2 States

A super lame first half followed up with a rocking second half. One could sum this up in the following ways:

1. There are just certain literature which looks super entertaining while watching but make for very predictable and boring reading.

2. While Indians dish out romantic stories by the dozen the treatment is so shabby that you often wonder how the hell did the chemistry build up. On the other hand, you ask them to show conflicting relative and family issues and they dish out a sucker punch. Here it seemed that the director knew that the first half is just meh and the real strength lies in the second half of the movie. So quick was he to dismiss the chemistry that you could blink and miss it.

3. If there was a direct to movie concept in book writing , Chetan Bhagat should officially consider that instead of going the traditional publisher's way.

And last but not the least!

4. Seldom are movies so mainstream and yet celebrate its side actors and character artists so wonderfully. For every effervescent reaction by Alia, Amrita Singh showed why she is such a treat to watch. Ronit Roy turned up and put on all the right moves in reprising his role as the father fighting with his own demons. Revathy and Shivkumar were brilliant as Ananya's parents representing the other side of the spectrum. The struggles of coping with pushy relatives and their own demons at the altars of their sons and daughters done so tastefully and with such restraint. You could almost root for them and hope that they get more and more screen time and that, folks is a rare sight in mainstream Bollywood!

2 States. Based on the book of Chetan Bhagat where he touches the details of cross cultural marriage in a humorous way, 2 States remains faithful to the idea and as a movie experience also it does not disappoint. Arjun and Alia showcase easy chemistry. Alia looks charming and does better than Arjun in emotional scenes. As their parents, Amrita Singh, Ronit Roy, Revathy and Shivkumar do quite well. I felt southern India flavor of movie was captured more effectively than northern flavor. The rough father-son relationship between Arjun and Ronit is done upright. First half breezes through while second half drags a bit although nice music and quirky dialogues helps you keep going through melodramatic scenes. Abhishek Varman as writer of adapted screenplay and director impresses in his first outing. Movie does not quite dazzle you but makes your two and half hours worth spending in the theater. I am going with good 7 out of 10 for 2 States. Last year it was Kai Po Che, this year it is 2 States, Chetan Bhagat is having quite a good time at celluloid along with books.

Yet another movie which surpasses the mother book in terms of quality. The direction of the movie is mind blowing and Chetan Bhagat is once again blessed with a movie which can thunder the Box Office. You will wonder at one stage if the story of the movie you watch is the same of the book you read few years ago- the book is very entertaining of course. Alia Bhatt and Arjun Kapoor have done exceptionally well in the screen. I never knew Alia was this beautiful. Arjun Kapoor has done the role of a lethargic Punjabi perfectly. The movie, from the start, gives the spectator good entertainment and a smiling face. The Script is very gentle. In the final parts of the movie, at variance with the feelings that the book creates for a reader, a spectator gets very much emotional. The emotions, portrayed in the movie, between the hero and his dad, have been so picturesquely put into screen that it can wet your eyes. Ronit Roy who plays the role of the hero's father has contributed a major share by giving a new aura to the movie's story-line. His outstanding acting and attitude would be the main things that you will be talking about after getting out of the theater. The cast for the movie is very beautifully selected. It need not be mentioned here about the class of acting that Revathi and Amritha Singh can deliver. They are all always at their best; be it for any role. As we all know from the book itself, the story line isn't that classy or touching. Maybe none of the jokes or scenes will linger in your heart after you get out of the theater; only the entertainment and happiness that the movie provided will be thought about. And by prudence, the director has omitted certain parts of the book from the movie; only a few scenes, such as the scene where 'Ananya' screws the 'Duke' are a bit boring and unoriginal. Apart from that, there is nothing to be seriously criticized in the movie, or to exclaim and shout, 'Highly impossible things'. Words by the hero, that he wishes to write normal and simple stories which have the ability to become the 'HERO' in people's heart will ring in your mind like a chant, and will give hope to all the authors who are striving hard to come up; for we all know how successful Chetan Bhagat is. He is the man who made India read. I will say that it's a good movie to watch and I can assure that none will be disappointed. The spectators would very surely be coming out of the theater with happy and smiling faces.

This movie was surprise for me I assure you it is in positive way. I am very much fond of books but don't know why I never liked Chetan Bhagat. But this story was superb and I know books are much well narrated than movie. so I will read another books of the writer.

Alia Bhatt looked beautiful. in Student of the year she was like loaded with cosmetic and over shown with fancy cloths. But in this movie her role is superb in normal cloths and in the role of a normal girl, she proved that she is going to be a challenge for all actress.

in all previous movies, Arjun Kapoor was doing Gunda type roles. but in this movie he looked cute. I knew the story and before going to movie I was thinking that he will be a mistake for this role. But he was surprisingly cute in this role.

Abhishek Verman did a great job. full movie is in continuous process. you can't be bored in a single scene. hats off for the direction.

Ronit Roy got a small role in this movie but he did full work with that. his small role was fully noticed and it is like he is in every scene in the movie.

Songs are also in hit list of bollywood. really listen-able and every mood songs are life of this movie. if you take my advice, you must listen the songs you will be more than happy.

only one thing which I want to add some kisses were unnecessary. with family you can feel some odd. but they were quite simple so you can't cut many points for that.

I give 9 out of 10. you must watch this movie.

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Based on the 2009 novel of the same name written by Chetan Bhagat, '2 States' is an entertaining, engaging & cute film, that doesn't' fail to deliver. Its A Winner!

'2 States' Synopsis: A young couple's plan to get hitched, gets crushed when their racial parents disapprove of their marriage.

'2 States' has an amazing first-hour & the lead-stars, Arjun & Alia, share an infectious chemistry on-screen. The Tamil-Punjabi conflict does get a bit boring, especially in the middle of the second-hour, but a heart-warming culmination, does the trick. Its not a perfect film, but its most certainly, enjoyable!

The Screenplay hits the right notes, at most parts. Barring a few dull sequences post-interval, the film is consistently engaging & smooth. Abhishek Varman makes a terrific debut as a Director. He has handled the entire film, remarkably. Cinematography is perfect. Editing is well-done. Art & Costume Design, are fair. Music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy is fantastic.

Performance-Wise: Arjun & Alia are the life of the show. They enact the love-struck protagonists with pure charm. Their on-screen chemistry, as mentioned before, is infectious. Amrita Singh is delightfully rude, while Shiv Kumar Subramaniam & Revathy are wonderfully restrained. Ronit Roy stands out. He's excellent, yet again! Achint Kaur is lovely in a brief role.

On the whole, '2 States' clicks big time. Strongly Reccomeded!