Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.

Honeymoon Travels Private Ltd: Movie Review Rating: *** Honeymoon Travels Private Ltd, as one expects, is a story of six diverse couples on their honeymoon tour to Goa. But what one doesn't predict is the experience in store for them.

There is a Bengali couple with a conservative husband (Kay Kay Menon) and a raring-to-go wife (Raima Sen). There is a perfect Parsi couple (Abhay Deol – Minissha Lamba) who are always in sync with each other and never ever catch up a fight. A Gujarati duo flawlessly named Hitesh (Ranvir) and Shilpa (Dia Mirza) forms the imperfect couple. Then there is an NRI Richie (Vikram Chatwal) married to a Bambaiyya girl (Sandhya Mridul). A college lovebird duo (Amisha Patel – Karan Khanna) and an elderly couple (Boman Irani – Shabana Azmi) complete the dozen honeymooners. So what's the story? Well their characterizations itself! The character driven film takes the story forward with each couple's flashback narrative and a fast-forward tale telling in a span of the six days of their honeymoon in Goa.

With its six assorted anecdotes, this light-hearted romantic comedy tries to capture the varied flavours of love. You might love some story, laugh on some, relate to some and perhaps even reject some. But there's enough on the platter to keep you satiated. How and what you digest depends on your love appetite.

Debutante director Reema Kagti (who has assisted on films like Lagaan and Dil Chahta Hai) adopts a fascinating storytelling technique. Despite six separate stories the film isn't episodic which gives more scope of chemistry between the characters that forms the major highlight of the screenplay. The flashback fable of each couple unravels in an interesting black-n-white frame with a retro song to support each. The use of a radio show to narrate the flashback episodes is a unique idea but might not connect with those accustomed to conventional narrative techniques. Each flashback installment is kept crisply short.

The screenplay is intelligently innovative though at instances it even resorts to some cinematic clichés. The best example of the former being Raima Sen's para sailing sequence in a sari and for the latter it's when Raima Sen displays her martial arts antics – nevertheless both the scenes keeps you in splits. The treatment is rather subtle and at times is left for the audience to apprehend – like the culmination of Karan Khanna's character.

There are a couple of surprises in the climax. (And this doesn't include the identity of the biker who follows the bus from the start. That's revealed in the initial reels itself). In fact the bigger of two surprises will make your jaw drop out of disbelief. But if you don't mind cinematic liberties for fun-factor in films, it might just stretch a smile on your face out of the hilarity. However it makes you wonder why in the end, the director did not bank upon the build up made for this surprise throughout the film through the clues thrown out (this might sound gibberish while you read but you will understand this only when you watch the film). If you aren't a keen observer, the clues thrown in by the director to invoke suspense in the film, might become apparent to you only on a second viewing.

While most of the characters have put in a decent performance, Kay Kay Menon steals the show. His characterization is the strongest or perhaps he has made it so believable with his sincere act. You instantly connect with his character of a modern day man but with a conservative traditional backdrop. The actor often relegated to serious roles in films like Sarkar and Black Friday, surprises with his flair for comedy. And his now-popular dance movements in the song 'Sajnaji Vari Vari' is one of the major highlights of the film. His fight sequence with Ranvir Shorey in the bus is absolutely hilarious. How one wishes the film had more of the brilliant Ranvir. Boman Irani never goes wrong with his character, then be it any role in the world. So even as Oscar Fernandes, he perfects the accent for a Goan Christian. Raima Sen gets a meaty role and impresses both with her looks (despite being sari-clad throughout the film) and performance. Karan Khanna doesn't have much to speak but emotes well. Dia Mirza looks damn cute when she cries in the opening scene of the film. Minissha has a charming aura and indulges in an impeccable salsa with Abhay Deol. And when it comes to Shabana Azmi, the flawless actress doesn't need an approval for her act. Amisha Patel is supposed to play an irritating bimbo character and she succeeds in irritating you to the core. But don't misconstrue it for she doing justice to her character. She actually irritates and comes as the only actor miscast in the film with her constant hamming.

Overall Honeymoon Travels… is an entertaining journey. Do take the bus. Recommended!

This was a truly heartwarming movie! I particularly loved the portrayal of the "Superman couple." It really highlighted how the idea of a perfect couple might only be achievable for super-beings. For ordinary couples, life inevitably brings a mix of good and bad, and it's all about making adjustments and compromises to make the relationship work.

