayed presents the rom-com scenario in quite a fresh light. The writers also played around with structure to make the film more interesting, though it took away some of the 'will they,' 'won't they' element required by successful rom-coms. Punit Malhotra's direction is deft with supporting characters in both cities and villages used to build the humour. Anupam Kher brings life to the villain who is funnily menacing. A lesser actor would have had trouble walking the fine line. I'm just curious whether building a bridge was actually part of the filming budget or whether they found a village where a bridge was being built. The situations of helping society are woven throughout the story in a way never seen before in a Hindi film. That is impressive as the weakness of most Bollywood rom-coms, was that characters did nothing but fall in love. Love is not enough, it is never enough. The lover too needs to be worthy. Gori Tere Pyaar Mein delves into the aspect of being worthy of love in humorous manner, but the stakes are never that high. That is the film's strength and why it will stay on your mind longer than the average glossy entertainer.