Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui

We all love Ayushmann's choice of scripts that strike a balance between catering to mainstream Bollywood sensibilities and conveying subtle, progressive messages. CKA is yet another film that starts in typical rom-com fashion - Manu (Ayushmann), a gym owner and bodybuilder, loves Maanvi (Vaani), a Zumba instructor. But there's a little secret that changes its entire course. It's that Maanvi is a trans woman. When the revelation is made, Manu acts the way most taunting (cis-gender) Indian men would do, but he also uses very harsh language at Maanvi in the process. In real life, for such a couple to reconcile, it would take a lot longer than a single hospital episode. But this is commercial Bollywood, mind you! If it wants quick(er) closure, it'll give you exactly that.

Also, what if Maanvi was not a self-reliant, strong-willed, reasonably wealthy person? Doesn't that lessen some of the most significant hurdles that trans persons face in the form of complex surgeries? These convenient shortcuts are forsaken simply because the intent is appreciable. I also wish the climax was centered around giving closure to Maanvi instead of something that's comparatively less significant. We could also have used some more insight into gender reassignment surgery, especially since the film had the golden opportunity to go there.

One of the few things it wholly gets right is the occasional humor. I thought it would be offensive to a great extent, but thankfully it isn't. Even better that some of it arises from unique situations. While we can easily question why Vaani was chosen to play a trans woman, she gives it her all. For once, it isn't Ayushmann doing all the heavy lifting in an Ayushmann movie. And it was a neat move on the writers' part to show Manu doing all the homework on LGBTQ himself, instead of some doctor spoon-feeding him.

Finally saw this on Netflix.

The movie has a very strong social message and at the same time it is engrossing in an entertaining way.

It has romance, comedy n sports.

It is more difficult to change human behavior than to influence opinions or attitudes and this movie will definitely influence attitudes towards the transgender/transsexual fellas.

Ayushman Khurana gave a believable performance of that a gym instructor (myself being an instructor) but his statement about pimples on chest due to protein shakes or proteins via meat n eggs is totally unscientific.

People do get pimples due to testosterone shots aka steroids but not cos of proteins.

Such a bold attempt for a bollywood movie. It can be called it's ahead of its time. Audience might not digest the concept yet.

May be educational on parts.

I have seen a lot of bakwaas movie lately, this is definitely not one of them.

'Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui' was a pretty average movie It was also very 'safe'. Not really a good movie on Transgender issues to be honest.

It bypasses most of the 'harder parts 😉' of being a transgender through the surgery.

That surgery that the girl had is still rare and costs crores and by the look of it, the girl's family wasn't that rich. It's not also available everywhere especially in India. You have to travel abroad and that cost has to be taken into consideration.

Also most Trans women don't get the surgery because it's rare, expensive and it has many many risks. So they bypassed the 'meat 😉' of the messaging by basically making her a full on girl rather than an actual currently living realistic trans woman.

You can praise it all you want for the 'social messaging' it brings but I am not here to be a puppet for a 'social protest'. I am judging the movie for what it is and it is BORING.

This movie needs to be in global headlines; certainly something I will be able to recommend with immense pride to portray how much capable Hindi cinema is of creating quality content..

Ayushmaan continues to shine; Vaani has so much potential, this movie provides her the platform.. Storyline may be a bit ahead of time for a certain audience group in india..