I also have strong feelings about Ranveer Shorey's character. Guys like him are indeed real trouble. Despite knowing his wife wasn't happy and loved someone else, he still agreed to marry her. Characters like him truly complicate life for everyone involved.

'Honeymoon Travels Private Ltd' is about 6 newly wed couples who come together during their honeymoon: There is a Bengali couple that comprises of a conservative husband (Kay Kay) and a ready to get wild wife (Raima). There is an envious seemingly perfect couple (Abhay – Minissha), college sweethearts (Amisha – Karan), an imperfect Gujarati couple Hitesh (Ranvir) and Shilpa (Dia Mirza) forms, a foreigner Richie (Vikram Chatwal) married to a hyperactive Bombay girl (Sandhya Mridul) and an older couple (Boman Irani – Shabana Azmi). The rest of the plot consists of their story together during this traveling period, their self discovery and their true feelings for one another.

Kay Kay is excellent as the slightly shy and conservative husband. His dance in 'Sajnaji Vari Vari' is awesome and remains to be one of the most memorable scenes of the movie. He does pleasantly surprise with his comedic talents (since he's more known for his serious movies). Raima Sen is brilliant and she shows us a sexy side. Shabana Azmi never lets you down and after a long time, Boman Irani finally gives a decent performance (he's not loud nor annoying this time). Abhay Deol and Minisha Lamba share a nice chemistry, though they tend to be a little over the top. Amisha Patel succeeds in annoying and Karan Khanna hardly does anything. Ranvir Shorey makes impresses with a brief role while Dia Mirza doesn't. Sandhya Mridul is charming and wonderful while Vikram Chatwal is wooden.

Kagti's direction is decent and she tells the story well. However, there's something missing in the ending. It seems incomplete. One may wonder why such a finale was chosen.

All in all, this is a light hearted comedy and it does provide some laughs along with a few serious moments. Well, serious enough to keep you engaged, not to break down in tears. The 6 stories are nicely combined and the actors share a very comfortable chemistry. Something to enjoy with friends.

It made me happy. What else do you need from a movie?

It has lots of good moments. And a really unnecessary song. May be the producer insisted on a romantic bollywood song?

The rest of the songs were so good.

Some characters required a little bit more depth. But I guess there's only so much you can do in a movie with so many characters.

The superhero thing felt weird. The fantasy song and superhero angle tries to take away the reality from the movie.

Anyhow, it's a fun movie to watch.

Six honeymoon couples on a bus trip to Goa - that lays the table wide open. Director Reema Kagti could have served whatever she wanted. A comedy about fumbling into martial bliss, a drama about discovering the challenges of being married, a social comment about how society and upbringing makes people view the institution of marriage differently. What she opts for is a multi-course meal with flavors of each. The result, an okay film that I'd suggest be better watched on a DVD at home instead of paying for a movie ticket.

There is all the variety you want. There is the married-against-wishes couple (Ranvir-Diya), married-and-at-peace couple (Abhay-Minnisha), married-and-u-have-changed-now couple (Kay Kay-Raima), married-and-i'm-confused couple (Newbie-Amisha), married-to-the-wrong-sex couple (Chatwal-Sandhya) and married-and-married couple (Boman-Shabana).

When you are telling a story about ordinary people and ordinary lives, you have a difficult task at hand. It is because you are telling the story of the very people sitting on the chairs of the movie hall and looking at the screen. You cannot lie to them or tell a story otherwise because it is their story. They know the beginning and they know the end. You have to be exact or you'll fail. If Kagti's story reminds anyone of their honeymoon and brings back forgotten memories, I guess whatever I say about this movie won't matter to them. That is the charm of telling simple stories. However, personally, I doubt this movie will remind anybody of anything.

The outstanding salsa by Abhay and Minnisha is the only take-home from the movie. 'Vaari-vaari' number is sure to be heard on the dance floors for a coming few months. Kay Kay has displayed his versatility and I'm sure we are going to see more of him in comedies. Amisha needs to learn that she need not keep smiling all the time, even while saying her lines. Boman, Shabana - these are minor challenges for them and they easy overcome. Raima Sen - I think she gets more screen time than any of the other female protagonists and she does full justice. Other actors get to do their bit and are okay.